The immense armies of these two mighty conquerors had moved slowly--like two ferocious birds of prey, flying through the air, and fighting as they fly--across Italy into Greece, and from Greece, through Macedon, into Thessaly, contending in dreadful struggles with each other as they advanced, and trampling down and destroying every thing in their way.

At length a great final battle had been fought at Pharsalia.

Pompey had been totally defeated.

He had fled to the sea-shore, and there, with a few ships and a small number of followers, he had pushed out upon the Mediterranean, not knowing whither to fly, and overwhelmed with wretchedness and despair.

Caesar followed him in eager pursuit.