They were then directed to go to the Campus Martius, a vast parade ground situated within the walls, and to await Caesar's orders there.[3] [Footnote 3: See map of the city of Rome, fronting the first page.] [Sidenote: The Campus Martius.] [Sidenote: Caesar's address to the army.] Caesar met them in the Campus Martius, and demanded why they had left their encampment without orders and come to the city.

They stated in reply, as they had previously planned to do, that they wished to be discharged from the public service.

To their great astonishment, Caesar seemed to consider this request as nothing at all extraordinary, but promised, an the other hand, very readily to grant it He said that they should be at once discharged, and should receive faithfully all the rewards which had been promised them at the close of the war for their long and arduous services.

At the same time, he expressed his deep regret that, to obtain what he was perfectly willing and ready at any time to grant, they should have so far forgotten their duties as Romans, and violated the discipline which should always be held absolutely sacred by every soldier.

He particularly regretted that the tenth legion, on which he had been long accustomed so implicitly to rely, should have taken a part in such transactions.
[Sidenote: Its effects.] [Sidenote: Attachment of Caesar's soldiers.] In making this address, Caesar assumed a kind and considerate, and even respectful tone toward his men, calling them _Quirites_ instead of soldiers--an honorary mode of appellation, which recognized them as constituent members of the Roman commonwealth.