Among the rest came some of Caesar's trumpeters, with their trumpets in their hands.

The shepherd took one of these martial instruments from the hands of its possessor, laying aside his own, and began to sound a charge--which is a signal for a rapid advance--and to march at the same time over the bridge "An omen! a prodigy!" said Caesar.

"Let us march where we are called by such a divine intimation.

_The die is cast_." [Sidenote: Caesar crosses the Rubicon.] So saying, he pressed forward over the bridge, while the officers, breaking up the encampment, put the columns in motion to follow him.
It was shown abundantly, on many occasions in the course of Caesar's life, that he had no faith in omens.

There are equally numerous instances to show that he was always ready to avail himself of the popular belief in them; to awaken his soldiers' ardor or to allay their fears.