down.[35] But the thing which most of all portended destruction to them,
so that it became plain even to their enemies, was that many vultures and
many other birds, too, that devour corpses gathered only above the heads
of the conspirators, gazing down upon them and squawking and screeching
with terrible and bloodcurdling notes.

[-41-] To that party these signs brought evil, while the others, so far
as we know, were visited by no omen, but saw some such, visions as the
following in dreams. A Thessalian dreamed that the former Caesar had
bidden him tell Caesar that the battle would occur on the second day
after that one, and that he should resume some of the insignia which his
predecessor wore while dictator: Caesar therefore immediately put his
father's ring on his finger and wore it often afterward. That was the
vision which that man saw, whereas the physician who attended Caesar
thought that Minerva enjoined him to lead his patient, though still in
poor health, from his tent and place him in line of battle: and by this
act he was saved. In most cases safety is the lot of such as remain in
the camp and of those in the fortifications, while danger accompanies
those who proceed into the midst of weapons and battles; but this was
reversed in the case of Caesar. It was quite visibly the result of his
leaving the rampart and mingling with the fighting men that he survived,
although from sickness he stood with difficulty even without his arms.

[-42-] The engagement was of the following nature. No arrangement had
been made as to when they should enter battle, yet as if by some compact
they all armed themselves at dawn, advanced into the square intervening
between them quite leisurely, as though they were competitors in games,
and there were quietly marshaled. When they stood opposed advice was
given partly to the entire bodies and partly to individuals of both
forces by the generals and lieutenants and subalterns. They made many