measure relieved the debtors somewhat.

It was now nearly a year since Caesar crossed the Rubicon. Pompey,
during the nine months that had elapsed since his escape from
Brundisium, had been collecting his forces in Epírus. Here had
gathered many princes from the East, a majority of the Senatorial
families of Rome, Cato and Cicero, the vanquished Afranius, and the
renegade Labiénus. There were nine full legions, with cavalry and
auxiliaries, amounting in all to 100,000 men.

Caesar reached Brundisium at the end of the year 49. His forces were
fewer in number than those of his adversary, amounting to not more
than 15,000 infantry and 600 cavalry. But his legionaries were all
veterans, inured to toil and hunger, to heat and cold, and every man
was devoted to his leader.

On the 4th of January he set sail from Brundisium, landing after an
uneventful voyage at Acroceraunia. He advanced at once towards
Dyrrachium where were Pompey's head-quarters, occupied Apollonia, and
intrenched himself on the left bank of the river Apsus. The country
was well disposed and furnished him with ample supplies.

Caesar sent back the vessels on which he crossed to transport his
remaining troops, but they were intercepted on their way across and
many of them destroyed. He was therefore compelled to confine himself
to trifling operations, until his lieutenant, Mark Antony, could fit
out a second fleet and bring over the remainder of his legions. When
Antony finally crossed, he landed one hundred miles up the coast.
Pompey's forces were between him and Caesar, and his position was full
of danger; but Caesar marched rapidly round Dyrrachium, and joined him