Chapter 71

All this Pharnaces graciously promised to do. However, as he hoped that Caesar’s impetuous haste would lead him to trust his own assurances still more readily than the circumstances justified, so that he might tackle more urgent matters with the greater expedition and propriety—for everyone was aware that there were many reasons demanding Caesar’s return to Rome—in this hope, then, he began to take a more leisurely line, to demand a later date for his withdrawal,to propose agreements by way of causing delay—in fine,he proceeded to cheat. Realising the fellow’s cunning, Caesar was now of necessity constrained to adopt the very tactics which on other occasions it had been his natural habit to employ—namely to come to grips more promptly than anyone expected.