The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-22
GREAT MEN WHO HAVE WEPT
The Melting Moods of the Mighty Cesar
and Alexander's Famous Cry.
sNapOieons Proneness to Tears, and Brutuss
Grief 1T the Fate of the Xanthians
Whole Armies in Tears.
Ban Francisco Chronic!e.


his head, his eyes filing with tears at the sight
of Pompeys bloody head, are familiar to most
readers. He had left Rome and taken command
of the army in Spain. One day, while sitting in
his tent and reading the life Of Alexander the
Great he suddenly dropped the book from his
hands and burst into tears. His officers, amazed
at so unexpected an outburst of emotion on the
part Of their general anxously inquired its
cause. DO you think, said Cesar, 81 have not
sufficient cause for concern when Alexander at
any age reigned over SO many conquered coun-
tries and / have not one glorious achieve
ment to boastl' This occurred during his
early manhood and at the commencement
OF his eventful career. The second
occasion of his weeping was in after
years, and near the close of that career. 1t was
a time when he had almost rivaled Alexander
himself in his military achievements-at time
when he was that Caesar who had .s.ormed one
thousand cities, subdued three hundred nations,
gained numerous battles over the Gauls and the
Germans. fought in pitched battles three mill
ions OF men. slain one million, captured one
million and routed the other million Rome
'ithe imperial mistress of the world lay crouch
ing at his feet; victory had perched upon his
standard at Pharsalia. and all his enemies were
in flight. Pompey, after his defeat. had
sought a refuge in Egypt There he was treach-
erously put to death by the Egyptians, who
hoped to thus gain she favor of Caesar. Such,
however failed to be the case. When the bloody
head OF Pompey was brought to Caesar he turned
his head in horror from the sight and wept at
Pompey's sad fate. 1t may be here remarked,
though not strictly pertaing to the subject, that
Cesar punished with death the two assassins,
Achillas and Phontinus and would undoubtedly
have punished the King in the same manner
had he not, being defeated in battle, persisted in
the Nile. Theodotus, the rhectorcan and soph-
DIT, who had instigated the King and his council
to the preparation Of the bloody deed. escaped
caesars vengeance by a timely flight but was
subsequently hunted down, captured and af-
ter the most excruciating torture, put to death
by Brutus.
Another occasion when Caesar wept or is sup
posed to have wept-the matter being doubtful,
as death came too suddenly for the fact to be
definitely determined-was at the time OF his
assassination. On the ides of March, in his seat
of state at the Roman Senate house, surrounded
10y knot of consprators, no was hearing pet
lions, granting audiences, and comforting par
dons. Suddenly his gown was pulled violently
from his neck by Climber, one of the conspira-
tors. This was a signal for the attack. Casca
struck him blow on the neck with his sword,
(which, however, was Intellectual owing to the
extreme nervousness of Casca at the perils at
stending the decd he was attempting Cesar,
turning upon him, laid hold of the sword and
said. 'sVillani Casca what dost thou meanr
Casca called .sHelp!" All the conspirators then
drew their swords and set upon their victim.
Whichever way Caesar looked he saw nothing
but steel cleaning in his face" He confined
struggling and defending himself however, until
me aaw the sword of Brutus raised against
him, when he exclaimed, ''Et tn, Brute" fThou
too Brutusl) drew his robe over his face, and,
without further resistance, submitted to his
fate, falling dead at the foot OF the statue OF
H. - 6vrsth
three wounds" The emotion of Caesar, upon
this OCCASION must have been the greatest of
his life, as he was not only very fond OF, but
even idolized Brutus, which is accounted for in
the facts, first that he was a man who dotted
a1pon persons of his own flesh and blood, and
second that he regarded Brutus as his illegiti-
mate son by Servilia the sister of Cato, with
ewhom, in his earlier days. he had had sew
eral love escapades.
Every one is familiar with the story of Alexan-
der's shutting himself up in his tent, and pros
trating himself on the ground in an agony of
grief and indignation at the refusal of his Off
GERS, on the banks of the Hydaspes, to go further
with him on his wordconquering tour. Another
no less familiar instance of his weeping was
upon the death of Heph@stion, his favorite gen
eral His grief upon this occasion is said to have
surpassed all bounds. He ordered all
the horses aud mules in the army to be shorn
of their Names that they might share in his
grief; aid pulled down the battlements of neigh
boring cities that they also might share his
with the mourning in the camp. Another oc
casion was upon the death of Clitus Clitus was
one Of his most high spirited and dashing Of
fcers. and was very much celebrated for having
saved the life OF Alexander by running his spear
through the body of Spithridates, one of the two
powerful officers in the Persian host who had
engaged the King, at great disadvantage, at the
famous Crossing of the GraIiicus." The follow
ang are the particulars OF the death OF Ciitus:
Alexander had invited him and other officers of
his army to dinner. In the course of the ban
,quet, as was the custom at Alexander's carouS
ais the greater part of the company became in
stoxieated heated discussions arose, and high
words passed between Alexander and Gil
tus. Finally Alexander, who, was at best
a very passionate man. and, particularly when in
his cups, liable to give way to his passion, flew
unto frenzy OF rage at some OF the taunts OF
.Caitus, seized spear from one of his guards and
hurled it through the body of Clitus. Clitus,
with groan. fell dead on the spot Alexander,
INSTANTLY coming to himself and regretting the
deed, applied the spear to his own throat, and in
despair was about TO take his own life when he
was prevented from doing so by his guards, who
seized and disarmed him. and by force conveyed
him to his chamber. There, in On agony of re-
morse. for whole day and night, he lay rolling
upon the floor, weeping and moaning, and re-
fusing to be comforted. Finally his grief was
partially assuaged by one of his philosophers,
who represented to him that he was in no wise
responsible for the deed, as it had occurred en-.
tireiy in accordance with the decree ffate.
Napoleon, the greatest of the worlds generals.
seems to have been of all the great the most sus-
ceptible to tears. The following are perhaps
tho most striking instances of his having went:
FIRST, upon the death of Lannes. From his
reckless daring and careless dash upon the bat
tlefeid, Lannes was renowned as the '.Orlando
of the French army" ana he was the favorite
general of Napoleon. At the battles OF Aspern
aud Essling in the face of overwhelming mum
bers. and with 200 guns blowing through the
ranks of his little band, he was conducting a
gallant retreat across the plain of Marshfeld,
when both of his legs were suddenly carried of
by cannonb ball. Napoleon, upon hearing of
the affair, and seeing the litter in which the
wounded hero was being borne from the fold,
dropped, though in the midst of battle. all other
things ran to the hitter. threw himself on his
knees beside it, clasped the dying man by the
hand and, with his eyes swimming in tears,