Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="SHARK" data-source="post: 328791" data-attributes="member: 1131">Greetings!Chapter XI: The Battle of Pharsalus____________________________________________________Pages 120-onward."Now, as Centurion Crastinus stood with his men of the 10th Legion in the front line, a familiar voice away to his right called him by name. "'What hopes for victory, Gaius Crastinus? What grounds for encouragement?'"The centurion's head whipped around, to see Caesar riding along the front line towards him accompanied by his staff officers."'Victory will be yours, Caesar,"' said Crastinus. According to Plutarch, he reached out his right hand toward his general in a form of salute, adding, "'You will conquer gloriously today."'"As he returned to his position on the right wing, Caesar passed Centurion Crastinus once again. "'General,"' Crastinus called out as he went by, "'today I shall earn your gratitude, either dead or alive."'Caesar acknowledged him with a wave and cantered on.____________________________________________________End Quote.Wow! I can feel the heat of the sun on my shoulder, and smell the scent of sweat and horses as the troops prepare for battle. I can imagine the swearing, the jostling for position, the surge of nervousness before battle. The men licking their lips as they stare out into the battlefield, readying themselves for the action to come.I can imagine Crastinus looking up at Caesar as he rides by, and calling out to him. What a Centurion! He's been fighting with Caesar for so long now! I can imagine the group of raw, young recruits looking to their Centurion with awe! Caesar seems very easy-going, and even paternal and rugged, as he talks so smoothly and casually with the Centurion.____________________________________________________Quote:"The entire charge came to a stop. For perhaps a minute the Caesarian troops paused in the middle of the wheat field, catching their breath; then, led by Crastinus, they resumed the charge with a mighty roar.Crastinus threw himself at the shield line, aiming to show his men how to reach over the top of an enemy shield and strike at the face of the soldier on the other side with the point of his sword. As he did, he felt a blow to the side of the head. He never even saw it coming. The strength suddenly drained from his legs. He sagged to his knees. His head was spinning. Dazed, he continued to call out to his men to spur them on.As he spoke, a legionary of the 1st Legion directly opposite him in the shield line moved his shield six inches to the left, opening a small gap. In a flash he had shoved his sword through the gap with a powerful forward thrust that entered the yelling Gaius Crastinus's open mouth. According to Plutarch, the tip of the blade emerged from the back of Crastinus's neck. The soldier of the 1st withdrew his bloodied sword and swiftly resealed the gap in the shield line. His action had lasted just seconds. No doubt with a crude cheer from the nearby men of the 1st Legion, Centurion Crastinus toppled forward into the shiled in front of him, then slid to the ground."____________________________________________________End Quote.You know, I am glad that Caesar crushes Pompey's forces. I liked the old Centurion! I know it happens in war--and this little episode made me reflect on the sadness of Crastinus dying, of the pain, the sudden terror, and his death. What of his dreams, what of his plans? What of his family waiting for his return? Sad. Very sad. Indeed, it pissed me off some, too. I *want* the 10th Legion to make the enemy bleed and pay. The old Centurion is watching!<img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> I can imagine his men attacking with a grim ferocity, too!Semper Fidelis,SHARK</blockquote>

Verification