Julius Caesar

by James Baldwin

　　

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Julius Caesar (1896) is a short biography intended for children and adults alike, before you attempt William Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Julius Caesar

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Nearly two thousand years ago there lived in Rome a man whose name wasJulius Ceasar. He was the greatest of all the Romans. Why was he so great?He was a brave warrior, and had conquered many countries for Rome. Hewas wise in planning and in doing. He knew how to make men both loveand fear him.At last he made himself the ruler of Rome. Some said that he wished tobecome its king. But the Romans at that time did not believe in kings.Once when Ceasar was passing through a little country village, all themen, women, and children of the place came out to see him. There werenot more than fifty of them, all together, and they were led by theirmay-or, who told each one what to do.These simple people stood by the roadside and watched Ceasar pass. Themay-or looked very proud and happy; for was he not the ruler of thisvillage? He felt that he was almost as great a man as Ceasar himself.Some of the fine of-fi-cers who were with Ceasar laughed. They said,"See how that fellow struts at the head of his little flock!""Laugh as you will," said Ceasar, "he has reason to be proud. I wouldrather be the head man of a village than the second man in Rome!"At an-oth-er time, Ceasar was crossing a narrow sea in a boat. Beforehe was halfway to the farther shore, a storm overtook him. The windblew hard; the waves dashed high; the lightning flashed; the thunderrolled.It seemed every minute as though the boat would sink. The captain wasin great fright. He had crossed the sea many times, but never in sucha storm as this. He trembled with fear; he could not guide the boat;he fell down upon his knees; he moaned, "All is lost! all is lost!"But Ceasar was not afraid. He bade the man get up and take his oarsagain."Why should you be afraid?" he said. "The boat will not be lost; foryou have Ceasar on board."

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