At the age of twenty-five I was crossing the Aegean, on my way to Rhodes to study there with the rhetorician Apollonius Molon (who had previously taught Cicero) when we were beset by pirates.
They were Cilician by origin and fierce fighters, and having captured our ship proceeded to imprison myself and my fellows on Pharmacusa, in the Dodecanese prefecture. Far from fearing for my life, I felt these peasant brutes lacked style and learning; they said they were bound to ransom me for twenty talents of silver, which at the time was nothing short of an insult. I told them to ask for fifty.
Pharmacusa is not at all unpleasant, and our prison was, as it were, the entirety of the island. I saw no point or gain from sulking or cowering; indeed, these were active men such as myself and I felt no compunction in joining in their society, not simply as participant but as leader. The inherent superiority of the noble-born Roman soon made itself manifest. In matters of naval concern, I was supreme. In matters of political strategy, none could best me, and in physical feats of trial I did, at least, show the Roman spirit of competition.
I entertained fond thoughts of a life of piracy, if I could but have a little more education amongst the men (I tried; they did not appreciate my poetry, though my rhetoric, as always, was well-received). I think I should have done quite well as a pirate king.
For thirty-eight days, then, Iulius lived as a pirate, while my fellows who had been released raised the ransom from Miletus. Having been freed and brought to Miletus, my thoughts naturally turned towards my happy imprisonment on Pharmacusa; with which impetus, I raised a fleet from the port and returned to Pharmacusa where we took the ships, imprisoned the men, and confiscated all property as spoils of war. They were later executed, on my order.
They would have done no less to us; they were pirates, after all. Had the ransom not been paid, my life would have been forfeit. I warned them many times that I would see them hanged when I was freed. I suspect they didn’t believe me. Perhaps they thought it was simply boyish high spirits.
Still, I think fondly of my days of piracy on Pharmacusa. I yet consider myself to be one of their stripe; I, too — I, Gaius Iulius Caesar — take what I please through superior force of arms and tactics.
Well, it is the pirate way.
(What? It’s talk like a pirate day, not talk like every pirate day. I think Julius Caesar qualifies)
Sam is the wind beneath my wings. (via cleversimon)
You didn’t think he was making any of that up, did you?
(via cleversimon)
