That is their dust you see;
The trumpeters announce him near!"
Said Marcus, "Woe is me!

"Fly, Cassius, fly! assign a guard!
Borrow what tents you can!
Encamp his soldiers round the field,
Or I'm a ruined man!

"Get sheep and oxen by the score!
Buy corn at any price!
O Jupiter! befriend me now,
And give me your advice!"

* * * * *

It turned out better than he feared,--
Things proved enough and good,--
And Cæsar made himself at home,
And much enjoyed his food.

But Marcus had an awful fright,--
_That_ can not be denied;
"I'm glad 'tis over!"--when it was--
The host sat down and sighed,

And when he wrote to Atticus,
And all the story told,
He ended his epistle thus:
"J.C.'s a warrior bold,