40．Julius Caesar

Nearly two thousand years ago there lived in Rome a manwhose name was Julius Caesar．He was the greatest of all theRomans．Why was he so great？

He was a brave warrior ，and had conquered many countriesfor Rome．He was wise in planning and doing．He knew how tomake men both love and fear him．

At last he made himself the ruler of Rome ．Some said hewished to become its king．But the Romans at that time did notbelieve in kings．

Once when Caesar was passing through a little country vil－lage，all the men，women and children of the place came out tosee him．There were not more than fifty of them，all together，andthey were led by their mayor，who told each one what to do．

These simple people stood by the roadside and watchedCaesar pass．The mayor looked very proud and happy；for was henot the ruler of this village？He felt that he was almost as great asCaesar himself．

Some of the ranking officers who were with Caesar laughed．They said，"See how that fellow struts at the head of his littleflock！"

"Laugh as you will．"said Caesar，"he has reason to beproud．I would rather be the head mam of a village than the secondman in Rome！"

At another time，Caesar was crossing a narrow sea in a boat．Before he was half way to the farther shore ，a storm overtook him．The wind blew hard；the waves dashed high；the lightning flashed；the thunder rolled．

It seemed every minute as though the boat would sink．Thecaptain was in great fright ．He had crossed the sea manytimes，but never in such a storm as this．He trembled with fear；he could not guide the boat；he fell down upon his knees；hemoaned ，"All is lost！All is lost！"

But Caesar was not afraid．He bade the man get up andtake his oars again．

"Why should you be afraid？"he said．"The boat will not belost；for you have Caesar on board ．"

40．朱利叶斯·凯撒

大约两千年前，罗马有一个名叫朱利叶斯·凯撒的人。他是全体罗马人中最伟大的人。他为什么这么伟大呢？

他是个勇敢的战士，为罗马征服了许多国家。他计划周密，办事精明。他懂得如何让人们既爱他又怕他。

最后他让自己当上了罗马的统治者。有人说他想成为罗马国王。但那时候罗马并不信任国王。

有一次，凯撒途经一个小村庄，这个地方的男女老少都出来看他。总共不到50人，由他们的市长率领。市长告诉每一个人做什么。

这些纯朴的人站在路边看着凯撒走过。市长看上去既骄傲又得意，难道不是因为他是这个村庄的统治者吗？他感到自己几乎像凯撒一样伟大了。

随同凯撒的一些高级官员都笑了。他们说："看，这群人前头的那个家伙有多神气呀！"

"你们想怎么笑就怎么笑吧，"凯撒说。"他有他骄傲的理由。我宁愿做一村之长，也不做罗马的第二号人物。"

还有一次，凯撒乘小船横渡一个不宽的海面。划出还不到一半的路程时，遇到了暴风雨。风猛烈地刮着，波浪冲天，电闪雷鸣。

看上去这条船马上就要沉没了。船长害怕极了。他曾多次横渡大海，但是从没有遇到过这样的暴风雨。他吓得浑身发抖，无法再掌舵了。他跪下嘟囔着："全完了！全完了！"

但是凯撒一点也不害怕。他吩咐那个人站起来，重新拿起浆来。"你为什么害怕呢？"他问。"这条船不会沉没的，因为凯撒在船上。"