The pain, however, was not wholly without some mingling of pleasure.  A husband finds a strange sense of protection and safety in the presence and sympathy of an affectionate wife in the hour of his calamity.  She can, perhaps do nothing, but her mute and sorrowful concern and pity comfort and reassure him.  Cornelia, however, was able to render her husband some essential aid.  She resolved immediately to accompany him wherever he should go; and, by their joint endeavors, a little fleet was gathered, and such supplies as could be hastily obtained, and such attendants and followers as were willing to share his fate, were taken on board.  During all this time Pompey would not go on shore himself, but remained on board, his ship in the harbor.  Perhaps he was afraid of some treachery or surprise, or perhaps, in his fallen and hopeless condition, he was unwilling to expose himself to the gaze of those who had so often seen him in all the splendor of his former power.

[Sidenote:  He sails along the Mediterranean.] [Sidenote:  Pompey receives additional supplies.]

At length, when all was ready, he sailed away.  He passed eastward along the Mediterranean, touching at such ports as he supposed most likely to favor his cause.  Vague and uncertain, but still alarming rumors that Caesar was advancing in pursuit of him met him every where, and the people of the various provinces were taking sides, some in his favor and some against him, the excitement being every where so great that the utmost caution and circumspection were required in all his movements.  Sometimes he was refused permission to land; at others, his friends were too few to afford him protection; and at others still, though the authorities professed friendship, he did not dare to trust them.  He obtained, however, some supplies of money and some accessions to the number of ships and men under his command, until at length he had quite a little fleet in his train.  Several men of rank and influence, who had served under him in the days of his prosperity, nobly adhered to him now, and formed a sort of court or council on board his galley, where they held with their great though fallen commander frequent conversations on the plan which it was best to pursue.

[Sidenote:  He seeks refuge in Egypt.] [Sidenote:  Ptolemy and Cleopatra.]

It was finally decided that it was best to seek refuge in Egypt.  There seemed to be, in fact, no alternative.  All the rest of the world was evidently going over to Caesar.  Pompey had been the means, some years before, of restoring a certain king of Egypt to his throne, and many of his soldiers had been left in the country, and remained there still.  It is true that the king himself had died.  He had left a daughter named Cleopatra, and also a son, who was at this time very young.  The name of this youthful prince was Ptolemy.  Ptolemy and Cleopatra bad been made by their father joint heirs to the throne.  But Ptolemy, or, rather, the ministers and counselors