The murder of Pompey in Egypt and Caesar's tears on learning of his rival's death

Caesar holds the head of the murdered Pompey in his hands and dissolves into tears.

Pompey was treacherously murdered in Egypt: he was lured by a ruse into leaving his warship and going ashore, and since the invitation of Ptolemy Dionysus was relayed by centurions who had served under Pompey himself, he suspected no harm; and no sooner had the commander set foot on the land of Cape Cassius than he was stabbed in the back. He fell dead, having managed only to cover his face with his toga.

His body was beheaded and thrown out to be devoured by wild beasts, yet two of Pompey's former soldiers nonetheless consigned his remains to the flames. And although Caesar had dreamed of taking his adversary captive, he burned with no hatred for him and did not wish him dead, least of all in a manner so humiliating and weighed down with base treachery. On learning the fate of his great enemy, Caesar wept in earnest. Pompey's head he ordered to be committed, with honours, to the fire of sweet-smelling incense. How tangled are the threads of fate: for Caesar himself was destined to perish by treacherous blows in the back...