History of Julius Caesar Vol. 2 of 2

798

Cicero, Epist. ad Atticum, VI. 1.

799

“The Salaminians sought to borrow money at Rome to pay their taxes, but, as the law Gabinia prohibited it, the friends of Brutus, who offered to lend it them at four per cent. a month, demanded a senatus-consultus for their safety, which Brutus obtained for them.” (Cicero, Epist. ad Atticum, V. 21.)

800

Appian, Civil Wars, II. 25.

801

Suetonius, Cæsar, 30.

802

Cœlius to Cicero, Epist. Familiar., VIII. 14.

803

Dio Cassius, XLI. 6.

804

In our opinion, Professor A.W. Zumpt (Studia Romana, Berlin, 1859) is the only one who has cleared up this question; and we shall borrow of him the greatest part of his arguments. As to M. Th. Mommsen, in a special dissertation, entitled The Question of Right between Cæsar and the Senate, he proves that we must distinguish in the proconsulship between the provincia and the imperium. According to him, the provincia being given at the same time with the consulship, it could be taken possession of, according to the law Sempronia, only on the Calends of the month of January of the following year; the imperium, or military command, was added to it two months later, on the Calends of March. The provincia was given by a senatus-consultus, and counted from January to January; the imperium was given by a curiate law, and went from March to March: the imperium followed the rules of the military service; a year commenced was reputed finished, as for the campaigns of the soldiers, and thus the two first months of 705 might count for a complete year. The learned professor concludes that, if the Senate had the right to deprive Cæsar of his imperium, it could not take from him the command of the province before the end of the year 705, and that then Cæsar would find himself in the same position as all the proconsuls who, during the interval between the 1st of January, the commencement of their proconsulship, and the 1st of March, the time when they received the imperium, had the potestas, and not the military command. This system, we see, rests upon hypotheses which it is difficult to admit.

805

“Erat autem obscuritas quædam.” (Cicero, Pro Marcello, 10.)

806

The question became complicated through the difference of origin of the powers given for each of the two Gauls. The Senate had the power of taking away from Cæsar’s command Ulterior Gaul, which was given to him by a senatus-consultus, but it could not deprive him of Citerior Gaul, given by a plebiscitum, and yet it was the contrary opinion that Cicero sustained in 698. In fact, he exclaimed then, in his Oration on the Consular Provinces: “He separates the part of the province on which there can be no opposition (because it has been given by a senatus-consultus), and does not touch that which can be easily attacked; and, at the same time that he dares not take away that which has been given by the people, he is in haste to take away all, senator as he is, that which has been given by the Senate.” (Cicero, Orat. de Provinc. Consular., 15. – Velleius Paterculus, II. 44. – Suetonius, Cæsar, 20. – Appian, Civil Wars, II. 13. – Dio Cassius, XXXVIII. 8.)

807

The 1st of March was the commencement of the ancient Roman year, the period at which the generals entered into campaign.

808

P. Servilius, who was consul in 675, took possession of his province a short time after he entered upon his duties as consul; he returned in 679. Cicero (Orat. III. in Verrem, 90) says that he held the command during five years. This number can only be explained by admitting that the years 675 and 679 were reckoned as complete. L. Piso, who was consul in 696, quitted Rome at the end of his consulship, and returned thither in the summer of 699. Now, he was considered as having exercised the command during three years. (Cicero, In Pisonem, 35, 40.) They must, therefore, have counted as one year of the proconsulship the few months of 695. (See Mommsen, The Question of Right between Cæsar and the Senate, p. 28.)

809

At all times the assemblies have been seen striving to shorten the duration of the powers given by the people to a man whose sympathies were not with them. Here is an example. The Constitution of 1848 decided that the President of the French Republic should be named for four years. The Prince Louis Napoleon was elected on the 10th of December, 1848, and proclaimed on the 20th of the same month. His powers ought to have ended on the 20th of December, 1852. Now, the Constituent Assembly, which foresaw the election of Prince Louis Napoleon, fixed the termination of the presidency to the second Sunday of the Month of May, 1852, thus robbing him of seven months.

810

De Bello Gallico, VIII. 39.

811

Dio Cassius, XL. 59.

812

Appian, Civil Wars, II. 4.

813

“Quid ergo? exercitum retinentis, quum legis dies transierit, rationem haberi placet? Mihi vero ne absentis quidem.” (Epist. ad Atticum, VII. 7.)

814

Cicero, Epist. ad Atticum, VII. 9.

815

“Absenti sibi, quandocumque imperii tempus expleri cœpisset.” (Suetonius, Cæsar, 26. – Cicero, Epist. Famil., XIII. 11.)

816

Cæsar, De Bello Civili, I. 5.

817

“I have contended that regard should be had to Cæsar for his absence. It was not to favour him; it is for the honour of a decision of the people, promoted by the consul himself.” (Cicero, Epist. Familiar., VI. 6.)

818

Titus Livius, Epitome, CVIII.

819

“Sed quum id datum est, illud una datum est.” (Epist. ad Atticum, VII. 7.)

820

“Doluisse se, quod populi Romani beneficium sibi per contumeliam ab inimicus extorqueretur, erepto semestri imperio in urbem retraheretur.” (Cæsar, De Bello Civili, I. 9.)

821

See, on the period of the comitia, Cicero, Epist. ad Atticum, III. 13; Epist. Familiar., VIII. 4.

822

Although all the facts prove that the term of the power was to cease in 707, Plutarch (Pompey, 55) reckons four years of prolongation, and Dio Cassius (XL. 44, 46) five, which shows the difference in the estimation of dates. (Zumpt, Studia Romana, 85.)

823

“I believe certainly in Pompey’s intention of starting for Spain, and it is what I by no means approve. I have easily demonstrated to Theophanes that the best policy was not to go away. I am more uneasy for the Republic since I see by your letters that our friend Pompey is going to Spain.” (Cicero, Epist. ad Atticum, V. 11.)

824

Cicero, Epist. Familiar., VIII. 4.

825

“But at last, after several successive adjournments, and the certainty well acquired that Pompey consented to consider the recall of Cæsar on the Calends of March, the senatus-consultus was passed, which I send you.” (Cœlius to Cicero, Epist. Familiar., VIII. 8.)

826

Cœlius to Cicero, Epist. Familiar., VIII. 8.

827

Cœlius to Cicero, Epist. Familiar., VIII. 8.

828

Cœlius to Cicero, Epist. Familiar., VIII. 8, §§ 3, 4.

829

“But the consuls, who fear being obliged, by a decree of the Senate, to leave for the war, and who feel at the same time how disgraceful it will be to them if this commission fall on any other but them, will absolutely not allow the Senate to assemble; they carry it so far as to make people suspect them of want of zeal for the Republic: there is no knowing if it be negligence, or cowardice, or the fear of which I have just spoken; but what is concealed under this appearance of reserve is, that they will not have that province.” (Cœlius to Cicero, Epist. Familiar., VIII. 10.)

830

“With the succour of Dejotarus, the enemies may be held at bay till the arrival of Pompey, who sends me word that they intend him for this war.” (Cicero, Epist. ad Atticum, VI. 1.) – “At this news of the passage of the Euphrates, every one offers to give his advice: this man would have them send Pompey; the other Cæsar and his army.” (Cœlius to Cicero, Epist. Familiar., VIII. 10.)

831

Cicero, Epist. ad Atticum, V. 20

832

He kept this title until the moment the civil war broke out.

833

Cicero, Epist. Familiar., VIII. 4.

834

Cœlius to Cicero, Epist. Familiar., VIII. 10.

835

“Ingeniosissime nequam.”

836

Cicero to Curio, Epist. Familiar., II. 7.

837

Cicero, Brutus, lx. 218.

838

Suetonius, Cæsar, 49.

839

Plutarch, Antony, 2. – Cicero, Philippica, II. xix. 48.

840

See his biography in Appendix D.

841

Cicero, Philippica, II. xx. 49.

842

Appian, Civil Wars, II. 26. – Yet Cicero, who never spared his adversaries, makes no mention of this act of corruption; and Velleius Paterculus (II. 48) expresses himself as follows: “Did Curio, as has been said, sell himself? It is a question we cannot venture to decide.”

843

“Æmilius Paulus built, they say, with this money the famous basilica which bears his name.” (Appian, Civil Wars, II. 26.)

844

“It was said of him that there was no man so low but he thought him worth the trouble of gaining.” (Cicero, Ad Div., VIII. 22.)

845

A villa near Aricia. (Cicero, Epist. ad Atticum, VI. 1.)

846

“Curio, in his ill humour at not having obtained the intercalation, has thrown himself, with unequalled levity, into the party of the people, and began to speak on Cæsar’s side.” (Cœlius to Cicero, Epist. Familiar., VIII. 6.)

847

See Appendix A.

848

Dio Cassius, XL. 62.

849

Cœlius to Cicero, Epist. Familiar., VIII. 6.

850

Cicero, Epist. ad Atticum, VI. 1; Ad Div., VIII. vi. 5. – Appian, Civil Wars, II. 27.

851

The following letter explains the nature of this tax: “This man of importance (P. Vedius) met me with two chariots, a chaise, a litter, and so great a number of valets, that, if Curio’s law passes, Vedius will surely be taxed at 100,000 sestertii. He had, moreover, a cynocephalus in one of his chariots, and wild asses in his equipage. I never saw a man so ridiculous.” (Cicero, Epist. ad Atticum, VI. i. 22.)

852

Dio Cassius, XL. 63.

853

Cicero, Epist. Familiar., VIII. 14.

854

De Bello Gallico, VIII. 50, 51, 52.

855

De Bello Gallico, VIII. 52.

856

“Pompey appears to agree with the Senate in requiring absolutely the return of Cæsar on the Ides of Novembre. Curio is decided to do everything rather than suffer this: the rest he cares little about. Our party – you know them well – do not dare to undertake a deadly combat. This is how things stand now. Pompey, who, without attacking Cæsar, will accord nothing to him but what is just, accuses Curio of being an agent of discord. At the bottom, he will not allow that Cæsar be designated consul before he has given up his army and his province, and his great fear is that that may happen. He is by no means spared by Curio, who throws continually his second consulate in his teeth. I will tell you what will come to pass: if they do not use discretion with Curio, Cæsar will gain a defender in him. With the fear which they show of the opposition of a tribune, they will do so much that Cæsar will remain indefinitely master in Gaul.” Cicero, Epist. ad Familiar. VIII. 11.)

857

Dio Cassius, XL. 41. – Appian, Civil Wars, II. 27.

858

Appian, Civil Wars, II. 27.

859

Cœlius to Cicero, Epist. Familiar., VIII. 13.

860

“It is his custom to speak in one way and to think in another; but he has not head enough to prevent people from seeing through him.” (Cœlius to Cicero, Epist. ad Familiar., VIII. 1.)

861

Appian, Civil Wars, II. 28.

862

Plutarch, Cæsar, 34.

863

Plutarch, Pompey, 61.

864

Appian, Civil Wars, II. 29. – Plutarch, Cæsar, 32.

865

Appian, Civil Wars, II. 29. – This officer (Appius) affected to undervalue the exploits which had been accomplished in that country (Gaul), and to spread rumours injurious to Cæsar. “Pompey,” said he, “must have known very little his strength and reputation, otherwise would he, in order to measure himself with Cæsar, seek other troops than those which were at his disposal? He would conquer him with the very legions of his enemy, as soon as he appeared, so much did the soldiers hate Cæsar, and desire to see Pompey again.” (Plutarch, Pompey, 61.)

866

“I should like to come nearer to you; but, I regret to say, I dare not trust myself to the two legions… The two legions must not be exposed in the presence of Cæsar without the cohorts from Picenum.” (Letter from Pompey to Domitius, Proconsul.– Cicero, Epist. ad Atticum, VIII. 12.) – “All my resources are reduced to two legions, which Pompey has retained in an odious manner, and of which he is no more sure than of foreigners.” (Cicero, Epist. ad Atticum, VII. 13.)

867

Plutarch, Pompey, 61.

868

Plutarch, Cæsar, 33.

869

“Do you approve that Labienus and Mamurra should have amassed immense riches?” (Cicero, Epist. ad Atticum, VII. 7.)

870

Dio Cassius, XL. 63, 64.

871

Appian, Civil Wars, II. 30. – Cicero, Epist. ad Atticum, VIII. 4.

872

Appian, Civil Wars, II. 31. – Cicero, Epist. ad Atticum, VI. 9; VII. 1.

873

Dio Cassius, XL. 64.

874

Appian, Civil Wars, II. 31.

875

Cœlius to Cicero, Epist. Familiar., VIII. 14.

876

Cicero, Epist. ad Atticum, VII. 3.

877

Cicero landed at Brundusium on the 7th of the Calends of December, 704. (Cicero, Epist. ad Atticum, VII. 2.)

878

“I receive flattering letters from Cæsar; Balbus writes me as many in his name. I am firmly determined not to flinch a finger’s length from the road of honour; but you know how much I am under obligation to Cæsar. Do you think that I have not to fear that they will reproach me my debt, if I vote even quietly in his favour, and, if I speak strongly, that they will ask it loudly from me? What am I to do? Pay it, you will say. Well! I will borrow from Cœlius. But think of it, I beg of you, for I expect, if I happen to speak firmly in the Senate, your good friend from Tartessus will at once tell me: You, pay what you owe!” (Year 704, 9th December. Cicero, Epist. ad Atticum, VII. 3.)

879

“What will become of us? I have a good mind to shut myself up in the citadel of Athens, whence I write you this note.” (Year 704. Epist. ad Atticum, VI. 9.) – “Consequently, leaving to the fools the initiative of speech, I think that I shall do well to endeavour to obtain this triumph, were it only to have a reason not to be in Rome; but they are sure to find a means to come to wrest my opinion from me. You will laugh at me. How I wish I had remained in my province!” (Cicero, Epist. ad Atticum, VII. 1.)

880

“He has borne witness, which I did not ask him, to my integrity, my equity, and my kindness, and he has refused me what I expected from him. You should see how Cæsar, in the letter in which he congratulates me and promises me everything, knows how to make the most of this abominable ingratitude of Cato! But this same Cato has caused twenty days to be granted to Bibulus. You must excuse me being spiteful; but this is a thing which I cannot bear, and which I will never forgive him.” (Year 704, November. Cicero, Epist. ad Atticum, VII. 2.)

881

Year 704, December. Cicero, Epist. ad Atticum, VII. 7. – The words entire order of the knights are not in the text, but they result from what Cæsar says in the same letter.

882

Year 704, December. Cicero, Epist. ad Atticum, VII. 3.

883

Year 704, December. Cicero, Epist. ad Atticum, VII. 7.

884

Cicero, Epist. ad Atticum, VII. 4.

885

“The situation of the Republic inspires me every day with more uneasiness. Honest people do not agree so well as is thought. How many Roman knights, how many senators, have I not heard inveighing against Pompey, particularly on account of this unfortunate journey! What we want is peace. All victory will be fatal, and cause a tyrant to rise up. Yes, I am one of those who think that it is better to grant all he (Cæsar) asks than to appeal to arms. It is now too late to resist him, when for the last ten years we have done nothing else but to give him strength against us.” (Year 704, December. Cicero, Epist. ad Atticum, VII. 5.)

886

Year 704, December. Cicero, Epist. ad Atticum, VII. 8.

887

“Senatus frequens in alia transiit.” (De Bello Gallico, VIII. 43.)

888

“Neque senatu interveniente.” (De Bello Gallico, VIII. 4.)

889

Suetonius, Cæsar, 30.

890

Appian, Civil Wars, II. 22. – Plutarch, Cæsar, 41; Pompey, 85.

891

De Bello Gallico, VIII. 54.

892

It ended before the consular year.

893

Drumann is of opinion that the “Commentaries” are in error in mentioning Fabius.

894

Plutarch, Pompey, 59. – Appian, Civil Wars, II. 32.

895

Velleius Paterculus, II. 49.

896

Cicero, Epist. ad Atticum, VII. 9.

897

Plutarch, Pompey, 63.

898

Plutarch (Pompey, 59) pretends even that they read it before the people.

899

Appian, Civil Wars, II. 32.

900

Cæsar, De Bello Civili, I. 1.

901

Cicero, Epist. Familiar., VIII. 8.

902

Cæsar, De Bello Civili, I. 3.

903

The Sibylline books had predicted the empire of Rome to three Cornelii: L. Cornelius Cinna had been consul; Sylla, dictator; Cornelius Lentulus was in hopes of being the third.

904

Cicero, Epist. Familiar., XVI. 12.

905

Appian, Civil Wars, II. 34.

906

Cicero, Epist. Familiar., XVI. 2. —Philippica, II. 21, 22.

907

Plutarch, Antony, 7. – Dio Cassius, XLI. 2, 3.

908

Plutarch, Antony, 7. – Appian, Civil Wars, II. 33.

909

Cicero, Epist. Familiar., XVI. 12.

910

Appian, Civil Wars, II. 34.

911

Cicero, Epist. Familiar., XVI. 11.

912

Florus, IV. 11.

913

Cæsar, De Bello Civili, I. 15. – Cicero, Epist. ad Atticum, VII. 23.

914

Cæsar, De Bello Civili, I. 7. – Cicero, Epist. ad Atticum, VII. 13.

915

Cæsar, De Bello Civili, I. 12. – Cicero, Epist. ad Atticum, VII. 3. – Lucan, Pharsalia, II., line 463.

916

Cæsar, De Bello Civili, I. 6, 30. – Cicero, Epist. Familiar., V. 20; XVI. 12; Epist. ad Atticum, X. 16. – Suetonius, Cæsar, 34.

917

Cicero, Epist. Familiar., XV. 11. – Appian, Civil Wars, II. 34. – Cæsar, De Bello Civili, I. 7.

918

Appian, Civil Wars, II. 36.

919

The “Commentaries,” it is true, say that the tribunes of the people rejoined Cæsar at Rimini: but it was more probably at Ravenna, as reported by Appian (II. 33), or in his camp between Ravenna and Rimini.

920

The words of the proclamation of the Emperor Napoleon on landing in the gulf of Juan in 1815.

921

Suetonius, Cæsar, 68.

922

Cicero, Epist. ad Atticum, VII. 12.

923

“Cæsar has received a terrible blow: T. Labienus, who had so much influence in his army, has refused to become his accomplice: he has left him and has joined us. This example will have numerous imitators.” (Cicero, Epist. Familiar., XVI. 12.) – “Labienus considers Cæsar as utterly unable to maintain the struggle.” (Cicero, Epist. ad Atticum, VII. 16.)

924

“Is that honourable … (in Cæsar) to think of nothing but abolition of debts, calling back exiles, and so many other outrages?” (Cicero, Epist. ad Atticum, VII. 11.)

925

“A power after the manner of Sylla, that is what Pompey desires, and what all those wish who surround him.” (Cicero, Epist. ad Atticum, VIII. 11.)