按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
this disguise of good humour and affability； and said that； in
general； in all he did and undertook； he detected the ambition for
absolute power； 〃but when I see his hair so carefully arranged； and
observe him adjusting it with one finger； I cannot imagine it should
enter into such a man's thoughts to subvert the Roman state。〃 But of
this more hereafter。
The first proof he had of the people's good…will to him was when
he received by their suffrages a tribuneship in the army； and came out
on the list with a higher place than Caius Popilius。 A second and
clearer instance of their favour appeared upon his making a
magnificent oration in praise of his aunt Julia； wife to Marius；
publicly in the forum； at whose funeral he was so bold as to bring
forth the images of Marius； which nobody had dared to produce since
the government came into Sylla's hands； Marius's party having from
that time been declared enemies of the state。 When some who were
present had begun to raise a cry against Caesar； the people answered
with loud shouts and clapping in his favour； expressing their joyful
surprise and satisfaction at his having； as it were； brought up
again from the grave those honours of Marius； which for so long a time
had been lost to the city。 It had always been the custom at Rome to
make funeral orations in praise of elderly matrons； but there was no
precedent of any upon young women till Caesar first made one upon
the death of his own wife。 This also procured him favour； and by
this show of affection he won upon the feelings of the people； who
looked upon him as a man of great tenderness and kindness of heart。
After he had buried his wife； he went as quaestor into Spain under one
of the praetors； named Vetus； whom he honoured ever after； and made
his son his own quaestor； when he himself came to be praetor。 After
this employment was ended； he married Pompeia； his third wife；
having then a daughter by Cornelia； his first wife； whom he afterwards
married to Pompey the Great。 He was so profuse in his expenses that；
before he had any public employment； he was in debt thirteen hundred
talents； and many thought that by incurring such expense to be popular
he changed a solid good for what would prove but a short and uncertain
return； but in truth he was purchasing what was of the greatest
value at an inconsiderable rate。 When he was made surveyor of the
Appian Way； he disbursed； besides the public money； a great sum out of
his private purse； and when he was aedile； he provided such a number
of gladiators； that he entertained the people with three hundred and
twenty single combats； and by his great liberality and magnificence in
theatrical shows； in processions； and public feastings； he threw
into the shade all the attempts that had been made before him； and
gained so much upon the people； that every one was eager to find out
new offices and new honours for him in return for his munificence。
There being two factions in the city； one that of Sylla； which was
very powerful； the other that of Marius； which was then broken and
in a low condition； he undertook to revive this and to make it his
own。 And to this end； whilst he was in the height of his repute with
the people for the magnificent shows he gave as aedile； he ordered
images of Marius and figures of Victory； with trophies in their hands；
to be carried privately in the night and placed in the capitol。 Next
morning when some saw them bright with gold and beautifully made； with
inscriptions upon them； referring them to Marius's exploits over the
Cimbrians； they were surprised at the boldness of him who had set them
up； nor was it difficult to guess who it was。 The fame of this soon
spread and brought together a great concourse of people。 Some cried
out that it was an open attempt against the established government
thus to revive those honours which had been buried by the laws and
decrees of the senate； that Caesar had done it to sound the temper
of the people whom he had prepared before； and to try whether they
were tame enough to bear his humour； and would quietly give way to his
innovations。 On the other hand； Marius's party took courage； and it
was incredible how numerous they were suddenly seen to be； and what
a multitude of them appeared and came shouting into the capitol。 Many；
when they saw Marius's likeness； cried for joy； and Caesar was
highly extolled as the one man； in the place of all others； who was
a relation worthy of Marius。 Upon this the senate met； and Catulus
Lutatius； one of the most eminent Romans of that time； stood up and
inveighed against Caesar； closing his speech with the remarkable
saying that Caesar was now not working mines； but planting batteries
to overthrow the state。 But when Caesar had made an apology for
himself； and satisfied the senate； his admirers were very much
animated； and advised him not to depart from his own thoughts for
any one； since with the people's good favour he would ere long get the
better of them all； and be the first man in the commonwealth。
At this time； Metellus； the high priest； died； and Catulus and
Isauricus； persons of the highest reputation； and who had great
influence in the senate； were competitors for the office； yet Caesar
would not give way to them； but presented himself to the people as a
candidate against them。 The several parties seeming very equal；
Catulus； who； because he had the most honour to lose； was the most
apprehensive of the event； sent to Caesar to buy him off； with
offers of a great sum of money。 But his answer was； that he was
ready to borrow a larger sum than that to carry on the contest。 Upon
the day of election； as his mother conducted him out of doors with
tears after embracing her； 〃My mother；〃 he said； 〃to…day you will
see me either high priest or an exile。〃 When the votes were taken；
after a great struggle； he carried it； and excited among the senate
and nobility great alarm lest he might now urge on the people to every
kind of insolence。 And Piso and Catulus found fault with Cicero for
having let Caesar escape； when in the conspiracy of Catiline he had
given the government such advantage against him。 For Catiline； who had
designed not only to change the present state of affairs； but to
subvert the whole empire and confound all； had himself taken to
flight； while the evidence was yet incomplete against him； before
his ultimate purposes had been properly discovered。 But he had left
Lentulus and Cethegus in the city to supply his place in the
conspiracy； and whether they received any secret encouragement and
assistance from Caesar is uncertain； all that is certain is； that they
were fully convicted in the senate； and when Cicero； the consul； asked
the several opinions of the senators； how they would have them