History of Julius Caesar Vol. 2 of 2

Cicero, Epist. Familiar., I. 9.

631

“The question of the lands of Campania, which ought to have been settled on the day of the Ides and the day following, is not yet decided. I have much difficulty in making up my mind on this question.” (Cicero, Epist. ad Quintum, II. 8.) (April, 698.)

632

“Appius is not yet returned from his visit to Cæsar.” (Cicero, Epist. ad Quintum, II. 6.) (April, 698.)

633

“Knowing well that small news as well as great news have reached Cæsar.” (Epist. ad Quintum, III. i. 3.)

634

Dio Cassius, XXXIX. 25.

635

Plutarch, Cæsar, 24.

636

“Appius, he says, has visited Cæsar, in order to wrest from him some nominations of tribunes.” (Cicero, Epist. ad Quintum, II. 15.)

637

Appian, Civil Wars, II. 17. – The consuls and proconsuls had twelve lictors, the prætors six, the dictators twenty-four, and the master of the cavalry a number which varied. The curule ædiles, the quæstors, and the tribunes of the people, not having the imperium, had no lictors. As, at the time of the conference of Lucca, there was no dictator or master of cavalry, the number of 120 fasces can only apply to the collective escort of proconsuls and prætors. It is not probable that the two consuls then in office at Rome should have gone to Lucca. On the other hand, the proconsuls were prohibited from quitting their provinces as long as they were in the exercise of their commands. (see Titus Livius, XLI. 7; XLIII. 1.) But as the conferences of Lucca took place just at the epoch when the proconsuls and proprætors were starting for their provinces (we know from Cicero, Epist. ad Atticum, III. 9, that this departure took place in the months of April and May), it is probable that the newly-named proconsuls and proprætors repaired to Lucca before they went to take possession of their commands. Thus the number of 120 fasces would represent the collective number of the lictors of proprætors or proconsuls who could pass through Lucca before embarking either at Pisa, or Adria, or at Ravenna.

On this hypothesis, we should have the following numbers: —

Plutarch (Pompey, 53) says in so many words that there were seen every day at his door 120 fasces of proconsuls and prætors.

638

Appian, Civil Wars, II. 17.

639

See Suetonius, Cæsar, 24. – The proof that this plan originated with Cæsar is found in the fact that Pompey and Crassus had not previously taken any steps to ensure their election.

640

We have put into the mouth of Cæsar the following words of Cicero: “In giving the Alps as a boundary to Italy, Nature had not done it without a special intention of the gods. If the entrance had been open to the ferocity and the multitude of the Gauls, this town would never have been the seat and centre of a great empire. These lofty mountains may now level themselves; there is now nothing, from the Alps to the ocean, which Italy has to fear. One or two campaigns more, and fear or hope, punishments or recompenses, arms or the laws, will reduce all Gaul into subjection to us, and attach her to us by everlasting ties.” (Cicero, Orat. de Provinciis Consularibus, 14.

641

Cicero, Orat. pro Muræna, 18.

642

Orat. de Provinciis Consularibus, 15.

643

“Evidently all opposition to these great men, especially since the brilliant successes of Cæsar, was contrary to the general feeling, and unanimously rejected.” (Cicero, Epist. Familiar., I. 9.)

644

“Cæsar, strengthened by his successes, and by the recompenses, honours, and testimonials with which the Senate had loaded him, had just lent to this illustrious order his glory and his influence.” (Cicero, Epist. Familiar., I. 9.)

645

“Why should I wait to be reconciled with Cæsar? Has this reconcilement not been effected already by the Senate? the Senate, the supreme council of the Republic, my rule and my guide in all my opinions. I walk in your steps, senators, I obey your counsels, I yield to your authority… So long as the political measures of Cæsar have not had your approbation, you did not see me allied with him. When his exploits had changed your feelings and dispositions, you have seen me not only agree in your decisions, but loudly applaud them.” (Cicero, Orat. de Provinciis Consularibus, 10.)

646

Epist. Familiar., I. 9.

647

Epist. ad Atticum, IV. 5.

648

Cicero, Orat. de Prov. Consularibus, 9. (August, A.U.C. 698.)

649

Cicero, Orat. de Prov. Consularibus, 13. (August, A.U.C. 698.)

650

Cicero, Orat. pro Balbo, 27.

651

Cicero, Epist. Familiar., I. 7.

652

Dio Cassius, XXXIX. 27.

653

Dio Cassius, XXXIX. 29.

654