Julius Caesar | Page 6

however, to both
law and custom, he took his departure before the usual equipage and
outfit were prepared. It is uncertain whether this precipitancy arose
from the apprehension of an impeachment, with which he was
threatened on the expiration of his former office, or from his anxiety to
lose no time in relieving the allies, who implored him to come to their
aid. He had no (12) sooner established tranquillity in the province, than,
without waiting for the arrival of his successor, he returned to Rome,
with equal haste, to sue for a triumph [40], and the consulship. The day
of election, however, being already fixed by proclamation, he could not
legally be admitted a candidate, unless he entered the city as a private
person [41]. On this emergency he solicited a suspension of the laws in
his favour; but such an indulgence being strongly opposed, he found
himself under the necessity of abandoning all thoughts of a triumph,
lest he should be disappointed of the consulship.
XIX. Of the two other competitors for the consulship, Lucius Luceius
and Marcus Bibulus, he joined with the former, upon condition that
Luceius, being a man of less interest but greater affluence, should

promise money to the electors, in their joint names. Upon which the
party of the nobles, dreading how far he might carry matters in that
high office, with a colleague disposed to concur in and second his
measures, advised Bibulus to promise the voters as much as the other;
and most of them contributed towards the expense, Cato himself
admitting that bribery; under such circumstances, was for the public
good [42]. He was accordingly elected consul jointly with Bibulus.
Actuated still by the same motives, the prevailing party took care to
assign provinces of small importance to the new consuls, such as the
care of the woods and roads. Caesar, incensed at this indignity,
endeavoured by the most assiduous and flattering attentions to gain to
his side Cneius Pompey, at that time dissatisfied with the senate for the
backwardness they shewed to confirm his acts, after his victories over
Mithridates. He likewise brought about a reconciliation between
Pompey and Marcus Crassus, who had been at variance from (13) the
time of their joint consulship, in which office they were continually
clashing; and he entered into an agreement with both, that nothing
should be transacted in the government, which was displeasing to any
of the three.
XX. Having entered upon his office [43], he introduced a new
regulation, that the daily acts both of the senate and people should be
committed to writing, and published [44]. He also revived an old
custom, that an officer [45] should precede him, and his lictors follow
him, on the alternate months when the fasces were not carried before
him. Upon preferring a bill to the people for the division of some public
lands, he was opposed by his colleague, whom he violently drove out
of the forum. Next day the insulted consul made a complaint in the
senate of this treatment; but such was the consternation, that no one
having the courage to bring the matter forward or move a censure,
which had been often done under outrages of less importance, he was
so much dispirited, that until the expiration of his office he never
stirred from home, and did nothing but issue edicts to obstruct his
colleague's proceedings. From that time, therefore, Caesar had the sole
management of public affairs; insomuch that some wags, when they
signed any instrument as witnesses, did not add "in the consulship of
Caesar and Bibulus," but, "of Julius and Caesar;" putting the same

person down twice, under his name and surname. The following verses
likewise were currently repeated on this occasion:
Non Bibulo quidquam nuper, sed Caesare factum est; Nam Bibulo fieri
consule nil memini.
Nothing was done in Bibulus's year: No; Caesar only then was consul
here.
(14) The land of Stellas, consecrated by our ancestors to the gods, with
some other lands in Campania left subject to tribute, for the support of
the expenses of the government, he divided, but not by lot, among
upwards of twenty thousand freemen, who had each of them three or
more children. He eased the publicans, upon their petition, of a third
part of the sum which they had engaged to pay into the public treasury;
and openly admonished them not to bid so extravagantly upon the next
occasion. He made various profuse grants to meet the wishes of others,
no one opposing him; or if any such attempt was made, it was soon
suppressed. Marcus Cato, who interrupted him in his proceedings, he
ordered to be dragged out of the senate-house by a lictor, and carried to
prison. Lucius Lucullus, likewise, for opposing him with some warmth,
he so terrified