The lives of the first twelve Cæsars

발행: 1796년

분량: 639페이지

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JULIUS CAESAR.

ille genealogy both of her and his fallier My aiant Iulia

derived hcr descent, by the mollier, frona a race of kings, and , by her fallier, from the immortal Gods. For the Marcii Reges, which was her mother's fami ly, deducetheir pedi gree frona Ancus Marcius, and the Julii, whichis that of her fallier, froin the goddesse Venus. v e there fore unite in Our descent the sacred majesty of hings, thegreatest among human kind, and the divine majest y of Gods, to wliona Lings thenaseives are sul edi. V In theroom of Cornelia he mari ted Pompeia, the daughter of L Pompeius, and grand-daughter of L. Sylla ; but this Iady he aster artis divorCed, upon a suspicion of her hav-ing had an intrigue with Publius Clodius. For so current was the repori, that the lalter had found accesse tober in woman's habit, during the performance of a religious solemnity, that the Senate ordered a commission olen quiry respecting the supposed profanation. VII. Upon his appo iniment to the Quaesior illip the province of the Farther Spa in seli to his lot; where, when, by commission si om the Praetor, he was going the circuit of the country, for ille administration os justice, and was arrived at Gades, feeing, in the temple of Hercules, astatue of Alexander the Great, he fetched a deep sigh : and as is veκed at his in activity, for having performednothing memorabie at an age at whicli Alexander had conquered the worid, lae immediately requested his di iacharge, with the vie w of embracing the firsi opportuni ty, whicli might present in the city, of entering Upon a more splendid career. His repose was farther disturbed by adream which he had the succeed ing night, of having beenguit ty of incestuous coin merce with his mollier. But the

interpreters of dreanas derived thence an omen of evenis

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jected to his will, was no Other than the earth, the Common parent of ali men.

VIII. Quitling there re the province besere the expiration of the usual term , he had recoui se to the Latin coloni es, then eager in the projest os solliciting for the s ree dona os Rome ; and he would have eXcited them to sonae bold attempi, had not the Consuis, to prevent any COmmotion, deta ined for sorne time the legions which hadbeen raised for the service of Cilicia. But this vigilance of the govertament did not deter him from mahing, s onaster, a yet greater emort within the precindis of the citu

IX. For a se days hesore he entered upon the AEdilesiis , he incurred a suspicion of engaging in a conspiracy With M. Crassiis, a man os consular rank ; to Whommere joined P. Sylla and L. Autronius, who after theyli ad been cholan Consuls, were convicted of bribery The plan of the conspira tors was to fati iapon the Senate in the heginning of the year, and to murder as many Ofthem a s mould be deemed eXpedient for their pui posse: Upon whicli event Crassius was to have assumed the officeos Dictator, and appotnt Caesar his Master of the horse When the commonwealth mould thus have been settied according to their pleas ure, the Consulmip was to have been restored to Sylla and Autronius. Mention is made

The proper ossice of the Master of horse was to command the cavali y, and to eYe cute the orders of the Dictator. He was usualty nominated hom amongst those of consular

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IULIUS CAESAR.

of this plot by Tanusius Germinus in his history, by M. Bibulus in his edidis, and by Curio the fallier, in his

orations. Cicero likewise seems to hini at the sanae transaction in a letter to Atticus, where he says, that Caesar had in his Consuli liis secured to himself that arbitrary pomer to which he had aspired When he was AEdile. Tanusius adiis, that Crassus, frona remorse or sear, didnot appear iapon the day appotnted for the massacre of the Senate : for whicli rea n Caesar did not give the signat, whicli, according to the plan concerted bet en them, he was to have announced. The agreement, Curio Dys, was, that he should sip his toga from his silioulder. V ehave the authori ty of the sanie Curio, and of M. Actorius Naso, for his having been likewise concerned in an Other conspiracy th young Cn. Piso ; to Whom, upona suspicion of s me mischi es being medita ted in the citri the province of Spain was decreed Out of coui se, as themeans os suspending any danger. It is however saidio have been agreed belween them, that Piso mouid ex .cite an insurrection against the governinent abro ad, whilis the other mouid attempt a similar revolt with in the limits of the domestic administration, by arti utly practi sim g upon the seditio us dispositions of the Lambrani, ando ther tribes beyond the Po. But the ercecution of this

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hea sis, and plays, both in conjunction with his colleagire, and by himself. On this account, he obtained the whole credit of the expence to whicli they had jointly contributed; in much that his Colleagire, M. Bibulus,

could not for bear remarhing that he was served in themanner of PolluX. For as the temple erected in the Forum to the two brothers, was denominated Castor's only,

se his and Caesar's joint munificence was imputed to thol alter atone. To the other public spectacles eYhibited tothe people, Caesar ad ted a combat os gladiators, but in asinalter number than he had intended. For so great was the company of them, which he Collected from ali paris, that those of the Patricians who were not of his partywere alai med ; and the senate passed an adi, restrictingine sit e s of gladiators to a certain number, whicli, forthe future, no person siiould he allowed to eYceed. XI. Having thus conciliated the good graces of the peo-ple, he endeavored, through his interest with so me of the Tribunes, to procure, by a decree of the commons, the province of AEgypt. The preteXt sor fuch an application was, that the Alexandrians had violently expelled their Ling, whom the senate had compli mented with thet ille os an atly and friend of the Roman people. Thistransaction, which seemcd to assest the dignity of the republic, produced a generat spirit os resentiarent among the populace at Rome : not illis fanding whicli, on account Os an opposition from a party of the nobility, ali the e fias oris of Caesar and his friends could not procure him theappotiatinent. To dimini sit there re the authori ty of that body, by every means in his power, he restored the trophies erected in honor of C. Marius, upon acCOunt Ofhis victories over Jugurtha, the Cimbri, and the Teuto

ni, but which had been demoli med by Sylla ; and si ting

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IULIUS CAESAR. II

in me capaci ty of a judge, he tre ted as murderers allthose who, in the late proscription, had received moneyout of the trea svry, for bringing in the heads of Romanciti gens, though they had been expressty absolved froni punissiment by subsequent laws. XII. He likewise procured a person to bring an impe achment of trcason against C. Rabirius, by whose assis ance the Senate had, a few years before, resti ained theseditio us attempts of L. Saturninus the Tribune ; and be-ing dra Nn by tot one of the judges for his triat, he disco-

vered so strong a destre to Convidi him, that upon his appealing to the people, no circumstance availed him 'somuch as the extraordinary bitternesse of his judge. XIII. Having renounc ed ali ho pe of obtaining the province of AEgypt, he stood candidate for the ossice of

High-pri est, in the pursuit of whicli ob edt, he had re-

Coui se to the ulmost profusion os bribery. Reiled in g, On this Occasion, On the greatnesse of the debis he had contracted , he is reported to have said to liis mother, Whenslie kissed him at his go ing out in the morning to the eleC-tion, I shali ne ver come home again, uni esse I am elected hi gh-priest. V In effeci, he so much bassied two Cona

petitors of the most powerfui interest, and greatly superior to hi in both in age and digni ty, that he had more voles in their own tit bes, than they both had in ali together.

XIV. Aster he had been cho sen Praetor, the Conspiracy of Catiline was disco vered, and while every other member of the Senate inclined to infidi capital punishment on the delinquenis, he alone ad vised to confiscatetheir estates, and commit their persons Io separate pri-

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a terror into those who were advocates for greater seve

rity, . by representing to them What a generat odium theywould infallibi3 incur, by carrying such a measure into execution, that D. Silanus, Consul-Εleci, thought properto qualisy his decision, because it was not very honorabie to change it, by a sostening interpretation, as ii his opinion had been under stood in a harsier sense than heintended ; and Caesar would certainly have cari ted hispoint, having brought over to his side a great number of the Senators, among whom was the brother of the Consul Cicero, had not a speech of M. Cato's infused neru vigor into the resolutions of the liouse. He persisted, however, to obstrudi their procee lings with intemperate ardor, untii a body of the equestrian Order, that s ood under arnas as a guard, holding up their draWnswords, threatened him with immediate death. Tho who sat nexi him instantly moved ossand a sew friends,

in their arms, and holding their togas before hi m. Atlast, dispirited by this resentinent, he not only relinquish ed the dehate, but absented himself froin the liouse during

the rem ainder of that year.

moned Catulus to render an account to the peopte

concerning the repairs of the Capitol; presenting at thesame time a bill, for transferring that commission to another person. But being unable to withstand the strongopposition made against him by the aristocratical party, whom he perceived qui iting, in great numbers, their attendance tipon the new Consuis, and fully resolved toresist his propolat, he dropi the design. XVI. He

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3ΠLIUS CAESAR. Ι3 ζVI. He asterwariis approved himself a most resolute adherent to Caecilius Metellus, Tribune of the commons,

who had preferred se me bilis of a seditious tendency to the people, in spite of ali opposition frona his colleagues,untii they were both dismissed from ossice by a vote of

the Senate. He ventured, notwithstanding, to continue

in the administration os justice; but finding sonae prepared to obstrudi him by force of arms, he disinissed his officers, threw olf his gown, and betook himself privately to his own house, with the resolution of heing quiet, in a time so unfavorabie to his interests. He like-wise pacified the mob, whicli in two days after assem hi edabout him, and in a riolous manner offered hi in theirassistance towards the vindication of his honor. Thisti appening contrary to eXpectation, the Senate, which hadmet in haste, upon occasion of the tumuli, gave him their thanks by sonae of the leading members of theliouse, sent for hina, and , after a high commendation os his bellaviour, cancelled their former vote, and restored

hi in to his place in the assembly. XVII. But he had scarcely oner emerged sto in his late dissester, than he seli again into a fresia danger; be-ing named amongst the accomplices of Catiline, both be- fore Novius Niger the Quaestor, by the informer L. Vettius, and in the senate by Curius ; to whom, for his

having fit si discovered the designs of the conspirator S, areward had been vo ted. Curius affirmed that he had received his information stom Catiline. Vettius eVen Cn- .gaged to produce in evidence against him his own hand writing, which he had gi ven to Catiline. Caesar declaring this treaiment to be intolerable, appealed to Cicero himself, whether he had not voluntari ly made a disco-

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which means he prevented Curius fio m receiving h seκpected reward. He obliged Vettius to give pledges toanswer sor his bellavio ur, alienated his goods, and asterseeing him uoughly used, and almost toria in pieces, in auaTembly of the peopte at the Rostra, threw him in prison; to which he likewise sent Novius the Quaestor,

sor having presumed to take an information against a magistrate os superior authori ty.

XVIIL At the expiration of his Praetorsiaip he gothy tot the Farther Spatia, and ab aled the violence of his creditors, who were for stopping him, by giving them

security Contrary, however, to both law and custom, he took his departure be re the usual alio ance fortiis equi page was pald him frona the trea svry. It is un- certa in Whether this precipitan Cy a rose si ona die apprehension os an impellchment, aster the expiration of his provinciat charge, Which was intended, or frona an ardorto rei leve the allies, who an Xio usi y longed for his preseiace. As soon as he had effablistaed tranquilli ty in the province, he, without watting for the arrival of his successor, returned to Rome, with equat has te, to sue fora triumph and the Consulmip. The day of eleelion, ho ver, bcing al ready iiXed by proclamation, he could not legally be admitted a candidate, utiles s hc entered the

' Plutarch informs ias, that Caesar, be re he came into any public ossice, oaved his creditors to the amount of onethous and three hundred talents, which mahes of our money sonae hat more than 36s,ocol. But his debis en creas edso much after this period, is we may belleve Appian, thalupon his departure for Spain, at the expirabion of his Praetorsiaip, he is reported to have seid, millies et ρ ingenties sibi deesse, ur nihil laberet: i. e. That he was tino millions and dear twenty thous and pound s Wopse than nothing

ci ty

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IULIUS CAESAR.

City as a private person. Oia this emergency he sollicited a suspension of the laws in his favor ; but sucii an indulgerice being strongly opposed, he found himself under the necesii ty of abandoning ali thoughts of a triunaph, test he ui ould be dilappotnted of the Consul hip. XIX. of the two other competitors for the Consul his , L. Luce ius and M. Bibulus, he joined with the former, Upon Condition that Luceius, being a man os tessinterest but greater assi uerace, si ould promise money to the burgemes in the nam e of them both. His opponenis

among the nobility dreading what enterpri se he might attempt, should he get possession of the Consulsi1ip withn colleague of the fame dispositions with himself, adviscd

Bibulus to promise the voters as much, and most of them contributed towards a mare of the eXpence ; Cato himself admitting that bribery upon such an occasionwas Consistent With, and even absolutely necessary to

the good of the publie. He was accordingly elected Consul with Bibulus. Adiuated stili by the sanae motives,

the prevalling party took care to assigia provinces of smallimportance to the new Consuis, lach as the care ofwoods and roads. Caesar, incensed at this indigni ty, endeavored by the most assiduous and fialtering attentionsto gain to his side Cn. Pompey, at that time dissatis sed with the Senate, for the backwardiaest illey siewed toConfit in his adis, after the conquest of Mithridates. Holikeriri se produced a reconciliation bet Neen Pompey and M. Crassus, who had been at variance froni the timeos their joint Consul stili , in Whicli ossice they were Continuat ly classi in g; and he entered into an agreement With both, that nothing slaould be transacted in ille go Vertament, that was displeasing to any of the three. XX. HaT-

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XX. Having ente red upon his ossice, he introduce I anem regulation, which was, that ali the adis both of the Senate and ptople mould he datly committed to writing, and immediately made public. He also revived an old custom, that an Accensus mould walla betore him, and his Lictors sollow him, on the alternate monthS whenthe fasces were not carried in his train. Upon preferringa bili to the peopte for the division os sonae public laniis, he was opposed by his colleague, whom he violentlydrove out of the Forum. Next day the insulted Consul

made a complaint in the Senate of this treatinent; butno member having the coiirage to move or ad vise the

heen osten done upon incidents of lesse importance, hewas so much dispirited, that untii the expiration of his office he never si irred fro in home, and only endeavoredio obstrudit the procee lings of his Colleague by procla-- mations. Frona that time, theres ore, Caesar had the solem anagement of public a Tati s ; insonauch that soriae wags,

when they signed any writing as witnesses, did not add in the consul ship of Caesar and Bibulus, ' but, of Julius and Caesar putting the fame person down twice

under his natare and sui name. The follo ng verses lihewise were currently repea ted on this occasion:

Νon Bibulo quidquam nuper, sed Caesare faetum est; Nam Bibulo fieri Consule nil memini. Nothing was done in Bibulus 's year :No ; Caesar only was late Consul here.

η Within the city, the Lii'tors went be re only one os the Consuis, and that commoratu for a monili alternately. A public servant, called Accensus, went be re the other Consul, and the Lictors followed. This custom had longbeen dis used, but was no π restored by Caesar. The

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