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！
and most impudent wretch alive； who took him about； and exposed him as
a tool to the people； carrying him up and down among the throngs in
the market…place； to countenance those laws and speeches which he made
to cajole the people and ingratiate himself。 And at last； for his
reward； he demanded Pompey； as if he had not disgraced； but done him a
great kindness； that he should forsake （as in the end he did
forsake） Cicero； his friend； who on many public occasions had done him
the greatest service。 And so when Cicero was in danger； and implored
his aid； he would not admit him into his presence； but shutting up his
gates against those that came to mediate for him； slipt out at a
back door； whereupon Cicero； fearing the result of his trial； departed
privately from Rome。
About that time Caesar； returning from military service； started a
course of policy which brought him great present favour； and much
increased his power for the future； and proved extremely destructive
both to Pompey and the commonwealth。 For now he stood candidate for
his first consulship； and well observing the enmity betwixt Pompey and
Crassus； and finding that by joining with one he should make the other
his enemy； he endeavoured by all means to reconcile them； an object in
itself honourable and tending to the public good； but； as he undertook
it； a mischievous and subtle intrigue。 For he well knew that
opposite parties or factions in a commonwealth； like passengers in a
boat； serve to trim and balance the unsteady motions of power there；
whereas if they combine and come all over to one side； they cause a
shock which will be sure to overset the vessel and carry down
everything。 And therefore Cato wisely told those who charged all the
calamities of Rome upon the disagreement betwixt Pompey and Caesar
that they were in error in charging all the crime upon the last cause；
for it was not their discord and enmity； but their unanimity and
friendship； that gave the first and greatest blow to the commonwealth。
Caesar being thus elected consul； began at once to make an
interest with the poor and meaner sort； by preferring and establishing
laws for planting colonies and dividing lands； lowering the dignity of
his office； and turning his consulship into a sort of tribuneship
rather。 And when Bibulus； his colleague； opposed him； and Cato was
prepared to second Bibulus； and assist him vigorously； Caesar
brought Pompey upon the hustings； and addressing him in the sight of
the people； demanded his opinion upon the laws that were proposed。
Pompey gave his approbation。 〃Then；〃 said Caesar； 〃in case any man
should offer violence to these laws； will you be ready to give
assistance to the people？〃 〃Yes；〃 replied Pompey； 〃I shall be ready；
and against those that threaten the sword； I will appear with sword
and buckler。〃 Nothing ever was said or done by Pompey up to that day
that seemed more insolent or overbearing； so that his friends
endeavoured to apologize for it as a word spoken inadvertently； but by
his actions afterwards it appeared plainly that he was totally devoted
to Caesar's service。 For on a sudden； contrary to all expectation；
he married Julian； the daughter of Caesar； who had been affianced
before and was to be married within a few days to Caepio。 And to
appease Caepio's wrath； he gave him his own daughter in marriage；
who had been espoused before to Faustus； the son of Sylla。 Caesar
himself married Calpurnia； the daughter of Piso。
Upon this Pompey； filling the city with soldiers； carried all things
by force as he pleased。 As Bibulus； the consul； was going to the
forum； accompanied by Lucullus and Cato； they fell upon him on a
sudden and broke his rods； and somebody threw a vessel of ordure
upon the head of Bibulus himself； and two tribunes of the people；
who escorted him； were desperately wounded in the fray。 And thus
having cleared the forum of all their adversaries； they got their bill
for the division of lands established and passed into an act； and
not only so； but the whole populace； being taken with this bait；
became totally at their devotion； inquiring into nothing and without a
word giving their suffrages to whatever they propounded。 Thus they
confirmed all those acts and decrees of Pompey which were questioned
and contested by Lucullus； and to Caesar they granted the provinces of
Gaul； both within and without the Alps； together with Illyricum； for
five years； and likewise an army of four entire legions； then they
created consuls for the year ensuing； Piso； the father…in…law of
Caesar； and Gabinius； the most extravagant of Pompey's flatterers。
During all these transactions； Bibulus kept close within doors；
nor did he appear publicly in person for the space of eight months
together； notwithstanding he was consul； but sent out proclamations
full of bitter invectives and accusations against them both。 Cato
turned prophet； and as if he had been possessed with a spirit of
divination； did nothing else in the senate but foretell what evils
should befall the commonwealth and Pompey。 Lucullus pleaded old age；
and retired to take his ease； as superannuated for all airs of
state； which gave occasion to the saving of Pompey； that the
fatigues of luxury were not more seasonable for an old man than
those of government。 Which in truth proved a reflection upon himself
for he not long after let his fondness for his young wife seduce him
also into effeminate habits。 He gave all his time to her； and passed
his days in her company in country…houses and gardens； paying no
heed to what was going on in the forum。 Insomuch that Clodius； who was
then tribune of the people began to despise him； and engage in the
most audacious attempts。 For when he had banished Cicero； and sent
away Cato into Cyprus under pretence of military duty； and when Caesar
was gone upon his expedition to Gaul； finding the populace now looking
to him as the leader who did everything according to their pleasure；
he attempted forthwith to repeal some of Pompey's decrees； he took
Tigranes； the captive； out of prison； and kept him about him as his
companion； and commenced actions against several of Pompey's
friends； thus designing to try the extent of his power。 At last；
upon a time when Pompey was present at the hearing of a certain cause；
Clodius； accompanied with a crowd of profligate and impudent ruffians；
standing up in a place above the rest； put questions to the populace
as follows： 〃Who is the dissolute general？ who is the man that seeks
another man？ who scratches his head with one finger？〃 and the
rabble； upon the signal of his shaking his gown； with a great shout to
every question； like singers making responses in a chorus； made
answer； 〃Pompey。〃
This indeed was no small annoyance to Pompey； who was quite
unaccustomed to hear anything ill of himself； and unexperienced
altogether in such encounters； and he was yet more vexed when he saw
that the senate rejoiced at this foul usage； and regarded it as a just
punishment upon him for his treachery to Cicero。 But when it came even
to blows and wounds in the forum； and that one of Clodius's
bond…slaves was apprehended creeping through the crowd towards
Pompey with a sword in his hand； Pompey laid hold of this pretence；
though perhaps otherwise apprehensive of Clodius's insolence and bad
language； and never appeared again in the forum during all the time he
was tribune； but kept close at home； and passed his time in consulting
with his friends by what means he might best allay the displeasure
of the senate and nobles against him。 Among other expedients； Culleo
advised the divorce of Julian； and to abandon Caesar's friendship to
gain that of the senate； this he would not hearken to。 Others again
advised him to call home Cicero from banishment； a man who was
always the great adversary of Clodius； and as great a favourite of the
senate； to this he was easily persuaded。 And therefore he brought
Cicero's brother into the forum； attended with a strong party； to
petition for his return； where； after a warm dispute； in which several
were wounded and some slain； he got the victory over Clodius。
No sooner was Cicero returned home upon this decree； but immediately
he used his efforts to reconcile the senate to Pompey； and by speaking
in favour of the law upon the importations of corn； did again； in
effect； make Pompey sovereign lord of all the Roman possessions by sea
and land。 For by that law there were placed under his control all
ports； markets； and storehouses； and； in short； all the concerns
both of the merchants and the husbandmen； which gave occasion to the
charge brought against it by Clodius； what the law was not made
because of the scarcity of corn； but the scarcity of corn was made
that they might pass a law； whereby that power of his； which was now
grown feeble and consumptive； might be revived again； and Pompey
reinstated in a new empire。 Others look upon it as a politic device of
Spinther； the consul； whose design it was to secure Pompey in a
greater authority； that he himself might be sent in assistance to King
Ptolemy。 However； it is certain that Canidius； the tribune；
preferred a law to despatch Pompey in the character of a