ABSTRACT
Now for that he was very liberal in expences, buying (as some thought) but a vaine and short glorie of the favor of the people: (where in deede he bought good cheape the greatest thinges that coulde be.) Some say, that before he bare any office in the common wealth, he was growen in debt, to the summe of thirteene hundred talentes.2 Furthermore, bicause he was made overseer of the worke, for the high way going unto Appius, he disbursed a great summe of his owne money towardes the charges of the same. And on the other side, when he was made JEdilis, for that he did show the people the pastime of three hundred and twentie cople of sword players, and did besides exceede all other in sumptuousnes in the sportes and common [castes which he made to delight them with all : (and did as it were drowne all the stately shewes of others in the like, that had gone before him) he so pleased the people, and wan their love therwith, that they devised daily to give him new offices for to requite him. At that time there were two factions in Rome, to wit, the faction of Sylla, which was very strong and of great power, and the other of :t-.1arius, which then was under foote and durst not shew it selfe. But Cresar, bicause he would renue it again, even at that time when he being JEdilis, all the feasts and common sports were in their greatest ruffe: he secretly caused images of Marius to be made, and of victories that caried triumphes, and those he set up one night within the Capitol. The next morning when every man saw the glistering of these golden images excellently well wrought, shewing by the inscriptions, that they were the victories which Marius had wonne apon the Cimbres: everyone marveled much at the boldnes of him that durst set them up there, knowing well enough who it was. Hereuppon, it ranne straight through all the citie, and everie man came thither to see them. Then some cried out apon Cresar, and sayd it was a tyranny which he ment to set up, by renuing of such honors as before had bene troden under foote, and forgotten, by common decree and open proclamation3 : and that it was no more but a baite to gage the peoples good wils, which he had set out in the stately shewes of his common playes, to see if he
Julius CtBsar had brought them to his lure, that they would abide such partes to be played, and a new alteracion of things to be made ... [Cresar was elected Pontifex Maximus, to the alarm of the Senate.] Then Catulus and Piso fell flatly out with Cicero, and condemned him, for that he did not bewray Cresar, when he knew that he was of conspiracie with Catiline, and had oportunitie to have done it.l For when Catiline was bent and determined, not onely to overthrow the state of the common wealth, but utterly to destroy the Empire of Rome, he scaped out of the handes of justice for lacke of sufficient proofe, before his full treason and determination was knowen. Notwithstanding he left Lentulus and Cethegus in the citie, companions of his conspiracie: unto whom, whether Cresar did geve any secret helpe or comfort, it is not well knowen. [But Cresar pleaded in the Senate for leniency to them.] This opinion was thought more gentle, and withall was uttered with such a passing good grace and eloquence, that not only they which were to speake after him did approve it: but such also as had spoken to the contrarie before, revoked their opinion and stucke to his, until it came to Cato and Catulus to speake. They both did sharpely invey against him, but Cato chiefly: who in his oration made Cresar suspected to be of the conspiracie, and stowtly spake against him, insomuch that the offenders were put into the hands of the officers to be put to death.2 Cresar comming out of the Senate, a company of young men which garded Cicero for the safetie of his person, did sette apon him with their swordes drawen. But some say, that Curio covered Cresar with his gowne, and tooke him out of their handes. And Cicero selfe, when the young men looked apon him, beckened with his head that they should not kil him, either fearing the fury of the people, or els that he thought it too shamefull and wicked a parte. But if that were true, I marvell why Cicero did not put it into his baoke he wrote of his Cansulshippe. But certainly they blamed him afterwards, for that he tooke not the opartunitie offered him against Cresar, onely for overmuch feare of the people, that loved him verie dearely ... [Cato, fearing a revolt, got the Senate to give free corn to the poor.] This counsell quenched a present great feare, and did in happie time scatter and disperse abroade the best parte of Cresars force and power, at such time as he was made Prretor, and that for respect of his office he was most to be feared. Yet all the time he was officer, he never sought any alteracion in the common wealth ...
