[-61-]Thus Curio began to espouse Caesar’s cause; not immediately, however, did he begin to show open activity, because he was seeking an excuse of fair semblance and was trying to appear to have transferred his allegiance not willingly, but under compulsion.  He also took into consideration that the more he should associate with his patron’s enemies in the guise of their friend the more and the greater secrets of theirs he would learn.  For these reasons he dissimulated for a very long time, and to prevent any suspicion of his having changed sides and not maintaining and representing still at this time an attitude of unqualified opposition to Caesar as one of the leading spirits in the movement, he even made a public harangue against him, as a result of which he gained the tribuneship and prepared many unusual measures.  Some bills he offered against the senate and its most powerful members, who were especially active in Pompey’s behalf, not because he either wished or expected that any one of them would be passed, but in order that, as they did not accept them, so no measure might be passed against Caesar (for many motions to his detriment were being offered by many persons), and that he himself might transfer his support on this excuse.

[-62-]After this, having used up considerable time at various occasions on various pretexts, not a single one of which met with favor, he pretended to be vexed and asked that another month be inserted for the legislation that resulted from his measures.  This practice was followed at regular periods, established by custom, but not for any such reason as his, and he himself, being pontifex, understood that fact.  Nevertheless he said that it ought to be done and made a fine show of forcing his fellow-priests.  At last not being able to persuade them to assent to his proposal (of which he was very glad), he would not permit any other matter for this reason to voted upon.  On the contrary he already began openly to justify Caesar’s actions, since, as he said, he was unable to accomplish anything against him, and brought forward every possible proposition which was sure of not being accepted.  The chief of these was that all persons in arms must lay these down and disband their legions, or else they should not strip Caesar of his weapons and expose him to the forces of his rivals.  This he said, not because he wished Caesar to do it, but because he well understood that Pompey would not yield obedience to it, and thus a plausible excuse was offered the former for not dismissing his soldiers.

[-63-] Pompey, accordingly, as he could effect nothing in any other way, proceeded without any further disguise to harsh measures and openly said and did everything against Caesar.  He failed, however, to accomplish aught.  Caesar had many followers, among them Lucius Paulus, colleague of Marcellus, and Lucius Piso, his father-in-law, who was censor.  For at this time Appius Claudius and Piso (though the latter did not