[-66-] These legions, therefore, were apparently made ready to be sent against the Parthians, but when there proved to be no need of them, (there was really no use to which they could be put,) Marcellus, fearing that they might be restored to Caesar, at first declared that they must remain in Italy, and then, as I have said, gave them into Pompey’s charge.  These proceedings took place near the close of the year and were destined not to be in force for long, since they had been approved neither by the senate nor by the populace:  accordingly, he brought over to Pompey’s side Cornelius Lentulus and Gaius Claudius, who were to hold the consulship the next year, and caused them to issue the same commands.  Since they were allowed to give out letters to men appointed to office and to perform even so early some other functions belonging to the highest post in the state before they assumed it, they believed that they had authority also in this matter.  And Pompey, although he was very exact in all other details, nevertheless on account of his need of soldiers did not investigate this action at all, nor the sources from which he was getting them, nor in what way, but accepted them very gratefully.  Yet no such result was accomplished as one would have expected to come from so great a piece of audacity:  they merely displayed their enmity toward Caesar, as a consequence of which they could not gather any further formidable equipment, and furnished to him a plausible excuse for retaining the troops that were with him.  For Curio using the acts mentioned as his text delivered before the populace a violent arraignment both of the consuls and of Pompey, and when he had finished his term he at once set out to join Caesar.

DIO’S ROMAN HISTORY

41

The following is contained in the Forty-first of Dio’s Rome.

How Caesar came into Italy, and how Pompey, leaving it, sailed across to Macedonia (chapters 1-17).

How Caesar subjugated Spain (chapters 18-37).

How Caesar sailed across to Macedonia to encounter Pompey (chapters 38-46).

How Caesar and Pompey fought at Dyrrachium (chapters 47-51).

How Caesar conquered Pompey at Pharsalus (chapters 52-63).

Duration of time, two years, in which there were the following magistrates, here enumerated.

L. Cornelius P.F.  Lentulus, C. Claudius M.F.  Marcellus. (B.C. 49 = a.u. 705.)

C. Iulius C.F.  Caesar (II), P. Servilius P.F.  Isauricus. (B.C. 48 = a.u. 706.)

(BOOK 41, BOISSEVAIN.)

[B.C. 49 (a.u. 705)]