[-32-] When they had thus assumed the leadership of the State, they had the other offices given to such as were well disposed toward them and prevented Marcus Cato from being appointed praetor.  They suspected that he would not submit to their regime and were unwilling to add any legal power to his outspoken opposition.  The nomination of the praetors was made in peace, for Cato did not see fit to offer any violence:  in the matter of the curule aediles, however, assassinations took place, so that Pompey was implicated in much bloodshed.  The other officials, too,—­those elected by the people,—­they appointed to please themselves (for they controlled the elections), and they made friends with the other aediles and most of the tribunes.  Two tribunes, Gaius Ateius Capito and Publius Aquilius Gallus, would not come to terms with them.

[-33-] Accordingly, when the offices had been settled, they possessed the object of their strivings.  They themselves made no mention of these matters before either the senate or the populace, but gravely pretended that they wanted nothing further.  Gaius Trebonius, however, a tribune, presented a measure that to the one Syria and its environs be given to rule over for five years, and to the other the Hispaniae, where there had recently been an uprising, for a similar period; also that they should employ as many soldiers as they might wish, both citizens and allies, and should make peace and war with whomsoever they pleased.  Many, and especially the friends of Caesar, took offence at this, because those men after obtaining provinces to govern were likely to keep Caesar from holding his position for a much longer time; and therefore some prepared to speak against the measure.  Then the consuls fearing that they might fail utterly of the projects they had in hand won over all such supporters on the condition of extending his leadership also for three [54] years more (to follow the actual facts).  However, they submitted no part of his case to the populace until their own business had been ratified.  And the adherents of Caesar anticipated in this way, kept quiet, and the greater part of the rest, in bondage to fear and satisfied if even so they should save their lives, remained still. [-34-]On the other hand, Cato and Favonius resisted all their schemes, having the two tribunes and others to help them, since in fighting few against many their frankness was of no avail.  Favonius, who obtained from Trebonius only one hour for his speech in opposition, used it up in crying out at random about the distressing condition of the times.  Cato received the right of employing two hours in his harangue and turned his efforts to censuring the immediate proposition and the whole situation, as he was wont, and so he exhausted his time before he had touched upon any of the revolutionary aspects of the matter.  This was done not because he did not have the privilege of speaking also on that topic, but in order that he might be silenced by Trebonius