Accordingly, Cato apprehending danger mainly from some movement of the needy part of the people, who were like a firebrand among the rest of the citizens, as they had all their hopes in Caesar, prevailed on the Senate to give them a monthly allowance of corn, which produced an addition to the rest of the expenditure of seven millions[464] five hundred thousands.  However, the immediate alarm was manifestly quenched by this measure, which snapped off the best part of Caesar’s influence and scattered it, at a time when he was going to enter on his office of Praetor which made him more formidable.

IX.  No tumults occurred in Caesar’s Praetorship,[465] but a disagreeable incident happened in his family.  Publius Clodius,[466] a man of Patrician rank, was distinguished both by wealth and eloquence, but in arrogance and impudence he was not inferior to the most notorious scoundrels in Rome.  Clodius was in love with Pompeia, Caesar’s wife, and Pompeia was in no way averse to him.  But a strict watch was kept over the woman’s apartment, and Aurelia, Caesar’s mother, who was a prudent woman, by always observing Pompeia, made it difficult and hazardous for the lovers to have an interview.  Now the Romans have a goddess whom they call Bona, as the Greeks have a Gynaeceia.  The Phrygians, who claim this goddess, say she was the mother of King Midas; the Romans say she was a Dryad and the wife of Faunus; but the Greeks say she is one of the mothers of Dionysus, whose name must not be uttered; and this is the reason why they cover the tents with vine-leaves during the celebration of her festival, and a sacred serpent sits by the goddess according to the mythus.  No man is allowed to approach the festival, nor to be in the house during the celebration of the rites; but the women by themselves are said to perform many rites similar to the Orphic in the celebration.  Accordingly when the season of the festival is come, the husband, if he be consul or praetor, leaves the house and every male also quits it; and the wife taking possession of the house makes all arrangements, and the chief ceremonies are celebrated by night, the evening festival being accompanied with mirth and much music.

X. While Pompeia[467] was now celebrating this festival, Clodius, who was not yet bearded, and for this reason thought that he should not be discovered, assumed the dress and equipment of a female lute-player and went to the house looking just like a young woman.  Finding the door open, he was safely let in by a female slave who was in the secret, and who forthwith ran off to tell Pompeia.  As there was some delay and Clodius was too impatient to wait where the woman had left him, but was rambling about the house, which was large, and trying to avoid the lights, Aurelia’s waiting-woman, as was natural for one woman with another, challenged him to a little mirthful sport, and as he declined the invitations, she pulled him forward and asked who he was and where he came from.