[Footnote 449:  Some amplification is necessary here in order to preserve Plutarch’s metaphor.  He was fond of such poetical turns.

    Nec poterat quemquam placidi pellacia ponti
    Subdola pellicere in fraudem ridentibus undis.

Lucretius, v. 1002.]

[Footnote 450:  See the Life of Pompeius, c. 48.]

[Footnote 451:  The military tribunes, it appears, were now elected by the people, or part of them at least.  Comp.  Liv. 43, c. 14.]

[Footnote 452:  His aunt Julia and his wife Cornelia died during his quaestorship, probably B.C. 68.]

[Footnote 453:  The Roman word is Imagines.  There is a curious passage about the Roman Imagines in Polybius (vi. 53, ed.  Bekker)—­“Viginti clarissimarum familiarum imagines antelatae sunt.”  Tacit. Annal. iii. 76.]

[Footnote 454:  The origin of this custom with respect to women is told by Livius (5. c. 50).  It was introduced after the capture of the city by the Gauls, as a reward to the women for contributing to the ransom demanded by the enemy.]

[Footnote 455:  Antistius Vetus (Vell.  Paterculus, ii. 18) was Praetor of the division of Iberia which was called Baetica.  His son C. Antistius Veius was Quaestor B.C. 61 under Caesar in Iberia.]

[Footnote 456:  She was a daughter of Q. Pompeius Rufus, the son-in-law of Sulla, who lost his life B.C. 88, during the consulship of his father.  See the Life of Sulla, c. 6 notes.  The daughter who is here mentioned was Julia, Caesar’s only child.]

[Footnote 457:  This was the road from Rome to Capua, which was begun by the Censor Appius Claudius Caecus B.C. 312, and afterwards continued to Brundisium.  It commenced at Rome and ran in nearly a direct line to Terracina across the Pomptine marshes.

The appointment as commissioner (curator) for repairing and making roads was an office of honour, and one that gave a man the opportunity of gaining popular favour.]

[Footnote 458:  Caesar was Curule AEdile B.C. 65.]

[Footnote 459:  Q. Metellus Pius, Consul B.C. 80.  Caesar’s competitors were P. Servilius Isauricus, consul B.C. 79, under whom Caesar had fought against the pirates, and Q. Lutatius Catulus, consul B.C. 78, the son of the Catulus whom Marius put to death.  Caesar was already a Pontifex, but the acquisition of the post of Pontifex Maximus, which places him at the head of religion, was an object of ambition to him in his present position.  The office was for life, it brought him an official residence in the Via Sacra, and increased political influence.]

[Footnote 460:  The conspiracy of Catiline happened B.C. 63, when Cicero was consul.  See the Life of Cicero, c. 10, &c.  Sallustius (Catilina, c. 51, &c.) has given the speeches of Caesar and Cato in the debate upon the fate of the conspirators who had been seized.  If we have not the words of Caesar, there is no reason for supposing that we have not the substance of his speech.  Whatever might be Caesar’s object, his proposal was consistent with law and a fair trial.  The execution of the conspirators was a violent and illegal measure.]