[3] On his arrival, he assumed all the insignia of a supreme magistrate being preceded by lictors carrying the axes and fasces.

[4] Cataline himself, finding his affairs desperate, threw himself into the midst of the enemy, and there found the death he sought.  (Sallust.)

* * * * *

CHAPTER XX.

SECTION I.

FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE FIRST TRIUMVIRATE, TO THE DEATH OF POMPEY.—­U.C. 694.

  How happy was I, in my lawful wars
  In Germany, in Gaul, and Brittany! 
  When every night with pleasure I set down
  What the day ministered; then sleep came sweetly.
                    Beaumont and Fletcher.

1.  The first thing that Caesar did, upon forming the Trium’virate, was to avail himself of the interest of his confederates to obtain the consulship. 2.  The senate had still some influence left; and though they were obliged to concur in choosing him, yet they gave him for a colleague one Bib’ulus, whom they supposed would be a check upon his power. 3.  But the opposition was too strong for even superior abilities to resist; so that Bib’ulus, after a slight attempt in favour of the senate, remained inactive. 4.  Caesar began his schemes for empire by ingratiating himself with the people; he procured a law for dividing certain lands in Campa’nia among such of the poor citizens as had at least three children.  This proposal was just enough in itself, and it was criminal only from the views of the proposer.

5.  Having thus strengthened himself at home, he deliberated with his confederates about sharing the foreign provinces of the empire. 6.  The partition was soon made:  Pompey chose Spain; for, being fatigued with conquest, and satiated with military fame, he was willing to take his pleasures at Rome.  Crassus chose Syria; which province, as it had hitherto enriched the generals who had subdued it, would, he hoped, gratify him in this his favourite pursuit.  To Caesar were left the provinces of Gaul, composed of fierce and powerful nations, most of them unsubdued, and the rest only professing a nominal subjection. 7.  As this was appointing him rather to conquer than command, the government was granted him for five years, as if by its continuance to compensate for its danger.

8.  It would be impossible, in this narrow compass, to enumerate the battles Caesar fought, and the states he subdued, in his expeditions into Gaul and Britain, which continued eight years.

[Illustration:  Caesar landing in Britain.]