THE SUPPLEMENT of DIONYSIUS VOSSIUS TO CAESAR'S FIRST BOOK of THE CIVIL WAR.
I think it needless to say any thing here, in opposition to those who
pretend, that the following Commentaries, concerning the Civil War, were not
penned by Caesar himself. We have not only the express testimony of
Suetonius to the contrary, but the very style sufficiently declares, that
Caesar alone could be the author of the work. There is room however to
suspect, from the abrupt manner in which the subject is introduced, that the
beginning of this first book is wanting: for history takes notice of several
previous facts, of which no mention is made here. I have therefore collected
out of Plutarch, Appian, and
Dion, as much as was necessary to connect
this and the former Commentary, and fancy it will not be disagreeable to the
reader, to offer it here by way of preface.
Gaul being wholly reduced, Caesar, upon
his arrival in
Lombardy, thought proper, for many
reasons, to send deputies to
Rome, to demand the consulship, and a
prolongation of his command. Pompey, who, though averse to Caesar's
interest, had not yet openly declared against him, neither furthered nor
opposed his request. But the consuls Marcellus and Lentulus, who had already
joined the party of his enemies, resolved by every method in their power to
frustrate the design. Marcellus scrupled not to add other injuries to that
of which we speak. For Caesar had lately planted a colony at Novocomum in
Cisalpine Gaul; and Marcellus, not satisfied with stripping the inhabitants
of the privilege of Roman citizens, seized one of their chief magistrates at
Rome, ordered him to be scourged, and
then dismissed him to carry his complaints to Caesar, an ignominy from which
all free citizens were expressly exempted by the laws. While affairs were in
this train, C. Curio, tribune of the people, came to Caesar in
Gaul. This nobleman, after many attempts
in behalf of the commonwealth, and to promote Caesar's interest; finding at
length all his endeavours without effect, fled from
Rome, to avoid the malice of his enemies,
and informed Caesar of all that was transacted against him. Caesar received
him with great marks of respect, as well on account of his rank in the
commonwealth, as the many services he had done himself and the state; and
thanked him for the signal zeal he had shown in his cause. But Curio advised
him, since his enemies were now openly preparing for war, to draw his army
together without delay, and rescue the commonwealth from the tyranny of an
aspiring faction. Caesar, though fully satisfied of the truth of Curio's
report, resolved to sacrifice all other considerations to the public
tranquillity, that no man might justly charge him with being the author of a
civil war. He therefore only petitioned by his friends, that the government
of Cisalpine Gaul and
Illyricum, with the command of two
legions, might be continued to him, in all which his principal aim was, by
the equity of his demands, to induce his enemies to grant peace to the
commonwealth. These offers appeared so reasonable, that even Pompey himself
knew not how to oppose them. But the consuls still continuing inflexible,
Caesar wrote a letter to the senate, wherein, after briefly enumerating his
exploits and services, he requested them not to deprive him of the benefit
of the people's favour, who had permitted him to sue for the consulship in
his absence. He protested his readiness, if such was the resolution of the
senate and people of
Rome, to dismiss his army, provided
Pompey did the same: but could by no means resolve, so long as he continued
in command and authority, to divest himself of troops, and lay himself open
to the injuries of his enemies. Curio was commissoned to carry this letter,
who travelling with incredible despatch, reached
Rome in three days (a distance of a
hundred and sixty miles,) before the beginning of January, and ere the
consuls could get any thing determined relating to Caesar's command. Curio,
upon his arrival, refused to part with the letter, resolving not to deliver
it but in full senate, and when the tribunes of the people were present: for
he was apprehensive, should he do otherwise, that the consuls would suppress
it.
