[Illustration: CÆSAR. Bust in the museum at Naples.] CHAPTER VII CÆSAR—SALLUST—OTHER PROSE WRITERS Cæsar, 102(?)-44 B. C.—Hirtius, ?-43 B. C.—Oppius, died after 44 B. C.—Continuations of Cæsar’s Commentaries—Sallust, 86-35 B. C.—Cornelius Nepos, before 100 B. C. to after 30 B. C.—Varro, 116-27 B. C.—Atticus, 109-32 B. C.—Hortensius, 114-50 B. C.—Calidius, died 47 B. C.—Calvus, 87-47 B. C.—Brutus, 78 (?)-42 B. C.—Cornificius, ?-41 B. C.—Quintus Cicero, 102-43, B. C.—Tiro—Nigidius Figulus, died 45 B. C.—Aurelius Opilius—Antonius Gnipho—Pompilius Andronicus—Santra—Servius Sulpicius Rufus. What has been said of Cicero applies with at least equal force to Cæsar—the story of his life belongs to the history of Rome rather than to that of literature. We must therefore content ourselves with a brief sketch. [Sidenote: Cæsar’s early life.] Gaius Julius Cæsar was born, according to the common account, in 100 B. C., but the real date is probably two years earlier. He was of patrician birth and his family claimed descent from Ascanius; or Iulus, the son of Æneas. Marius, his uncle by marriage, made him a priest of Jupiter at the age of not more than fifteen. While still little more than a boy he married Cornelia, the daughter of Cinna, and barely escaped the proscription of Sulla when he refused to divorce her. The young Cæsar was thus, in spite of his patrician birth, identified with the popular party. In 67 B. C. he was quæstor in Farther Spain, in 65 B. C. he became curule ædile, in which office he distinguished himself by the magnificence of his public games and exhibitions, and in 63 B. C. he was elected pontifex maximus, thereby becoming for life the official head of the Roman religion. [Sidenote: His government in Spain.] In 62 B. C. he was chosen prætor, and the next year was sent as proprætor to Farther Spain. Up to this time he was known chiefly as a dissolute man and an unscrupulous demagogue. His extravagance had involved him in debts amounting to more than a million dollars. But in the government of his province he distinguished himself by military successes and excellent civil administration, besides amassing sufficient wealth to pay his debts.