[238] That he would go over to the opinion of Tiberius Nero--_Pedibus in sententian Tib. Neronis--iturum_. Any question submitted to the senate was decided by the majority of votes, which was ascertained either by _numeratio_, a counting of the votes, or by _discessio_, when those who were of one opinion, at the direction of the presiding magistrate, passed over to one side of the house, and those who were of the contrary opinion, to the other. See Aul. Gell. xiv. 7; Suet. Tib. 31; Adam's Rom. Ant.; Dr. Smith's Dictionary, Art. _Senatus_. [239] LI. It becomes all men, etc.--The beginning of this speech, attributed to Caesar, is imitated from Demosthenes, [Greek: _Peri ton hen Chersonaeso pragmaton: Edei men, o andres Athaenaioi, tous legontas apantas en umin maete pros echthran poieisthai logon maedena, maete pros charin_]. "It should be incumbent on all who speak before you, O Athenians, to advance no sentiment with any view either to enmity or to favor." [240] I consent to extraordinary measures--_Novum consilium adprobo_. "That is, I consent that you depart from the usage of your ancestors, by which Roman citizens were protected from death." _Bernouf_. [241] Whatever can be devised--_Omnium ingenia_. [242] Studied and impressive language--_Compositè atque magnificè. Compositè_, in language nicely put together; elegantly. _Magnificè_, in striking or imposing terms. _Compositè_ is applied to the speech of Caesar, by Cato, in the following chapter. [243] Such I know to be his character, such his discretion--_Eos mores, eam modestiam viri cognovi_. I have translated _modestiam, discretion_, which seems to be the proper meaning of the word. Beauzée renders it _prudence_, and adds a note upon it, which may be worth transcription. "I translate _modestia_," says he, "by _prudence_, and think myself authorized to do so. _Sic definitur a Stoicis_, says Cicero (De Off. i. 40), _ut modestia sit sicentia earum rerum, quae agentur, aut dicentur, loco suo collocandarum_; and shortly afterward, _Sic fit ut modestia scientia sit opportunitatis idoneorum ad agendum temporum_. And what is understood in French by prudence? It is, according to the Dictionary of the Academy, 'a virtue by which we discern and practice what is proper in the conduct of life.' This is almost a translation of the words of Cicero". [244] That--death is a relief from suffering, not a torment, etc. --This Epicurean doctrine prevailed very much at Rome in Caesar's, and afterward. We may very well suppose Caesar to have been a sincere convert to it. Cato alludes to this passage in the speech which follows; as also Cicero, in his fourth Oration against Catiline, c. 4. See, for opinions on this point, the first book of Cicero's Tusculan Questions.