Greece -- Biography -- Early works to 1800; Rome -- Biography -- Early works to 1800
XI. In Libya, as to the foundation of Carthage,[105] which Caius named
Junonia, which is the same as Heraea, it is said there were many
supernatural hindrances. For the first standard was seized and broken by
a violent gust of wind, though the standard-bearer stuck to it
vigorously; and the victims which were lying on the altars were
dispersed by a tempest, and scattered beyond the stakes which marked the
limits of the city, and the stakes were torn up by the wolves and
carried a long way off. However Caius, after settling and arranging
everything in seventy days, returned to Rome upon hearing that Fulvius
was hard pressed by Drusus, and that affairs required his presence.
Lucius Opimius, a man who belonged to the faction of the oligarchs,[106]
and had great influence in the senate, failed on a former occasion when
he was a candidate for the consulship, at the time when Caius brought
forward Fannius and canvassed against Opimius; but now, being supported
by a powerful party, it was expected that Opimius would be elected
consul and would put down Caius, whose influence was already in some
degree on the wane, and the people also were tired of such measures as
his, for there were many who sought their favour, and the senate easily
gave way.
XII. On his return from Libya, Caius removed from the Palatium to the
neighbourhood of the Forum, as being a more popular place of residence,
for it happened that most of the lowest classes of the poor lived there;
he next promulgated the rest of his measures, intending to take the vote
of the people upon them. As crowds were collecting from all parts to
support Caius, the senate prevailed on the consul Fannius to drive out
of the city all who were not Romans. Accordingly a strange and unusual
proclamation was made, to the effect that none of the allies or friends
of the Roman state should appear in Rome during those days; on which
Caius published a counter edict, in which he criminated the consul and
promised his support to the allies if they remained in Rome. But he did
not keep his promise; for though he saw one of them, who was his own
friend and intimate, dragged off by the officers of Fannius, he passed
by without helping him, whether it was that he feared to put to the test
his power which was now on the decline, or that he did not choose, as he
said, to give his enemies the opportunity which they were seeking of
coming to a collision and a struggle. It also chanced that he had
incurred the ill-will of his fellow-colleagues, in the following
manner:--The people were going to see an exhibition of gladiators in the
Forum, and most of the magistrates had constructed seats round the
place, with the intention of letting them for hire. But Caius urged them
to remove the seats, that the poor might be able to see the show without
paying. As no one took any notice of what he said, he waited till the
night before the show, when he went with the workmen whom he had under
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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