[857] “Pompey appears to agree with the Senate in requiring absolutely the return of Cæsar on the Ides of Novembre. Curio is decided to do everything rather than suffer this: the rest he cares little about. Our party—you know them well—do not dare to undertake a deadly combat. This is how things stand now. Pompey, who, without attacking Cæsar, will accord nothing to him but what is just, accuses Curio of being an agent of discord. At the bottom, he will not allow that Cæsar be designated consul before he has given up his army and his province, and his great fear is that that may happen. He is by no means spared by Curio, who throws continually his second consulate in his teeth. I will tell you what will come to pass: if they do not use discretion with Curio, Cæsar will gain a defender in him. With the fear which they show of the opposition of a tribune, they will do so much that Cæsar will remain indefinitely master in Gaul.” Cicero, Epist. ad Familiar. VIII. 11.)
[858] Dio Cassius, XL. 41.—Appian, Civil Wars, II. 27.
[859] Appian, Civil Wars, II. 27.
[860] Cœlius to Cicero, Epist. Familiar., VIII. 13.
[861] “It is his custom to speak in one way and to think in another; but he has not head enough to prevent people from seeing through him.” (Cœlius to Cicero, Epist. ad Familiar., VIII. 1.)
[862] Appian, Civil Wars, II. 28.
[863] Plutarch, Cæsar, 34.
[864] Plutarch, Pompey, 61.
[865] Appian, Civil Wars, II. 29.—Plutarch, Cæsar, 32.
[866] Appian, Civil Wars, II. 29.—This officer (Appius) affected to undervalue the exploits which had been accomplished in that country (Gaul), and to spread rumours injurious to Cæsar. “Pompey,” said he, “must have known very little his strength and reputation, otherwise would he, in order to measure himself with Cæsar, seek other troops than those which were at his disposal? He would conquer him with the very legions of his enemy, as soon as he appeared, so much did the soldiers hate Cæsar, and desire to see Pompey again.” (Plutarch, Pompey, 61.)