Cato the Younger

Accordingly, Caesar gave up his triumph, entered the city, and at once attached himself to Pompey and sought the consulship.[*](Cf. the Caesar, xiii. 1 f.) After he had been elected consul, he gave his daughter Julia in marriage to Pompey, and now that the two were united with one another against the state, the one would bring in laws offering allotment and distribution of land to the poor, and the other would be at hand with support for the laws.

But the party of Lucullus and Cicero, ranging themselves with Bibulus, the other consul, opposed the measures, and above all Cato, who now suspected that the friendly alliance between Caesar and Pompey had been made for no just purpose, and declared that he was afraid, not of the distribution of land, but of the reward which would be paid for this to those who were enticing the people with such favours.

By these utterances he brought the senate outside the senate to unanimity, and many men supported him out of displeasure at the strange conduct of Caesar; for whatever political schemes the boldest and most arrogant tribunes were wont to practise to win the favour of the multitude, these Caesar used with the support of consular power, in disgraceful and humiliating attempts to ingratiate himself with the people.[*](Cf. the Caesar, xiv. 1.)

Accordingly, the opponents of Cato were alarmed and had recourse to violence. To begin with, upon Bibulus himself, as he was going down into the forum, a basket of ordure was scattered; then the crowd fell upon his lictors and broke their fasces; and finally missiles flew and many persons were wounded.[*](Cf. the Pompey, xlviii. 1.) All the other senators fled from the forum at a run, but Cato went off last of all at a walk, turning about and protesting to the citizens.