"
Meantime Caesar was exerting himself greatly. He was now at no
great distance from Italy, and not only sent his soldiers to vote
in the elections, but by private pecuniary applications, corrupted
many of the magistrates. Paulus the consul was of the number, and
he had one thousand five hundred talents for changing sides. So
also was Curio, one of the tribunes of the people, for whom he
paid off an immense debt, and Mark Antony, who, out of friendship
for Curio, had stood engaged with him for the debt.
It is said, that when one of Caesar's officers, who stood before
the senate-house, waiting the issue of the debates, was informed
that they would not give Caesar a longer term in his command, he
laid his hand on his sword, and said, "But this shall give it."
Indeed, all the preparations of his general tended that way;
though Curio's demands in behalf of Caesar seemed more plausible.
He proposed, that either Pompey should likewise be obliged to
dismiss his forces, or Caesar suffered to keep his. "If they are
both reduced to a private station," said he, "they will agree upon
reasonable terms; or, if each retains his respective power, they
will be satisfied. But he who weakens the one, without doing the
same by the other, must double that force which he fears will
subvert the government.
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