Metellus Pius, Consul B.C. 80. Caesar's competitors
were P. Servilius Isauricus, consul B.C. 79, under whom Caesar had
fought against the pirates, and Q. Lutatius Catulus, consul B.C. 78,
the son of the Catulus whom Marius put to death. Caesar was already a
Pontifex, but the acquisition of the post of Pontifex Maximus, which
places him at the head of religion, was an object of ambition to him
in his present position. The office was for life, it brought him an
official residence in the Via Sacra, and increased political
influence.]
[Footnote 460: The conspiracy of Catiline happened B.C. 63, when
Cicero was consul. See the Life of Cicero, c. 10, &c. Sallustius
(_Catilina_, c. 51, &c.) has given the speeches of Caesar and Cato in
the debate upon the fate of the conspirators who had been seized. If
we have not the words of Caesar, there is no reason for supposing that
we have not the substance of his speech. Whatever might be Caesar's
object, his proposal was consistent with law and a fair trial. The
execution of the conspirators was a violent and illegal measure.]
[Footnote 461: This circumstance is mentioned by Sallustius
(_Catilina_, 49), apparently as having happened when Caesar was leaving
the Senate, after one of the debates previous to that on which it was
determined to put the conspirators to death. Sallustius mentions
Catulus and C. Piso as the instigators. He also observes that they had
tried to prevail on Cicero to criminate Caesar by false testimony.
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