it would serve as a starting point for indignation. They failed to
gain their petition, for while no one spoke against it there were many
preferring the same request on behalf of others and thus among a mass of
similar representations their demand also was rejected on some plausible
excuse. Then they openly showed their anger, and one of them issued from
the senate-chamber and grasping a sword (they had gone in unarmed) said:
"If you do not grant the consulship to Caesar, this shall grant it." And
Cicero interrupting him answered: "If you exhort in this way, he will get
it." Now for Cicero this instrument had destruction in readiness. Caesar
did not censure the soldier's act, but made a complaint because they had
been obliged to lay aside their arms on entering the senate and because
one of them was asked whether they had been sent by the legions or by
Caesar. He summoned in haste Antony and Lepidus (whom he had attached to
him through friendship for Antony), and he himself, pretending to have
been forced to such measures by his soldiers, set out with all of them
against Rome. [-44-] Some[22] of the knights and others who were present
they suspected were acting as spies and they consequently slew them,
besides injuring the lands of such as were not in accord with them and
doing much other damage with this excuse. The senators on ascertaining
their approach sent them their money before they came near, hoping that
when the invaders received that they might retire, and when they still
pressed on they appointed Caesar consul. Nothing, however, was gained by
this step. The soldiers were not at all grateful to them for what
they had done not willingly but under compulsion, but were even more
emboldened, in the idea that they had thoroughly frightened them.
Learning of this the senate altered its policy and bade the host not
approach the city but remain over one hundred and fifty stadia from
it. They themselves also changed their garb again and committed to
the praetors the care of the city, as had been the custom. And besides
garrisoning other points they occupied Janiculum in advance with the