and his palace in the city was dedicated to the Goddess of Liberty.

The kingdom of Cyprus, which had long been attached to that of Egypt,
had been bequeathed to Rome at the death of Ptolemy Alexander in 80.
The Senate had delayed to accept the bequest, and meanwhile the island
was ruled by Ptolemy of Cyprus, one of the heirs of the dead king.

Clodius, on the plea that this king harbored pirates, persuaded the
Assembly to annex the island, and to send Cato to take charge of it.
He accepted the mission, and was absent two years. His duties were
satisfactorily performed, and he returned with about $7,000,000 to
increase the Roman treasury. Thus, Cicero and Cato being out of the
city, the Senate was without a leader who could work injury in
Caesar's absence.




CHAPTER XXX.

CAESAR'S CAMPAIGNS IN GAUL.


Caesar was now in the prime of manhood, in the full vigor of mind and
body. His previous experience in camp life had been comparatively
small. His early service in Asia, and his more recent campaigns in
Spain, however, had shown his aptitude for military life.

The Romans had already obtained a foothold in Gaul. Since 118, the
southern part of the country along the seaboard had been a Roman