The First Book S3 



them already cashiered ; wherewith they were so surprised, 

 crossed, and confused, as they would not suffer him to go 

 on in his speech, but rehnquislied their demands, and made 

 it their suit to be again called by the name of milites. 



27. The second speech was thus : Caesar did extremely affect 

 the name of king ; and some were set on as he passed by in 

 popular acclamation to salute him king: whereupon, find- 

 ing the cry weak and poor, he put it off thus, in a kind of 

 jest, as if they had mistaken his surname; Non Rex sum, 

 sed Ccssar;^ a speech that if it be searched the life and 

 fulness of it can scarce be expressed. For, first, it was 

 a refusal of the name, but yet not serious: again, it did 

 signify an infinite confidence and magnanimity, as if he 

 presumed Caesar was the greater title ; as by his worthiness 

 it is come to pass till this day : but chiefly it was a speech 

 of great allurement toward his own purpose ; as if the state 

 did strive with him but for a name, whereof mean families 

 were vested; for Rex was a surname with the Romans, as 

 well as King is with us.^ 



28. The last speech which I will mention, was used to Metellus, 

 when Caesar after war declared did possess himself of the 

 city of Rome; at which time entering into the inner 

 treasury to take the money there accumulated, Metellus 

 being tribune forbade him : whereto Caesar said. That if he 

 did not desist, he would lay him dead in the place. And pre- 

 sently taking himself up, he added, Adolescens, durius est 

 mihi hoc dicer e qudm facer e. Young man, it is harder for me 

 to speak than to do it.^ A speech compounded of the greatest 

 terror and greatest clemency that could proceed out of the 

 mouth of man.* 



29. But to return and conclude with him ; it is evident, him- 

 self knew well his own perfection in learning, and took it 

 upon him; as appeared when, upon occasion that some 

 spake what a strange resolution it was in Lucius Sylla to 

 resign his dictature; he scoffing at him to his own advan- 

 tage answered. That Sylla could not skill of letters, and there- 

 fore knew not how to dictate} 



^ Suet. Jul. CcBS. c. 70. • Cf. Hor. Sat. I. vii. 



• Plutarch. Jul. Cces. 



• To these might have well been added Caesar's exhortation to 

 the boatman, " Thou earnest Caesar and his fortunes." 



• Suet. Jul. Cas. c. 77. 



