Narrative in Eighth Book of the " Gallic War " 49 



route to headquarters. The review was held near the middle of 

 October. Labienus had been stationed in Cisalpine Gaul for some 

 time prior to the review. Caesar still had confidence in him, or, 

 if he had obtained any inkling of waning loyalty, deemed it best 

 to assume an attitude of confidence. In token of his faith Caesar 

 instructed Labienus to take charge of the Cisalpine province, with 

 the further task of promoting Caesar's interests as a candidate 

 for the consulship of 48. Caesar remained with his army for a 

 period of approximately three weeks, making occasional changes 

 of camping ground. 



In the meantime, beginning as early as the middle of September, 

 the time at which it is probable that the rumor with reference to 

 the occupation of Placentia was first current in Rome, efforts 

 were being made by Caesar's enemies to draw Labienus away 

 from his allegiance to Caesar. This fact was discovered in time 

 to be reported to Caesar, while he was still with his army after 

 the review, by friends in the city and possibly also by others in 

 the Cisalpine province. November 7, or thereabouts, Caesar, 

 accompanied by Hirtius, departed for Italy and arrived at Augusta 

 Praetoria by November 14. He then busied himself with the 

 provincial assizes. 



At a date earlier by several days, possibly, than November 25, 

 and before Caesar's arrival in Italy was known in Rome, a vote 

 was taken in the senate on the question of appointing successors 

 to Caesar and Pompeius. The senate voted affirmatively in the 

 first instance, negatively in the second. Curio surely vetoed the 

 vote inimical to Caesar. He then put tlje motion that both men 

 be required to resign their armies and provinces, a motion which 

 he had attempted to have a vote on earlier in the year, late in 

 April it may be, then only to be stopped by a colleague's veto. 

 The senate was now allowed to give expression to its sentiment 

 in the matter and approved by a vote of 370 to 22. This decree, 

 too, was doubtless vetoed by a tribune friendly to Pompeius, for 

 it was never invoked, so far as known, in later discussions on the 

 question of right between the contending parties. On November 

 25 it became known in Rome that Caesar was in Italy. But this 

 bare fact formed the kernel of a rumor that he was about to march 



341 



