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CHAPTER VIII.

CICERO'S EXILE AND RETURN.

58-56 B.C.

LODIUS entered on his tribuneship on the 10th of December, and on the 1st of January 58 B.C. the consulship of Gabinius and Piso commenced. Cæsar was now proconsul of Gaul, but he delayed his departure and remained with his newly levied legions at the gates of Rome. Though both consuls were the servants of the triumvirs, they expected to be paid for their services. Clodius accordingly bargained to give them by decree of the People rich provinces and extraordinary allowances. Piso for instance received £80,000 under the title of table-furniture, though, as Cicero says, it would be more truly described as blood-money. Clodius next abolished the small fee which had hitherto been paid by the recipients of the public dole of corn,