Page:Cicero And The Fall Of The Roman Republic.djvu/298



CHAPTER IX.

ROME AFTER THE CONFERENCE OF LUCA.

56-52 B.C.

ÆSAR had spent the winter of 57-56 B.C. in his southern provinces, Illyricum and Cispalpine Gaul. A crisis was evidently at hand, and it was needful for him to be as near as possible to the capital "to set a form upon that indigest."

Towards the end of March he summoned Crassus to meet him at Ravenna. While they were consulting on the political situation the news arrived of Cicero's action in the matter of the Campanian land. The importance of this move was instantly manifest to Cæsar. An offensive and defensive alliance between Pompey and Cicero seemed imminent, and the two, once united, would secure the adherence of the equestrian order and of the country-people of Italy. If Pompey should support Cicero 262