Page:Cicero And The Fall Of The Roman Republic.djvu/371

49 B.C.]

tenants in Illyricum and the overthrow of Curio's army in Africa were drawbacks which Cæsar's personal success far more than compensated. By the end of the year he was again at Brundisium, ready to cross over for the decisive struggle on the other side of the Adriatic.

Cicero's letters to Atticus enable us to trace, almost day by day, the fluctuations in the hopes, the wishes, and the opinions of the people of Italy during these eventful months. The first news that Cæsar was actually in armed rebellion shocked and disgusted all moderate men. They were moved by the spectacle of the city left without Senate or magistrates, and of Pompey in flight—"the whole aspect of opinion is changed; every one now thinks that no terms should be made with Cæsar." The Italians however showed themselves by no means ready to take arms in the quarrel, and the conscripts came in slowly and unwillingly. A month later the feeling against Cæsar has considerably cooled down. Cicero reports from Capua —"there is no indignation of any class, nor even of individuals publicly expressed. There is some feeling among loyal men, but it is blunted as usual; and (as I have clear evidence) the rabble and the lowest classes are keen on the other side, and many anxious for revolution."