Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.4, 1865).djvu/325

 CAESAR. 317 have procured him that title, gave it out, that it was fore- told in the Sybils' books that the Romans should conquer the Parthians when they fought against them under the conduct of a king, but not before. And one day, as Cae- sar was coming down from Alba to Rome, some were so bold as to salute him by the name of king ; but he find- ing the people disrelish it, seemed to resent it himself, and said his name was Caesar, not king. Upon this, there was a general silence, and he passed on looking not very well pleased or contented. Another time, when the sen- ate had conferred on him some extravagant honors, he chanced to receive the message as he was sitting on the rostra, where, though the consuls and praetors them- selves waited on him, attended by the whole body of the senate, he did not rise, but behaved himself to them as if they had been private men, and told them his honors wanted rather to be retrenched than increased. This treatment offended not only the senate, but the com- monalty too, as if they thought the affront upon the sen- ate equally reflected upon the whole republic ; so that all who could decently leave him went off, looking much discomposed. Caesar, perceiving the false step he had made, immediately retired home ; and laying his throat bare, told his friends that he was ready to offer this to any one who would give the stroke. But afterwards he made the malady from which he suffered, the excuse for his sitting, saying that those who are attacked by it, lose their presence of mind, if they talk much standing ; that they presently grow giddy, fall into convulsions, and quite lose their reason. But this was not the reality, for he would willingly have stood up to the senate, had not Cor- nelius Balbus, one of his friends, or rather flatterers, hin- dered him. " Will you not remember," said he, " you are Caesar, and claim the honor which is due to your merit?"