Page:Roman Constitutional History, 753-44 B.C..djvu/226

212 in the ranks of the democrats, but had early joined the side of Sulla. He had celebrated a triumph before holding any magistracy, and was considered second only to Sulla. Compared with the men of his time, he was a moral, honest, and worthy man. He was an excellent soldier and an able general. But he was not a politician, much less a statesman. He had risen too rapidly, hence considered himself entitled to, and aspired to, a special position in the state. He had, however, neither the determination nor the courage to seize the opportunity when within his grasp, and yet was not content to be one of the many.

Marcus Crassus. — Marcus Licinius Crassus also did not attach himself definitely to any party, but pursued merely personal aims. He was somewhat older than Pompeius, had distinguished himself under Sulla, and was very active, persevering, and greedy of gain. He had laid the foundation of his fortune during the proscriptions and confiscations of Sulla, was later a builder and banker, but disdained no source of profit. As a result he became the richest Roman of his time, and, in spite of enormous political expenses, was still worth more than $9,000,000 (HS. 170,000,000) not long before his death. Wealth was to him a means of obtaining political influence. He favored his friends with loans "on call," could thus make a great number of them bankrupt, and had them in his power. He was accordingly safe from attack even by rash politicians. When everything seemed to be for sale, why should he not buy Rome and become its master?

Julius Caesar. — Gaius Julius Caesar, later so closely connected with Crassus and Pompeius, was, at Sulla's death, a young man of about twenty-four, since he was probably born in 102. As the son-in-law of Cinna and a relation by marriage of Marius, he might be expected to enter the ranks