Colleen McCullough - 4. Caesar's Women

"We have passed a milestone," said Cato to Bibulus that night in the peristyle garden of Bibulus's house, where the junior consul sat gazing at the sky. "Not only have they divided up Campania and Italia like eastern potentates, now they seal their unholy bonds with virgin daughters." "Shooting star, left lower quadrant!" rapped Bibulus to the scribe who sat some distance away, patiently waiting to write down the stellar phenomena his master saw, the light of his tiny lamp focused on his wax tablet. Then Bibulus rose, said the prayers which concluded a session of watching the skies, and led Cato inside. "Why are you surprised that Caesar should sell his daughter?'' he asked, not bothering to ascertain of one of the hardest drinkers in Rome whether he wanted water in his wine. "I had wondered how he'd manage to bind Pompeius. I knew he would! But this is the best and cleverest way. One hears she's absolutely exquisite." "You've not seen her either?" No one has, though no doubt that will change. Pompeius will parade her like a prize ewe. What is she, all of sixteen?" "Seventeen." "Servilia can't have been pleased." "Oh, he dealt with her very cleverly too," said Cato, getting up to replenish his goblet. "He gave her a pearl worth six million sesterces and paid Brutus the girl's hundred talent dowry." "Where did you hear all this?" "From Brutus when he came to see me today. At least that's one good turn Caesar has done the boni. From now on we have Brutus firmly in our camp. He's even announcing that in future he'll not be known as Caepio Brutus, simply as Brutus." "Brutus won't be nearly as much use to us as a marital alliance will be to Caesar," Bibulus said grimly. "For the moment, no. But I have hopes for Brutus now he's worked free of his mother. The pity of it is that he won't hear a word against the girl. I offered him my Porcia once she's of an age to marry, but he declined. Says he's never going to marry." Down went the rest of his wine; Cato swung about, hands clenched around the goblet. "Marcus, I could vomit! This is the most coldblooded, loathsome piece of political maneuvering I've ever heard of! Ever since Brutus came to see me I've been trying to keep a level head, trying to talk in a rational manner I can't one moment longer! Nothing we've ever done equals this! And it will work for Caesar, that's the worst of it!" "Sit down, Cato, please! I've already said it will work for Caesar. Be calm! We won't beat him by ranting, or by showing our disgust at this marriage. Continue as you started, rationally." Cato did sit down, but not before he poured himself more wine. Bibulus frowned. Why did Cato drink so much? Not that it ever seemed to impair him; perhaps it was his way to maintain strength. "Do you remember Lucius Vettius?" Bibulus asked. "The knight Caesar had beaten with the rods, then gave away his furniture to scum?" "The very one. He came to see me yesterday." "And?" "He loathes Caesar," Bibulus said contemplatively. "I'm not surprised. The incident made him a laughingstock." "He offered me his services." "That doesn't surprise me either. But how can you use him?" To drive a wedge between Caesar and his new son in law." Cato stared. "Impossible." "I agree the marriage makes it harder, but it's not impossible. Pompeius is so suspicious of everybody, including Caesar. Julia notwithstanding," said Bibulus. "After all, the girl is far too young to be dangerous in herself. She'll tire the Great Man out, between her physical demands and the tantrums immature females can never resist throwing. Particularly if we can encourage Pompeius to mistrust his father in law." "The only way to do that," said Cato, refilling his goblet, is to make Pompeius think that Caesar intends to assassinate him." It was Bibulus's turn to stare. "That we'd never do! I had political rivalry in mind." "We could, you know," said Cato, nodding. "Pompeius's sons aren't old enough to succeed to his position, but Caesar is. With Caesar's daughter married to him, a great many of Pompeius's clients and adherents would gravitate to Caesar once Pompeius died." "Yes, they probably would. But how do you propose to put the thought into Pompeius's mind?" "Through Vettius," Cato said, sipping more slowly; the wine was beginning to do its work, he was thinking lucidly. "And you." "I don't know where you're going," said the junior consul. "Before Pompeius and his new bride leave town, I suggest you send for him and warn him that there's a plot afoot to kill him." "I can do that, yes. But why? To frighten him?" "No, to divert suspicion from you when the plot comes out," said Cato, smiling savagely. "A warning won't frighten Pompeius, but it will predispose him to believe that there's a plot." "Enlighten me, Cato. I like the sound of this," said Bibulus.

An idyllically happy Pompey proposed to take Julia to Antium for the rest of May and part of June. "She's busy with the decorators right at this moment," he said to Caesar, beaming fatuously. "While we're away they'll transform my house on the Carinae." He sighed explosively. "What taste she has, Caesar! All light and airy, she says, no vulgar Tyrian purple and a lot less gilt. Birds, flowers and butterflies. I can't work out why I didn't think of it for myself! Though I'm insisting that our bedroom be done like a moonlit forest." How to keep a straight face? Caesar managed, though it took considerable effort. "When are you off?" he asked. Tomorrow." "Then we need to have a council of war today." "That's what I'm here for." "With Marcus Crassus." Pompey's face fell. "Oh, do we have to have him?" "We do. Come back after dinner." By which time Caesar had managed to prevail upon Crassus to leave a series of important meetings to his inferiors. They sat outside in the main peristyle, for it was a warm day and this location prevented anyone's overhearing what was said. "The second land bill will go through, despite Cato's tactics and Bibulus's sky watch," Caesar announced. "With you as patron of Capua, I note," said Pompey, nuptial bliss evaporated now there was some hard talking to do. "Only in that the bill is a lex Iulia, and I as its author am giving Capua full Roman citizen status. However, Magnus, it's you will be down there handing out the deeds to the lucky recipients, and you parading round the town. Capua will consider itself in your clientele, not in mine." "And I'll be in the eastern parts of the Ager Campanus, which will regard me as patron," said Crassus contentedly. "What we have to discuss today isn't the second land bill," said Caesar. "My province for next year needs some talk, as I do not intend to be a proconsular surveyor. Also, we have to own next year's senior magistrates. If we don't, a lot of what I've passed into law this year will be invalidated next year." "Aulus Gabinius," said Pompey instantly. "I agree. The voters like him because his tribunate of the plebs produced some very useful measures, not to mention enabled you to clean up Our Sea. If all three of us work to that end, we ought to get him in as senior consul. But who for junior?'' "What about your cousin, Caesar? Lucius Piso," said Crassus. "We'd have to buy him," from Pompey. "He's a businessman." "Good provinces for both of them, then," said Caesar. "Syria and Macedonia." "But for longer than a year," Pompey advised. "Gabinius would be happy with that, I know." "I'm not so sure about Lucius Piso," said Crassus, frowning. "Why are Epicureans so expensive?" Pompey demanded. "Because they dine on gold and off gold," said Crassus. Caesar grinned. "How about a marriage? Cousin Lucius has a daughter almost eighteen, but she's not highly sought. No dowry." "Pretty girl, as I remember," said Pompey. "No sign of Piso's eyebrows or teeth. Don't understand the lack of a dowry, though." "At the moment Piso's suffering," Crassus contributed. "No wars worth speaking of, and all his money's tied up in armaments. He had to use Calpurnia's dowry to keep himself afloat. However, Caesar, I refuse to give up either of my sons." "And if Brutus is to marry my girl, I can't afford to give up either of my boys!" cried Pompey, bristling. Caesar caught his breath, almost choked. Ye gods, he'd been so upset he hadn't remembered to mention that alliance to Brutus! Is Brutus to marry your girl?'' asked Crassus skeptically. "Probably not," Caesar interjected coolly. "Brutus wasn't in a fit state for questions or offers, so don't count on it, Magnus." "All right, I won't. But who can marry Calpurnia?" "Why not me?" asked Caesar, brows raised. Both men stared at him, delighted smiles dawning. "That," said Crassus, "would answer perfectly." "Very well then, Lucius Piso is our other consul." Caesar sighed. "We won't do as well among the praetors, alas." "With both consuls we don't need praetors," said Pompey. The best thing about Lucius Piso and Gabinius is that they're strong men. The boni won't intimidate them or bluff them." "There remains," said Caesar pensively, "the matter of getting me the province I want. Italian Gaul and Illyricum." "You'll have Vatinius legislate it in the Plebeian Assembly," said Pompey. "The boni never dreamed they'd be standing against the three of us when they gave you Italy's traveling stock routes, did they?" He grinned. "You're right, Caesar. With the three of us united, we can get anything we want from the Assemblies!" "Don't forget Bibulus is watching the skies," growled Crassus. "Whatever acts you pass are bound to be challenged, even if years from now. Besides, Magnus, your man Afranius has been prorogued in Italian Gaul. It won't look good to your clients if you connive to take it off him and give it to Caesar." Skin a dull red, Pompey glared at Crassus. "Very beautifully put, Crassus!" he snapped. "Afranius will do as he's told, he'll step aside for Caesar voluntarily. It cost me millions to buy him the junior consulship, and he knows he didn't give value for money! Don't worry about Afranius, you might have a stroke!" "You wish," said Crassus with a broad smile. "I'm going to ask more of you than that, Magnus," said Caesar, butting in. I want Italian Gaul from the moment Vatinius's law is ratified, not from next New Year's Day. There are things I have to do there, the sooner the better." The lion felt no chill on his hide, too warm from the attentions of Caesar's daughter; Pompey merely nodded and smiled, never even thought to enquire what things Caesar wanted to do. "Eager to start, eh? I don't see why not, Caesar." He began to shift on his seat. "Is that all? I really should get home to Julia, don't want her thinking I've got a girlfriend!" And off he went, chuckling at his own joke. "There's no fool like an old fool," said Crassus. "Be kind, Marcus! He's in love." "With himself." Crassus turned his mind from Pompey to Caesar. "What are you up to, Gaius? Why do you need Italian Gaul at once?" "I need to enlist more legions, among other things." "Does Magnus have any idea that you're determined to supplant him as Rome's greatest conqueror?" "No, I've managed to conceal that very nicely." Well, you do certainly have luck, I admit it. Another man's daughter would have looked and sounded like Terentia, but yours is as lovely inside as she is out. She'll keep him in thrall for years. And one day he's going to wake up to find you've eclipsed him." "That he will," said Caesar, no doubt in his voice. "Julia or no, he'll turn into your enemy then." "I'll deal with that when it happens, Marcus." Crassus emitted a snort. "So you say! But I know you, Gaius. True, you don't attempt to leap hurdles before they appear. However, there are no contingencies you haven't thought about years ahead of their happening. You're canny, crafty, creative and courageous." "Very nicely put!" said Caesar, eyes twinkling. "I understand what you plan when you're proconsul," Crassus said. "You'll conquer all the lands and tribes to the north and east of Italia by marching all the way down the Danubius to the Euxine Sea. However, the Senate controls the public purse! Vatinius can have the Plebeian Assembly grant you Italian Gaul together with Illyricum, but you still have to go to the Senate for funds. It won't be disposed to give them to you, Caesar. Even if the boni didn't scream in outrage, the Senate traditionally refuses to pay for aggressive wars. That's where Magnus was unimpeachable. His wars have all been fought against official Roman enemies Carbo, Brutus, Sertorius, the pirates, the two kings. Whereas you're proposing to strike first, be the aggressor. The Senate won't condone it, including many of your own adherents. Wars cost money. The Senate owns the money. And you won't get it." "You're not telling me anything I don't already know, Marcus. I don't plan to apply to the Senate for funds. I'll find my own." "Out of your campaigns? Very risky!" Caesar's reply was odd. "Are you still determined to annex Egypt?" he asked. "I'm curious." Crassus blinked at the change of subject. "I'd love to, but I can't. The boni would die to the last man before they'd let me." "Good! Then I have my funds," said Caesar, smiling. "I'm mystified." "All will be revealed in due time."