[
8]
Cæsar, who had been chosen prætor for Spain, was
detained in the
city by his creditors, as he owed much more than he could pay, by reason of
his political expenses. He was reported as saying that he needed 25,000,000
sesterces
1 in order to have nothing at all. However, he arranged
with those who were detaining him as best he could and proceeded to Spain.
Here he neglected the transaction of public business, the administration of
justice, and all matters of that kind because he considered them of no use
to his
purposes, but he raised an army and attacked the
independent Spanish tribes one by one until he made the whole country
tributary to the Romans. He also sent much money to the public treasury at
Rome. For these reasons the Senate awarded him a triumph. He was making
preparations outside the walls for a most splendid procession, during the
days when candidates for the consulship were required to present themselves.
It was not lawful for one who was going to have a triumph to enter the city
and then go back again for the triumph. As Cæsar was very anxious
to secure the office, and his procession was not yet ready, he sent to the
Senate and asked permission to stand for the consulship while absent,
through the intercession of friends, for although he knew it was against the
law it had been done by others. Cato opposed his proposition and used up the
last day for the presentation of candidates, in speech making. Thereupon
Cæsar abandoned his triumph, entered the city, offered himself as
a candidate, and waited for the comitia.
