had suffered under Sulla, and who were anxious to
regain what they had lost, and there were many who, enriched by the
Dictator, had squandered their ill-gotten wealth, and now only waited
a leader to renew the assault upon the state. The Senate was jealous of
the power of the people, and the people distrusted the Senate.

Among the patricians who were aspiring to the consulship was LUCIUS
SERGIUS CATILINA, a villain steeped in every crime, but adroit, bold,
and withal captivating. In 68 he had been Praetor, the next year
Governor in Africa, where by his extortions he had obtained enough
money, as he hoped, to purchase his election to the consulship. On
his return home he was impeached for his misgovernment, but acquitted
through Cicero's defence and the careful selection of a jury.

He then came forward as candidate for the consulship of the next year
(63). There were two other candidates, Antonius, the uncle of Mark
Antony, and Cicero himself. Antony was sure of an election, so the
struggle was really between Catiline and Cicero. The latter was elected,
owing to the popularity he had acquired by his prosecution of Verres and
his defence of the Manilian Law. Thus Cicero reached the goal for which
he had been so long striving.

Caesar was rising at the same time. The year previous (65) he had
been Curule Aedile, had built a row of costly columns in front of the
Capitol, and erected a temple to the Dioscuri (Castor and Pollux). But
what made him especially pleasing to the populace was his lavish display
at the public games and exhibitions.

Caesar was now looked upon as a prominent democratic leader. In 63
the office of Pontifex Maximus, the head of the state religion, became
vacant by the death of its occupant, Metellus Pius. Caesar became a
candidate for the office, and was elected, receiving more votes than
both the rival candidates combined. He also received further evidence of
the popular favor by being chosen Praetor for the next year (62).

Cicero's consulship would have closed without adding anything to his
fame had it not been for Catiline. The latter's failure to be elected
caused him to enter into a plot to seize and burn the city. He had many
followers, men of noble families, among whom were the former Consul
Lentulus, who had been recently expelled from the Senate by the Censors,
and Cethegus, a bankrupt spendthrift, who was anxious to regain a
fortune by a change in government. There were veterans of Su