d some admitted to the
Senate. The work of Romanizing Gaul was fairly begun. Two provinces were
formed, Gallia and Belgica, and later (17 A. D.) the former of these was
subdivided into Lugdunensis and Aquitania. Roman money was introduced,
and Latin became the official language.

CHAPTER XXXI. CLODIUS AND MILO.--DEATH OF CRASSUS.

During the nine years (59-50) passed by Caesar in Gaul, great confusion
prevailed at Rome. The Republic needed a strong, firm hand, which would
stop the shedding of blood and insure security of person and property.
Pompey had attempted to bring about this result, but had failed. There
were two prominent factions, one led by CLODIUS, the other by MILO.

"Clodius is the most extraordinary figure in this extraordinary period.
He had no character. He had no distinguished talent save for speech; he
had no policy; he was ready to adopt any cause or person which for the
moment was convenient to him; and yet for five years this man was the
leader of the Roman mob. He could defy justice, insult the Consuls, beat
the Tribunes, parade the streets with a gang of armed slaves, killing
persons disagreeable to him; and in the Senate itself he had high
friends and connections, who threw a shield over him when his audacity
had gone beyond endurance." Milo was as disreputable as Clodius. His
chief fame had been gained in the schools of the gladiators. Gangs
of armed slaves accompanied him everywhere, and there were constant
collisions between his retainers and those of Clodius.

In 57 Consuls were elected who favored Cicero, and his recall was
demanded. Clodius and his followers opposed the recall. The nobles, led
by their tool Milo, pressed it. Day after day the opposing parties met
in bloody affrays. For seven months the brawl continued, till Milo's
party finally got the ascendancy; the Assembly was convened, and the
recall voted.

For seventeen months Cicero had been in Greece, lamenting his hard lot.
He landed at Brundisium on August 5, 57, and proceeded to Rome. Outside
the city all men of note, except his avowed enemies, were waiting to
receive him. The Senate voted to restore his property, and to rebuild
his palace on the Palatine Hill and his other villas at the public
expense. But Clodius, with his bands of ruffians, interrupted the
workmen engaged in the repair of his Palatine house, broke down the
walls, and, attacking Cicero himself, nearly murdered him.

At last Clodius even attempted