sulship.

Meanwhile Pompey had returned from the East. He landed at Brundisium in
December, 62, and proceeded with a large band of captured princes
and immense treasures to Rome, which he entered in triumph amidst the
greatest enthusiasm. By a special vote of the Senate he was permitted to
wear his triumphal robe in that body whenever he pleased.

Caesar returned from Spain in 60, with wealth and military fame. Though
feared and detested by the Senate, he was the favorite of the people,
and could depend upon their support. Pompey had the army behind him.
He received Caesar with pleasure, for he had been a friend in all his
career.

Caesar felt that, with the people and the army through Pompey on his
side, he only needed the capitalists to make his success sure. CRASSUS
was counted as the richest man at Rome. He was won over. These three
then formed what is known as the FIRST TRIUMVIRATE,--"a union of
shrewdness, renown, and riches," by which Caesar expected to rise to
great power, Pompey to retain his power, and Crassus to gain greater
wealth.

CHAPTER XXIX. THE FIRST TRIUMVIRATE.

Pompey was ostensibly at the head of the first Triumvirate, and in
return supported Caesar in his candidacy for the consulship. Crassus was
to contribute his wealth to influence the election. Caesar was elected
without opposition (59); his colleague, the Senate's tool, was Marcus
Bibulus.

Caesar had now reached the highest round in the ladder of political
offices. He had shown himself in all his course to be careful in
keeping within the bounds of the constitution, never exerting himself in
political quarrels except to defend the law against lawlessness. Now
he was in a position to push his ideas of reform, and to show the
aristocracy of what stuff he was made.

It would have been well for Cicero, and better for the state, had the
orator been willing to join hands with Caesar and Pompey; but he was too
vain of his own glory to join hands with those who were his superiors,
and he clung to the Senate, feeling that his talents would shine there
more, and be more likely to redound to his own personal fame.

Caesar's consulship increased his popularity among all except the
aristocrats. His AGRARIAN LAW, carefully framed and worded, was bitterly
opposed by the Senate, especially by his colleague, Bibulus, and by
Cato. The law provided that large tracts of the _ager publicus_, then
held on easy terms by the rich patricians, be dis