Caesar's Women by Colleen McCullough

choice in the matter, any more than Marcus Cato will have a choice when he's elected a tribune of the soldiers. As military magistrates, we go where Romulus sends us.”
    Whereupon the conversation foundered and would have ceased except for the arrival of another pair far more congenial to Caesar at least: Appius Claudius Pulcher and Marcus Tullius Cicero.
    “Barely here, I see, Cato!” said Cicero merrily.
    Bibulus had had enough, and took himself and Cato off.
    “Remarkable,” said Caesar, watching the diminishing Cato. “Why no tunic?”
    “He says it's part of the mos maiorum, and he's trying to persuade all of us to go back to the old ways,” said Appius Claudius, a typical member of his family, being a dark and medium-sized man of considerable good looks. He patted Cicero's midriff and grinned. “All right for fellows like himself and Caesar, but I can't think exposure of your hide would impress a jury,” he said to Cicero.
    “Pure affectation,” said Cicero. “He'll grow out of it.” The dark, immensely intelligent eyes rested on Caesar and danced. “Mind you, I remember when your sartorial affectations upset a few of the boni, Caesar. Those purple borders on your long sleeves?''
    Caesar laughed. “I was bored, and it seemed like something bound to irritate Catulus at the time.”
    “It did, it did! As leader of the boni, Catulus fancies himself the custodian of Rome's customs and traditions.”
    “Speaking of Catulus, when does he plan to finish Jupiter Optimus Maximus? I can't see any progress at all.”
    “Oh, it was dedicated a year ago,” said Cicero. “As to when it can be used—who knows? Sulla did leave the poor fellow in severe financial difficulties over the job, you know that. Most of the money he has to find out of his own purse.”
    “He can afford it, he sat comfortably in Rome making money out of Cinna and Carbo while Sulla was in exile. Giving Catulus the job of rebuilding Jupiter Optimus Maximus was Sulla's revenge.”
    “Ah, yes! Sulla's revenges are still famous, though he's been dead ten years.”
    “He was the First Man in Rome,” said Caesar.
    “And now we have Pompeius Magnus claiming the title,” said Appius Claudius, his contempt showing.
    What Caesar might have said in answer to this was not said, for Cicero spoke.
    “I'm glad you're back in Rome, Caesar. Hortensius is getting a bit long in the tooth, hasn't been quite the same since I beat him in the Verres case, so I can do with some decent competition in the courts.”
    “Long in the tooth at forty-seven?” asked Caesar.
    “He lives high,” said Appius Claudius.
    “So do they all in that circle.”
    “I wouldn't call Lucullus a high liver at the moment.”
    “That's right, you're not long back from service with him in the East,” said Caesar, preparing to depart by inclining his head toward his retinue.
    “And glad to be out of it,” said Appius Claudius with feeling. He snorted a chuckle. “However, I sent Lucullus a replacement!”
    “A replacement?”
    “My little brother, Publius Clodius.”
    “Oh, that will please him!” said Caesar, laughing too.
     
    And so Caesar left the Forum somewhat more comfortable with the thought that the next few years would be spent here in Rome. It wouldn't be easy, and that pleased him. Catulus, Bibulus and the rest of the boni would make sure he suffered. But there were friends too; Appius Claudius wasn't tied to a faction, and as a patrician he would favor a fellow patrician.
    But what about Cicero? Since his brilliance and innovation had sent Gaius Verres into permanent exile, everyone knew Cicero, who labored under the extreme disadvantage of having no ancestors worth speaking of. A homo novus, a New Man. The first of his respectable rural family to sit in the Senate. He came from the same district as Marius had, and was related to him; but some flaw in his nature had blinded him to the fact that outside of the Senate, most of Rome still worshiped the memory