These were all to be under his command for five years certain, and amounted to a force of not less than thirty thousand men.

"As no troops could constitutionally be stationed in Italy proper, the commander of the legions of Northern Italy and Gaul," says Mommsen, "dominated at the same time Italy and Rome for the next five years; and he who was master for five years was master for life."[249] [Sidenote: B.C.59, aetat.

48.] Such was the condition of Rome during the second year of the Triumvirate, in which Caesar was Consul and prepared the way for the powers which he afterward exercised.

Cicero would not come to his call; and therefore, as we are told, Clodius was let loose upon him.

As he would not come to Caesar's call, it was necessary that he should be suppressed, and Clodius, notwithstanding all constitutional difficulties--nay, impossibilities--was made Tribune of the people.
Things had now so far advanced with a Caesar that a Cicero who would not come to his call must be disposed of after some fashion.
Till we have thought much of it, often of it, till we have looked thoroughly into it, we find ourselves tempted to marvel at Cicero's blindness.