The population of the city seemed to become more and more familiar with the idea that Caesar was about to become a king.

The opposition which the idea had at first awakened appeared to subside, or, at least, the public expression of it, which daily became more and more determined and dangerous, was restrained.

At length the time arrived when it appeared safe to introduce the subject to the Roman Senate.
This, of course, was a hazardous experiment.

It was managed, however, in a very adroit and ingenious manner.
[Sidenote: The Sibylline books.] [Sidenote: Declaration of the Sibylline books.] [Sidenote: Plan for crowning Caesar.] There were in Rome, and, in fact, in many other cities and countries of the world in those days, a variety of prophetic books, called the Sibylline Oracles, in which it was generally believed that future events were foretold.

Some of these volumes or rolls, which were very ancient and of great authority, were preserved in the temples at Rome, under the charge of a board of guardians, who were to keep them with the utmost care, and to consult them on great occasions, in order to discover beforehand what would be the result of public measures or great enterprises which were in contemplation.