It happened that at this time the Romans were engaged in a war with the Parthians, a very wealthy and powerful nation of Asia.

Caesar was making preparations for an expedition to the East to attempt to subdue this people.

He gave orders that the Sibylline Oracles should be consulted.

The proper officers, after consulting them with the usual solemn ceremonies, reported to the Senate that they found it recorded in these sacred prophecies that the Parthians could not be conquered except by a _king_, A senator proposed, therefore, that, to meet the emergency, Caesar should be made king during the war.

There was at first no decisive action on this proposal.
It was dangerous to express any opinion.