A mob
attacked
him as he was ad-
Fam.
Fam.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - c
671 (#687) ############################################
RUFUS.
671
RUFUS.
and the two following years, Caelias was almost
always at his side ; but in the consulship of the
great orator (B. C. 63), he became intimate with
Catiline, whose society had such extraordinary
fascinations for all the wealthy Roman youths ;
although he took no part in the conspiracy, if we
may trust Cicero's positive assurance.
In B. c. 61,
KOMA
he accompanied the proconsul Q. Pompeius Rufus to
Africa, partly to become acquainted with the mode
COIN OP AURELIUS RUFUS.
of administering a province, but probably still more
in order to look after his father's property in that
RUFUS, BASSAEUS, praefectus praetorii under country. On his return to Rome he accused in
the emperor M. Aurelius, was raised to this dignity B. C. 59 C. Antonius, Cicero's colleague in the
on account of his virtues, though he had received consulship, of having been one of Catiline's con-
no education in consequence of his rustic origin. spirators; and notwithstanding Cicero spoke in
(Dion Cass. Ixxi. 5. ) He is alluded to in a letter of his behalf, Antonius was condemned. The oration
Avidius Cassius, preserved by Vulcatius Gallicanus which Caelius delivered against Antonius possessed
("audisti praefectum praetorii nostri philosophi, considerable merit, and was read in the time of
ante triduum quam fieret, mendicum et pauperem, Quintilian (Quintil. iv. 2. $ 123, ix. 3. $ 58). Not
sed subito divitem factum," c. 14). The name of long afterwards he obtained the quaestorship, and
Bassaeus Rufus occurs in inscriptions. (See Rei- was charged with having purchased the votes at
marus, ad Dion. Cass. lxxi. 3. $ 25, p. 1179. ) his election, an accusation from which Cicero en-
RUFUS, CA'DIUS, was condemned on the deavoured to clear him when he defended him in
charge of repetundae, at the accusation of the B. C. 56.
Bithynians in A. D. 49, but was restored by Otho In B. c. 57, Caelius accused L. Sempronius Atra.
in a. D. 69 to his rank as senator. (Tac. Ann. xii. tinus of bribery, and when the latter, who was
22, Hist. i. 77. )
defended by Cicero, was acquitted, he accused him
RUFUS, CAECI'LIUS. 1. L. CAECILIUS again of the same crime in B. c. 56. But while the
Rufus, the brother of P. Sulla by the same mo. second suit was in progress, and had not yet come
ther, but not by the same father, was tribune of on for trial, Caelius himself was accused of vis by
the plebs, B. c. 63, and proposed soon after he had Sempronius Atratinus the younger. Caelius had for
entered upon the office that his brother P. Sulla some time been living in the house of P. Clodius
and Autronius Paetus, both of whom bad been on the Aventine, and was one of the avowed
condemned on account of bribery in the consular paramours of his notorious sister Clodia Quadran-
comitia of B. C. 66, should be allowed to become taria. He had, however, lately deserted her ;
candidates again for the higher offices of the state, and she, in revenge, induced Sempronius Atrati-
but dropt the proposal at the suggestion of his nus to bring him to trial. The two most important
brother. In the course of his tribunate he ren charges in the accusation arose from Clodia's own
dered warm support to Cicero and the aristocratical statements ; she charged him in the first place
party, and in particular opposed the agrarian law with having borrowed money from her in order to
of Servilius Rullus. In his praetorship, B. c. 57, murder Dion, the head of the embassy sent by
he joined most of the other magistrates in pro- Ptolemy Auletes to Rome ; and declared, in the
posing the recall of Cicero from banishment, and second place, that he had made an attempt to carry
incurred in consequence the hostility of P. Clo her off by poison. Caelius -spoke on his own be-
dius, whose hired mob attacked his house in the half, and was also defended by M. Crassus and
course of the same year. In B c. 54, he supported Cicero : the speech of the latter is still extant.
the accusation against Gabinius. (Cic
. pro Sull. Caelius had done great damage to his character,
22, 23 ; comp. Dion Cass. xxxvii. 25 ; Cic. post not only by his intrigue with Clodia, but still more
Red, in Sen. 9, pro Mil. 14; Ascon. in Mil. p. 48, by the open part he had taken both at Baiae as
ed. Orelli ; Cic. Q. Fr, ïïi. 3. § 2. )
well as at Rome in the extravagant debaucheries
2. C. Caecilius Rufus, consul A. D. 17, with of herself and her friends ; and Cicero therefore
L. Pomponius Flaccus. (Tac. Ann. ii. 41 ; Dion exerts himself to show that the reports respecting
Cass. Ivii. 17. )
the character of his client were unfounded, or at
RUFUS, M. CAE'LIUS, was the son of a least grossly exaggerated ; that he was not the
wealthy Roman eques of the same name, who ap- extravagant spendthrift and luxurious debauchee
pears to have obtained his property as a negotiator that he had been represented, but had devoted
in Africa. He was accused of parsimony, especially much of his time to serious occupations, especially
in reference to his son, but the extravagant habits to the study of oratory. The judges acquitted him ;
of the latter required some degree of restraint. and a second accusation, which the Claudii brought
He was alive at the trial of his son in B. c. 56 against him two years afterwards (Cic. ad Q. Fr.
(Cic. pro Cael. 2, 15, 30, 32. ) The younger Cae- ii. 13), appears likewise to have failed.
lius was born at Puteoli on the 28th of May, B. C. In B. C. 52, Caelius was tribune of the plebs.
82, on the same day and the same year as the He warmly supported Milo, who njurdered P.
orator C. Licinius Calvus, in conjunction with Clodius at the beginning of this year, and he
whom his name frequently occurs (Plin. H. N. vii. opposed the measures brought forward by Pompey.
49. & 50 ; Quintil. x. 1. $ 115, x. 2. § 25, xii. 10. But his efforts were all in vain, and Milo was
§ 1). His father was enabled to procure him condemned. (Comp. Cic. pro Mil. 33. ) In the
introductions to M. Crassus and Cicero, who gave same year he proposed a bill in conjunction with
him the advantage of their advice in the prosecu- lis nine colleagues to allow Caesar' to become a
tion of his studies, especially in the cultivation of candidate for a second consulship in his absence.
oratory. During Cicero's praetorship (1. c. 66), ) To this measure no serious opposition was offered
## p. 672 (#688) ############################################
672
RUFUS.
RUFUS.
1
as Pompey did not venture to refuse to it his | 43); but this M. Rufus must in all probability
sanction. No sooner had his year of office expired have been a different person.
than he accused his late colleague Q. Pompeius
He was rewarded for his services by the praetor-
Rufus of vis under the provisions of the very law ship, which he held in B. C. 48. But various causes
which the latter had taken so active a part in passing. had already alienated the mind of Caelius from his
The triumvir, who had no further occasion for his new patron, and these at length led him to engage in
services, rendered him but faint support. He was desperate enterprises which ended in his ruin and
condenned, and retired to Bauli in Campania, death. He was mortified that Caesar had en-
where he was in great pecuniary difficulties, till trusted the honourable duties of the city praetor.
Carlius generously compelled Cornelia the mother ship to C. Trebonius rather than to himseli, a dis.
of Pompeius, to surrender to him his paternal pro- tinction, however, to which Trebonius had much
perty. (Val. Max. iv. 2. & 7. )
greater claims, as he had in his tribuneship in
In B. c. 51, Cicero went to Cilicia as proconsul, B. C. 55 proposed the law for prolonging the pro-
much against his will, and before leaving Italy he consular government of Caesir. But his chief
requested Caelius, who accompanied him on his dissatisfaction with the existing state of things
journey as far as Cumae, to send him from time to arose from his enormous debts. It seems that he
time a detailed account of all the news of the had looked forward to a proscription for the pay-
city. Caelius readily complied with his request, ment of his creditors ; but as Caesar's generous
and his correspondence with his friend is still pre- conduct towards his opponents deprived him of
served in the collection of Cicero's letters. In the this resource, he saw no remedy for his ruined for.
same year Caelius became a candidate for the tunes but a general coinmotion. Accordingly, when
curule aedileship, which he gained along with | Trebonius was, in the exercise of his judicial
Octavius. As he was anxious to exhibit the games duties, carrying into execution the law which had
with becoming splendour, he applied to Cicero for been lately passed by Caesar for the settlement of
money and for panthers, as his command of an debts, Caelius set up his tribunal by the side of
Asiatic province would enable him to obtain a his colleague and promised his assistance to all who
large supply of both without much difficulty. might appeal to him against the decision of the
Cicero, with all his faults, did not plunder the pro- latter. But as no one availed himself of his prof-
vincials. He therefore refused the money at once ; fered aid, he brought forward a law according to
and does not seem to have put himself to much which debts were to be paid without interest in
trouble to procure the panthers, although Caelius six instalments, probably at the interval of six
reminds him of them in almost every letter. months from one another. When this measure was
During his aedileship in the following year (B. C. opposed by Servilius Isauricus, Caesar's colleague
50), Caelius still carried on his correspondence in the consulship, and by the other magistrates,
with Cicero ; and his letters contain some interest- he dropt it and brought forward two others in its
ing accounts of the proceedings of the different place, which were in fact equivalent to a general
parties at Rome immediately before the breaking confiscatio of property. By one of these new
out of the civil war. In the same year he became laws the proprietors of houses had to give up a
involved in a personal quarrel with the censor Ap. year's rent to their tenants, and by another cre-
Claudius Pulcher, and with L. Domitius Aheno ditors were to forgive debtors all their debts. After
barbus, who had been the colleague of Claudius such sweeping measures as these, the decisions of
in the consulship ; but we must refer the reader for Trebonius, however lenient, would seem harsh to
particulars to his correspondence with Cicero (ad wards debtors.
A mob attacked him as he was ad-
Fam. viii, 12, 14). Having thus become a per- ministering justice ; several persons were wounded,
sonal enemy of two of the most distinguished and Trebonius himself driven from his tribunal.
leaders of the aristocracy, his connection with Thereupon the senate resolved to deprive Caelius
this party, of which he had hitherto been a warm of his office, and Servilius carried the decree into
supporter, was naturally weakened. He felt no execution by breaking bimself the curule seat of
confidence in Pompey and the senate in the im- the praetor. Caelius saw that he could effect
pending civil war; he saw that Caesar was the nothing more at Rome, and accordingly left the
stronger ; and arowing the principle that the more city, giving out that he intended to repair to
powerful party is to be joined when the struggle Caesar. But his real intention was to join Milo
in a state comes to arms, he resolved to espouse in Campania, whom he had secretly sent for from
the side of Caesar.
Massilia, and along with him to raise an insurrec-
In the discussions in the senate at the beginning tion in favour of Pompey. Milo, however, was
of January, B. C. 49, Caelius supported the opinion killed in an attack upon an obscure fort near
of M. Calidius that Pompey ought to betake Thurii before Caelius could join him (Milo);
himself to his Spanish provinces in order to remove and Caelius himself was put to death shortly after-
every pretext for war. By this declaration he wards at Thurii by some Spanish and Gallic horse-
openly broke with the aristocratical party, and in men whom he was endeavouring to bribe to sur-
a few days afterwards he fled from Rome with render the place. (Caes. B. C. iii. 20—22 ; Dion
M. Antonius, Q. Cassius, and C. Curio to Caesar's Cass. xlii. 22–25; Appian, B. C. ii. 22; Liv.
camp
Ravenna ves. B. C. i. 2 ; Dion Cass. Epit. 111; Vell. Pat. ii. 68 ; Oros, vi. 15; Quin-
xli. 2, 3). Caesar sent him into Liguria to sup- til. vi. 3. & 25. )
press an insurrection at Intemelium (ad Fam. viii.
15); and in April he accompanied Caesar in his The passage in Caesar (B. C. iii. 20), from
campaign in Spain (ad Fam. viii. 16. $ 4, 17. $ 1). which the statement in the text is taken, is cor-
It is supposed by some modern writers that he rupt:- :-" legem promulgavit, ut sexies seni dies
also served under Curio in Africa in the course of sine usuris creditae pecuniae solvantur. " Niebuhr
the same year, as we read of a M. Rufus who was conjectures sexies semestri die (Kleine Schriften,
the quaestor of Curio in Africa (Caes. B. C. ii. | vol. ii. pp. 253, 254. )
;
## p. 673 (#689) ############################################
RUFUS.
673
RUFUS.
niezami
Caelius had paid considerable attention to liter- | It bas on the obverse the head of the Dioscuri
nture, and with no small success. He was an with RVFVS I Vir (that is, of the mint), and
elegant writer and an eloquent speaker ; he pos- on the reverse a female figure with man. CORDIVS.
sessed an excitable temperament, and a lively (Eckhel, vol. v. p. 178. )
imagination; the speeches in which he accused
others were considered his master-pieces (Cic.
Brut. 79 ; orator iracundissimus, Senec. de Ira,
iii. 8). He was a friend of Catullus, who has
addressed two of his poems to him (Carm. lviii. c. ),
and he also lived, as has appeared from the above
account, on the most intimate terms with Cicero.
It was the latter circumstance apparently that led
Niebuhr to extenuate the faults of Caelius, and to
COIN OF M'. CORDIUS RUFUS.
ascribe to him virtues that he never possesscd ;
but Cicero's intimacy with the young profligate RUFUS, CORE'LLIUS, a friend of the
speaks rather to the prejudice of his own charac. younger Pliny, whom he looked up to as a father,
ter than in favour of his friend's moriuls. All the and of whom he always speaks with the highest
ancient writers, with the exception of Cicero, veneration and respect. Corellius had been a
who have occasion to mention Caelius, agree martyr to hereditary gout for 33 years; and at
in an unfavourable estimate of his character ; length, in order to escape from the incessant pain
and independent of their testimony, his letters to which he suffered, he put an end to his life by vo-
Cicero, and the speech of the latter on his behalf, luntary starvation at the age of 67, at the com-
in which he attempts to clear his friend of the mencement of Trajan's reign. His virtues and his
charges brought against him, are sufficient of them- death form the subject of one of the letters of
selves to convince any attentive reader of the Pliny (Ep. i. 12), who also mentions bim on many
worthlessness of his moral character. (Niebuhr, other occasions. (Ep. iv. 17. § 4, v. 1. & 5, vii. 11.
Kleine Schriften, vol. ii. p. 252 ; Meyer, Oratorum $ 3, ix. 13. $ 6. )
Romanorum Fragmenta, p. 458, &c. , 2d ed. ; Dru- RUFUS, CU'RTIUS, said to have been the
mann, Geschichte Roms, vol. ii. p. 411, &c. ; and son of a gladiator by some, followed in the train of
especially Suringar, M. Caelii Rufi et M. Tullii one of the quaestors to Africa for the purpose of
Ciceronis Epistolae mutuae, Lugd. Batav. 1846, in gain, and, while at Adrumetum, is reported to have
which all the authorities for the life of Caelius, seen a female of superhuman size, who prophesied
both ancient and modern, are printed at length. ) to him that he would one day visit Africa as pro-
RUFUS, CAESE'TIUS, proscribed by An- consul. Urged on by this vision, he repaired to
tony in B. C. 43, and killed. He owed his fate to Rome and obtained the quaestorship and praetor-
a beautiful insula or detached mansion which he ship in the reign of Tiberius, at a later period the
had in the city, and which had taken the fancy of consular imperium and triumphal ornaments, and
Fulvia, the wife of Antony. When his head was at length the government of Africa, as had been
brought to Antony, he sent it to his wife, saying predicted (Tac. Ann. xi. 20, 21 ; Plin. Ep. vii. 27).
that it did not belong to him. (Appian, B. C. iv. Some modern writers suppose that this Curtius
29 ; Val. Max. ix. 5. § 4. )
Rufus was the father of Q. Curtius Rufus, the
RUFUS, C. CALVI'SIUS, an intimate friend historian.
of the younger Pliny (Plin. Ep. i. 12. § 12, iv. 4), RUFUS, Q. CURTIUS, the historian. [Cur-
who has addressed several of his letters to him. TIUS. )
(Ep. ii. 20, iii. 1, 19, v. 7, viii. 2, ix. 6. )
RUFUS DOME'STICUS. (RUFINUS, lite-
RUFUS, CAMOʻNIUS, of Bononia, a friend rary, No. 4. ]
of Martial, died at an early age in Cappadocia. RUFUS, EGNATIUS. 1. L. EGNATIUS Ru.
(Mart. vi. 85. )
pus, a friend of Cicero, was a Roman eques, who
RUFUS CANI'NIUS, a native of Comum, appears to have carried on an extensive business in
and a friend and neighbour of the younger Pliny, the provinces as a money-lender, and a farmer of
was well versed in literature, and especially poetry. the taxes. Ciceru frequently recommends him to
He appears also to have possessed some talent for the governors of the provinces ; as, for instance, to
the composition of poetry, and meditated writing a Q. Philippus (ad Fam. xiii. 73, 74), to Quintius
poem on the Dacian war (Plin. Ep. viii. 4). But Gallius (ai Fam. xii. 43, 44), to Appuleius (ad
as most of his time was taken up in the personal Fam. xiii. 45), and to Silins (ad rum. xiii. 47).
management of his estates, Pliny begs him to leave Both Cicero and his brother Quintus had pecuniary
them to his bailiffs, and to devote his own time to dealings with him (ad Att. vii. 18. $ 4, x. 15. § 4,
the prosecution of his studies (Plin. Ep. i. 3). xi. 3. § 3, xii. 18. § 3).
There are also several other letters of Pliny ad- 2. M. Egnatius Rufus, probably son of the
dressed to him, which all more or less urge him to preceding, was aedile in B. C.
RUFUS.
671
RUFUS.
and the two following years, Caelias was almost
always at his side ; but in the consulship of the
great orator (B. C. 63), he became intimate with
Catiline, whose society had such extraordinary
fascinations for all the wealthy Roman youths ;
although he took no part in the conspiracy, if we
may trust Cicero's positive assurance.
In B. c. 61,
KOMA
he accompanied the proconsul Q. Pompeius Rufus to
Africa, partly to become acquainted with the mode
COIN OP AURELIUS RUFUS.
of administering a province, but probably still more
in order to look after his father's property in that
RUFUS, BASSAEUS, praefectus praetorii under country. On his return to Rome he accused in
the emperor M. Aurelius, was raised to this dignity B. C. 59 C. Antonius, Cicero's colleague in the
on account of his virtues, though he had received consulship, of having been one of Catiline's con-
no education in consequence of his rustic origin. spirators; and notwithstanding Cicero spoke in
(Dion Cass. Ixxi. 5. ) He is alluded to in a letter of his behalf, Antonius was condemned. The oration
Avidius Cassius, preserved by Vulcatius Gallicanus which Caelius delivered against Antonius possessed
("audisti praefectum praetorii nostri philosophi, considerable merit, and was read in the time of
ante triduum quam fieret, mendicum et pauperem, Quintilian (Quintil. iv. 2. $ 123, ix. 3. $ 58). Not
sed subito divitem factum," c. 14). The name of long afterwards he obtained the quaestorship, and
Bassaeus Rufus occurs in inscriptions. (See Rei- was charged with having purchased the votes at
marus, ad Dion. Cass. lxxi. 3. $ 25, p. 1179. ) his election, an accusation from which Cicero en-
RUFUS, CA'DIUS, was condemned on the deavoured to clear him when he defended him in
charge of repetundae, at the accusation of the B. C. 56.
Bithynians in A. D. 49, but was restored by Otho In B. c. 57, Caelius accused L. Sempronius Atra.
in a. D. 69 to his rank as senator. (Tac. Ann. xii. tinus of bribery, and when the latter, who was
22, Hist. i. 77. )
defended by Cicero, was acquitted, he accused him
RUFUS, CAECI'LIUS. 1. L. CAECILIUS again of the same crime in B. c. 56. But while the
Rufus, the brother of P. Sulla by the same mo. second suit was in progress, and had not yet come
ther, but not by the same father, was tribune of on for trial, Caelius himself was accused of vis by
the plebs, B. c. 63, and proposed soon after he had Sempronius Atratinus the younger. Caelius had for
entered upon the office that his brother P. Sulla some time been living in the house of P. Clodius
and Autronius Paetus, both of whom bad been on the Aventine, and was one of the avowed
condemned on account of bribery in the consular paramours of his notorious sister Clodia Quadran-
comitia of B. C. 66, should be allowed to become taria. He had, however, lately deserted her ;
candidates again for the higher offices of the state, and she, in revenge, induced Sempronius Atrati-
but dropt the proposal at the suggestion of his nus to bring him to trial. The two most important
brother. In the course of his tribunate he ren charges in the accusation arose from Clodia's own
dered warm support to Cicero and the aristocratical statements ; she charged him in the first place
party, and in particular opposed the agrarian law with having borrowed money from her in order to
of Servilius Rullus. In his praetorship, B. c. 57, murder Dion, the head of the embassy sent by
he joined most of the other magistrates in pro- Ptolemy Auletes to Rome ; and declared, in the
posing the recall of Cicero from banishment, and second place, that he had made an attempt to carry
incurred in consequence the hostility of P. Clo her off by poison. Caelius -spoke on his own be-
dius, whose hired mob attacked his house in the half, and was also defended by M. Crassus and
course of the same year. In B c. 54, he supported Cicero : the speech of the latter is still extant.
the accusation against Gabinius. (Cic
. pro Sull. Caelius had done great damage to his character,
22, 23 ; comp. Dion Cass. xxxvii. 25 ; Cic. post not only by his intrigue with Clodia, but still more
Red, in Sen. 9, pro Mil. 14; Ascon. in Mil. p. 48, by the open part he had taken both at Baiae as
ed. Orelli ; Cic. Q. Fr, ïïi. 3. § 2. )
well as at Rome in the extravagant debaucheries
2. C. Caecilius Rufus, consul A. D. 17, with of herself and her friends ; and Cicero therefore
L. Pomponius Flaccus. (Tac. Ann. ii. 41 ; Dion exerts himself to show that the reports respecting
Cass. Ivii. 17. )
the character of his client were unfounded, or at
RUFUS, M. CAE'LIUS, was the son of a least grossly exaggerated ; that he was not the
wealthy Roman eques of the same name, who ap- extravagant spendthrift and luxurious debauchee
pears to have obtained his property as a negotiator that he had been represented, but had devoted
in Africa. He was accused of parsimony, especially much of his time to serious occupations, especially
in reference to his son, but the extravagant habits to the study of oratory. The judges acquitted him ;
of the latter required some degree of restraint. and a second accusation, which the Claudii brought
He was alive at the trial of his son in B. c. 56 against him two years afterwards (Cic. ad Q. Fr.
(Cic. pro Cael. 2, 15, 30, 32. ) The younger Cae- ii. 13), appears likewise to have failed.
lius was born at Puteoli on the 28th of May, B. C. In B. C. 52, Caelius was tribune of the plebs.
82, on the same day and the same year as the He warmly supported Milo, who njurdered P.
orator C. Licinius Calvus, in conjunction with Clodius at the beginning of this year, and he
whom his name frequently occurs (Plin. H. N. vii. opposed the measures brought forward by Pompey.
49. & 50 ; Quintil. x. 1. $ 115, x. 2. § 25, xii. 10. But his efforts were all in vain, and Milo was
§ 1). His father was enabled to procure him condemned. (Comp. Cic. pro Mil. 33. ) In the
introductions to M. Crassus and Cicero, who gave same year he proposed a bill in conjunction with
him the advantage of their advice in the prosecu- lis nine colleagues to allow Caesar' to become a
tion of his studies, especially in the cultivation of candidate for a second consulship in his absence.
oratory. During Cicero's praetorship (1. c. 66), ) To this measure no serious opposition was offered
## p. 672 (#688) ############################################
672
RUFUS.
RUFUS.
1
as Pompey did not venture to refuse to it his | 43); but this M. Rufus must in all probability
sanction. No sooner had his year of office expired have been a different person.
than he accused his late colleague Q. Pompeius
He was rewarded for his services by the praetor-
Rufus of vis under the provisions of the very law ship, which he held in B. C. 48. But various causes
which the latter had taken so active a part in passing. had already alienated the mind of Caelius from his
The triumvir, who had no further occasion for his new patron, and these at length led him to engage in
services, rendered him but faint support. He was desperate enterprises which ended in his ruin and
condenned, and retired to Bauli in Campania, death. He was mortified that Caesar had en-
where he was in great pecuniary difficulties, till trusted the honourable duties of the city praetor.
Carlius generously compelled Cornelia the mother ship to C. Trebonius rather than to himseli, a dis.
of Pompeius, to surrender to him his paternal pro- tinction, however, to which Trebonius had much
perty. (Val. Max. iv. 2. & 7. )
greater claims, as he had in his tribuneship in
In B. c. 51, Cicero went to Cilicia as proconsul, B. C. 55 proposed the law for prolonging the pro-
much against his will, and before leaving Italy he consular government of Caesir. But his chief
requested Caelius, who accompanied him on his dissatisfaction with the existing state of things
journey as far as Cumae, to send him from time to arose from his enormous debts. It seems that he
time a detailed account of all the news of the had looked forward to a proscription for the pay-
city. Caelius readily complied with his request, ment of his creditors ; but as Caesar's generous
and his correspondence with his friend is still pre- conduct towards his opponents deprived him of
served in the collection of Cicero's letters. In the this resource, he saw no remedy for his ruined for.
same year Caelius became a candidate for the tunes but a general coinmotion. Accordingly, when
curule aedileship, which he gained along with | Trebonius was, in the exercise of his judicial
Octavius. As he was anxious to exhibit the games duties, carrying into execution the law which had
with becoming splendour, he applied to Cicero for been lately passed by Caesar for the settlement of
money and for panthers, as his command of an debts, Caelius set up his tribunal by the side of
Asiatic province would enable him to obtain a his colleague and promised his assistance to all who
large supply of both without much difficulty. might appeal to him against the decision of the
Cicero, with all his faults, did not plunder the pro- latter. But as no one availed himself of his prof-
vincials. He therefore refused the money at once ; fered aid, he brought forward a law according to
and does not seem to have put himself to much which debts were to be paid without interest in
trouble to procure the panthers, although Caelius six instalments, probably at the interval of six
reminds him of them in almost every letter. months from one another. When this measure was
During his aedileship in the following year (B. C. opposed by Servilius Isauricus, Caesar's colleague
50), Caelius still carried on his correspondence in the consulship, and by the other magistrates,
with Cicero ; and his letters contain some interest- he dropt it and brought forward two others in its
ing accounts of the proceedings of the different place, which were in fact equivalent to a general
parties at Rome immediately before the breaking confiscatio of property. By one of these new
out of the civil war. In the same year he became laws the proprietors of houses had to give up a
involved in a personal quarrel with the censor Ap. year's rent to their tenants, and by another cre-
Claudius Pulcher, and with L. Domitius Aheno ditors were to forgive debtors all their debts. After
barbus, who had been the colleague of Claudius such sweeping measures as these, the decisions of
in the consulship ; but we must refer the reader for Trebonius, however lenient, would seem harsh to
particulars to his correspondence with Cicero (ad wards debtors.
A mob attacked him as he was ad-
Fam. viii, 12, 14). Having thus become a per- ministering justice ; several persons were wounded,
sonal enemy of two of the most distinguished and Trebonius himself driven from his tribunal.
leaders of the aristocracy, his connection with Thereupon the senate resolved to deprive Caelius
this party, of which he had hitherto been a warm of his office, and Servilius carried the decree into
supporter, was naturally weakened. He felt no execution by breaking bimself the curule seat of
confidence in Pompey and the senate in the im- the praetor. Caelius saw that he could effect
pending civil war; he saw that Caesar was the nothing more at Rome, and accordingly left the
stronger ; and arowing the principle that the more city, giving out that he intended to repair to
powerful party is to be joined when the struggle Caesar. But his real intention was to join Milo
in a state comes to arms, he resolved to espouse in Campania, whom he had secretly sent for from
the side of Caesar.
Massilia, and along with him to raise an insurrec-
In the discussions in the senate at the beginning tion in favour of Pompey. Milo, however, was
of January, B. C. 49, Caelius supported the opinion killed in an attack upon an obscure fort near
of M. Calidius that Pompey ought to betake Thurii before Caelius could join him (Milo);
himself to his Spanish provinces in order to remove and Caelius himself was put to death shortly after-
every pretext for war. By this declaration he wards at Thurii by some Spanish and Gallic horse-
openly broke with the aristocratical party, and in men whom he was endeavouring to bribe to sur-
a few days afterwards he fled from Rome with render the place. (Caes. B. C. iii. 20—22 ; Dion
M. Antonius, Q. Cassius, and C. Curio to Caesar's Cass. xlii. 22–25; Appian, B. C. ii. 22; Liv.
camp
Ravenna ves. B. C. i. 2 ; Dion Cass. Epit. 111; Vell. Pat. ii. 68 ; Oros, vi. 15; Quin-
xli. 2, 3). Caesar sent him into Liguria to sup- til. vi. 3. & 25. )
press an insurrection at Intemelium (ad Fam. viii.
15); and in April he accompanied Caesar in his The passage in Caesar (B. C. iii. 20), from
campaign in Spain (ad Fam. viii. 16. $ 4, 17. $ 1). which the statement in the text is taken, is cor-
It is supposed by some modern writers that he rupt:- :-" legem promulgavit, ut sexies seni dies
also served under Curio in Africa in the course of sine usuris creditae pecuniae solvantur. " Niebuhr
the same year, as we read of a M. Rufus who was conjectures sexies semestri die (Kleine Schriften,
the quaestor of Curio in Africa (Caes. B. C. ii. | vol. ii. pp. 253, 254. )
;
## p. 673 (#689) ############################################
RUFUS.
673
RUFUS.
niezami
Caelius had paid considerable attention to liter- | It bas on the obverse the head of the Dioscuri
nture, and with no small success. He was an with RVFVS I Vir (that is, of the mint), and
elegant writer and an eloquent speaker ; he pos- on the reverse a female figure with man. CORDIVS.
sessed an excitable temperament, and a lively (Eckhel, vol. v. p. 178. )
imagination; the speeches in which he accused
others were considered his master-pieces (Cic.
Brut. 79 ; orator iracundissimus, Senec. de Ira,
iii. 8). He was a friend of Catullus, who has
addressed two of his poems to him (Carm. lviii. c. ),
and he also lived, as has appeared from the above
account, on the most intimate terms with Cicero.
It was the latter circumstance apparently that led
Niebuhr to extenuate the faults of Caelius, and to
COIN OF M'. CORDIUS RUFUS.
ascribe to him virtues that he never possesscd ;
but Cicero's intimacy with the young profligate RUFUS, CORE'LLIUS, a friend of the
speaks rather to the prejudice of his own charac. younger Pliny, whom he looked up to as a father,
ter than in favour of his friend's moriuls. All the and of whom he always speaks with the highest
ancient writers, with the exception of Cicero, veneration and respect. Corellius had been a
who have occasion to mention Caelius, agree martyr to hereditary gout for 33 years; and at
in an unfavourable estimate of his character ; length, in order to escape from the incessant pain
and independent of their testimony, his letters to which he suffered, he put an end to his life by vo-
Cicero, and the speech of the latter on his behalf, luntary starvation at the age of 67, at the com-
in which he attempts to clear his friend of the mencement of Trajan's reign. His virtues and his
charges brought against him, are sufficient of them- death form the subject of one of the letters of
selves to convince any attentive reader of the Pliny (Ep. i. 12), who also mentions bim on many
worthlessness of his moral character. (Niebuhr, other occasions. (Ep. iv. 17. § 4, v. 1. & 5, vii. 11.
Kleine Schriften, vol. ii. p. 252 ; Meyer, Oratorum $ 3, ix. 13. $ 6. )
Romanorum Fragmenta, p. 458, &c. , 2d ed. ; Dru- RUFUS, CU'RTIUS, said to have been the
mann, Geschichte Roms, vol. ii. p. 411, &c. ; and son of a gladiator by some, followed in the train of
especially Suringar, M. Caelii Rufi et M. Tullii one of the quaestors to Africa for the purpose of
Ciceronis Epistolae mutuae, Lugd. Batav. 1846, in gain, and, while at Adrumetum, is reported to have
which all the authorities for the life of Caelius, seen a female of superhuman size, who prophesied
both ancient and modern, are printed at length. ) to him that he would one day visit Africa as pro-
RUFUS, CAESE'TIUS, proscribed by An- consul. Urged on by this vision, he repaired to
tony in B. C. 43, and killed. He owed his fate to Rome and obtained the quaestorship and praetor-
a beautiful insula or detached mansion which he ship in the reign of Tiberius, at a later period the
had in the city, and which had taken the fancy of consular imperium and triumphal ornaments, and
Fulvia, the wife of Antony. When his head was at length the government of Africa, as had been
brought to Antony, he sent it to his wife, saying predicted (Tac. Ann. xi. 20, 21 ; Plin. Ep. vii. 27).
that it did not belong to him. (Appian, B. C. iv. Some modern writers suppose that this Curtius
29 ; Val. Max. ix. 5. § 4. )
Rufus was the father of Q. Curtius Rufus, the
RUFUS, C. CALVI'SIUS, an intimate friend historian.
of the younger Pliny (Plin. Ep. i. 12. § 12, iv. 4), RUFUS, Q. CURTIUS, the historian. [Cur-
who has addressed several of his letters to him. TIUS. )
(Ep. ii. 20, iii. 1, 19, v. 7, viii. 2, ix. 6. )
RUFUS DOME'STICUS. (RUFINUS, lite-
RUFUS, CAMOʻNIUS, of Bononia, a friend rary, No. 4. ]
of Martial, died at an early age in Cappadocia. RUFUS, EGNATIUS. 1. L. EGNATIUS Ru.
(Mart. vi. 85. )
pus, a friend of Cicero, was a Roman eques, who
RUFUS CANI'NIUS, a native of Comum, appears to have carried on an extensive business in
and a friend and neighbour of the younger Pliny, the provinces as a money-lender, and a farmer of
was well versed in literature, and especially poetry. the taxes. Ciceru frequently recommends him to
He appears also to have possessed some talent for the governors of the provinces ; as, for instance, to
the composition of poetry, and meditated writing a Q. Philippus (ad Fam. xiii. 73, 74), to Quintius
poem on the Dacian war (Plin. Ep. viii. 4). But Gallius (ai Fam. xii. 43, 44), to Appuleius (ad
as most of his time was taken up in the personal Fam. xiii. 45), and to Silins (ad rum. xiii. 47).
management of his estates, Pliny begs him to leave Both Cicero and his brother Quintus had pecuniary
them to his bailiffs, and to devote his own time to dealings with him (ad Att. vii. 18. $ 4, x. 15. § 4,
the prosecution of his studies (Plin. Ep. i. 3). xi. 3. § 3, xii. 18. § 3).
There are also several other letters of Pliny ad- 2. M. Egnatius Rufus, probably son of the
dressed to him, which all more or less urge him to preceding, was aedile in B. C.
