Pompey and Caesar could agree, at any rate, in this--that they did not want such a one as Cicero to interfere with them.
All of which Cicero himself perceived.

The specially rich province of Macedonia, which would have been his had he chosen to take it on quitting the Consulship, he made over to Antony--no doubt as a bribe, as with us one statesman may resign a special office to another to keep that other from kicking over the traces.

Then Gaul became his province, as allotted--Cisalpine Gaul, as northern Italy was then called; a province less rich in plunder and pay than Macedonia.

But Cicero wanted no province, and had contrived that this should be confided to Metellus Celer, the brother of Nepos, who, having been Praetor when he himself was Consul, was entitled to a government.

This too was a political bribe.