[163] _Interpellando_, 'by interrupting the speakers, and introducing
other topics.'
[164] By this law of the tribune G. Sempronius Gracchus, in the year
B. C. 122, it had been ordained that every year previous to the
election of the consuls for the next year, the senate should
determine those provinces which should be assigned to the consuls
about to be elected, after the expiration of the year of their
office. As two provinces were thus fixed upon, the consuls afterwards
determined by lot which should have the one, and which the other. The
object of this law was to prevent intrigues in the senate, which
would be carried on by the ruling consuls if they had to choose their
own provinces.
[165] _Obvenit_, 'fell to the lot.' Whenever Italy is called a province,
it is implied that the consul undertaking its administration was to
remain at Rome, and was to be ready for any other war which might
break out. For in the first place, there were now no wars in Italy,
and in the second place, Italy was not a province in the ordinary
sense of the term. The consuls here mentioned entered upon their
office on the 1st January, B. C. 111.

28. At Jugurtha, contra spem nuntio accepto, quippe cui Romae omnia venum
ire[166] in animo haeserat, filium et cum eo duos familiares ad senatum
legatos mittit, hisque ut illis, quos Hiempsale interfecto miserat,
praecipit, omnes mortales pecunia aggrediantur. Qui postquam Romam
adventabant,[167] senatus a Bestia consultus est, placeretne legatos
Jugurthae recipi moenibus; iique decrevere, nisi regnum ipsumque deditum
venissent, uti in diebus proximis decem[168] Italia decederent. Consul
Numidis ex senati decreto nuntiari jubet; ita infectis rebus illi domum
discedunt. Interim Calpurnius, parato exercitu, legat[169] sibi homines