expiration of their year of office at Rome. Cicero had obtained by
lot the lucrative province of Macedonia and exchanged it for Gallia
Cisalpina, which had fallen to the lot of Antonius; but afterwards
he declined the latter also, in order to be able to remain at Rome,
which at that time was considered to be a sign that a man did not
care for money--_continentia abstinentia_.
[144] The _Campus Martius_, an extensive open plain between the city and
the Tiber, was the place for the large assemblies of the people; that
is, for the Comitia Centuriate, in which the consuls and praetors
were elected.
[145] _Aspera foedaque_ might also have been expressed by the adverbs
_aspere foedeque_, 'his attempts turned out unfavourably and
disgracefully.' Compare Zumpt, S 682.

27. Igitur G. Manlium Faesulas atque in eam partem Etruriae, Septimium
quendam Camertem[146] in agrum Picenum, G. Julium in Apuliam dimisit;
praeterea alium alio, quem ubique opportunum sibi fore credebat. Interea
Romae multa simul moliri, consuli insidias tendere, parare incendia,
opportuna loca armatis hominibus obsidere, ipse cum telo esse, item alios
jubere, hortari; uti semper intenti paratique essent, dies noctesque
festinare, vigilare, neque insomniis neque labore fatigari. Postremo ubi
multa agitanti nihil procedit, rursus intempesta nocte conjurationis
principes convocat per M. Porcium Laecam, ibique multa de ignavia eorum
questus, docet se Manlium praemisisse ad eam multitudinem, quam ad
capiunda arma paraverat, item alios in alia loca opportuna, qui initium
belli facerent, seque ad exercitum proficisci cupere, si prius Ciceronem
oppressisset; eum suis consiliis multum officere.

[146] _Camers_, 'a native of Camerium,' (the capital of the Umbrians),
for the inhabitants of that place were called Camertes. _Picenum_