gulam fregere. Ila ille patricius ex gente clarissima Corneliorum, qui
consulare imperium Romae habuerat,[316] dignum moribus factisque suis
exitium vitae invenit. De Cethego, Statilio, Gabinio, Caepario eodem modo
supplicium sumptum est.[317]

[308] _Dicessit_; that is, after the senate, a division having taken
place, had decided in favour of Cato's opinion. Compare p. 50, note 2
[note 245].
[309] Read _tresviros_; each one by himself was called _triumvir_ 'one of
the college of the three.' These officers belonging to the
magistratus minores, had the superintendence of the public prison,
and the carrying of the sentence into execution; whence their
complete title was _tresviri capitales_. The singular, _triumvir_,
does not justify the plural _triumviri_, since the ordinary
grammatical laws require _tres viri_. In manuscripts, we usually had
_III. viri_. Compare Zumpt, S 124.
[310] The preposition _de_ in this compound adds to the idea of the
simple verb _ducere_, that of the place to which a person is led,
and in which he is to remain; hence it is frequently used in the
expression _domum deducere_, 'to take' or 'lead a person home.'
[311] _Locus, quod_. Respecting the gender of the relative pronoun,
see Zumpt, S 372.
[312] The whole structure was called _carcer Mamertinus_, and its main
parts still exist, being changed into a Christian church, _San Pietro
in carcere_. It is situated not far from the ancient _forum Romanum_,
to the north-east, at the foot of the Capitoline hill. According to
Sallust's description, persons on entering had to go down a few
steps leading to the entrance of the _Tullianum_, a subterraneous
apartment cut into the rock, and covered over with a roof; and this
was the place where prisoners were executed. Their corpses were