42.35
When
he had finished speaking, the consul commended him most warmly and took
him from the Assembly to the senate. There, too, he was thanked by the
senate, and the military tribunes made him leading centurion in the first
legion in recognition of his bravery. The other centurions abandoned their
appeal and answered to the roll-call without demur. To enable the
magistrates to start for their provinces at an earlier date, the Latin Festival
was celebrated on June 1. When that function was over, C. Lucretius sent all
that was required for the fleet on in advance and then left for Brundisium. In
addition to the armies which the consuls were forming, C. Sulpicius Galba
was commissioned to raise four City legions with the full complement of
horse and foot, and to select from amongst the senators four military
tribunes to command them. He was further to require the Latins and allies to
furnish 15,000 infantry and 1200 cavalry, so that this army might be ready
for service wherever the senate should decide. In addition to the force of
Roman citizens and allied troops, the consul P. Licinius was supplied on his
request with the following: 2000 Ligurian mercenaries, a body of Cretan
archers -the number not specified -also Numidian cavalry and elephants. L.
Postumius Albinus, Q. Terentius Culleo, and C. Aburius were sent to
Masinissa and the Carthaginians to arrange this. A. Postumius Albinus, C.
Decimius, and Aulus Licinius Nerva were also sent to Crete for the same
purpose.
