35.41
The
year was now almost at an end and the rumours of hostile preparations on
the part of Antiochus and the anxiety these caused to the senate became
graver day by day. The discussion as to the assignment of provinces to the
new magistrates resulted in the senate decreeing that one of the consular
provinces should be Italy and the other wherever the senate should decide,
for it was already generally understood that there would be war with
Antiochus. The one to whom this latter field of operations would be allotted
was to be furnished with 4000 Roman and 6000 allied infantry, together with
300 Roman and 400 allied cavalry. L. Quinctius was instructed to raise this
force so that there might be no delay in the new consul proceeding at once
wherever the senate should think it necessary. A similar decree was made in
the case of the praetors-elect. The first balloting was for the two
departments of civic and alien jurisdiction; the second for Bruttium; the third
for the command of the fleet, which was to be sent wherever the senate
should determine; the fourth for Sicily; the fifth for Sardinia, and the sixth
for Further Spain. L. Quinctius was also commanded to raise two new
Roman legions and an allied contingent of 20,000 infantry and 800 cavalry.
That army was decreed to the praetor who should draw Bruttium as his
province. Two temples were dedicated this year to Jupiter. One had been
vowed by L. Furius Purpureo, when praetor, in the war against the Gauls;
the other by the consul. The dedication was performed by one of the
decemviri, Q. Marcius Ralla. Many severe sentences were passed this year
on moneylenders, the curule aediles M. Tuccius and P. Junius Brutus acting
as prosecutors. From the proceeds of the fines inflicted on them gilded
four-horse chariots were placed in the temple on the Capitol and twelve
gilded shields on the pediment of the chapel of Jupiter. The same aediles
constructed a colonnade outside the Porta Trigemina in the Carpenters'
Quarter.