43.5
At the
same time complaints were laid against C. Cassius, who had been consul the
year before and was now serving as military tribune in Macedonia with A.
Hostilius. The brother of the king of the Gauls, Cincibilus, headed the
deputation, and charged Cassius before the senate with devastating the fields
of Alpine tribes who were friendly to Rome, and carrying off many
thousands into slavery. They were followed by deputations from the Carni,
the Histri and the Iapydes. They informed the senate that in the first instance
Cassius required them to furnish guides to direct his route while he was
leading his army into Macedonia. He left them quite peaceably, his intention
being apparently to make war elsewhere, and then in the middle of his march
he turned back and invaded their territory, spreading everywhere bloodshed,
rapine and fire, nor did they up to that moment know the consul's reason for
treating them as enemies. The reply which the senate made to these
deputations and to the Gaulish prince, who had left Rome, was to the effect
that with regard to the subjects of complaint, they were quite unaware that
such things would happen, and if they had happened they did not sanction
them. It would, however, be unjust for a man of consular rank to be indicted
and condemned in his absence, when he was absent in the service of the
commonwealth. When C. Cassius had returned from Macedonia, the senate
would, if they wished to bring their charges against him in his presence,
investigate the facts and make it their business to give them satisfaction.
They did not confine themselves to a verbal reply; it was decided that two
commissioners should be sent to the prince beyond the Alps and to the three
surrounding tribes to make known the senate's decision. They also agreed
that presents ought to be made to each of the envoys to the value of 2000
ases. To the two princes were given two gold chains five pounds in weight,
five pieces of silver plate twenty pounds in weight, two horses caparisoned
and their grooms with them, outfits of cavalry armour and military cloaks,
and for their suites, including the slaves, wearing apparel. They requested
and were allowed to purchase each ten horses and to take them out of Italy.
The commissioners who accompanied the Gauls beyond the Alps were C.
Laelius and M. Aemilius Lepidus; to the other communities C. Sicinius, P.
Cornelius Blasio, and T. Memmius.
