[
28]
About this time the consul Scipio [Nasica] demolished the theatre begun by
Lucius Cassius, and now nearly finished, because he considered this also the
source of new seditions or because he thought it not altogether desirable
that the Romans should become accustomed to Grecian pleasures. The censor,
Quintus Cæcelius Metellus, attempted to degrade Glaucia, a
senator, and Apuleius Saturninus, who had already been a tribune, on account
of their disgraceful mode of life, but was not able to do so because his
colleague
would
not agree to it. Accordingly Saturninus, a
little later, in
order to have revenge on Metellus, became a candidate for the tribuneship
again, seizing the occasion when Glaucia held the office of prætor
and presided over the election of the tribunes; but Nonius, a man of noble
birth, who used much plainness of speech in reference to Saturninus and
reproached Glaucia bitterly, was chosen for the office. As they feared lest
he should punish them as tribune, they made a rush upon him with a crowd of
ruffians just as he was going away from the comitia, pursued him into a
certain inn, and stabbed him. As this murder had a pitiful and shocking
aspect, the adherents of Glaucia came together early the next morning,
before the people had assembled, and declared Saturninus elected tribune. In
this way the killing of Nonius was hushed up, since everybody was afraid to
call Saturninus to account because he was a tribune.