[3]
On a sudden, war broke out, which
those who were in Africa heard of as being actually raging before any rumour
of its preparation had reached them. But when they did hear of it, partly
out of an inconsiderate eagerness, partly out of some blind apprehension,
they sought for some one as a leader, at first only with the object of
securing their safety, and afterwards with that of indulging their
party-spirit; while Ligarius, keeping his eyes fixed on home, and wishing to
return to his friends, would not allow himself to be implicated in any
business of the sort. In the meantime, Publius Attius Varus, who as praetor
had obtained the province of Africa, came to Utica. Every one immediately
flocked to him, and he seized on the government with no ordinary eagerness,
if that may be called government which was conferred on him, while a private
individual, by the clamour of an ignorant mob, without the sanction of any
public council.
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M. Tullius Cicero. The Orations of Marcus Tullius Cicero, literally translated by C. D. Yonge, B. A. London. George Bell & Sons, York Street, Covent Garden. 1891.
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