Lentulus
21. P.
Cornelius Lentulus Spinther, P. F. P. N., son of the last. (
Cic. Fam. 1.7,
12.15,
ad Q. Fr. 2.3, &c.)
He assumed the toga virilis in B. C. 57, and therefore was born in 74.
In the same year he was elected in the college of augurs, having been first received (by a sham adoption) into the Manlian gens; because two of the same gens could not at once be in the college, and Faustus Sulla of the Cornelian was already a member. (Cic.
pro Sext. 69;
D. C. 39.17; comp. Vaill.
Cornel. No. 48-51, Eckhel, vol. v. p. 184, &c.) In 56, when Cato endeavoured to recal his father from Cilicia, he appeared publicly in mourning. (Cic.
ad Q. Fr. 2.3, init.)
He followed Pompey's fortunes with his father, and was supposed to have gone to Alexandria after the murder of their chief-perhaps to intercede with Caesar. (
Ad Att. 11.13.)
The dictator pardoned him, and he returned to Italy. In B. C. 45 he was divorced from his abandoned wife, Metella. (Horat.
Serm. 2.3. 339;
Cic. Att. 11.15,
23,
12.52,
13.7.) Soon after we find him visiting Cicero, and in close connection with M. Brutus.
After the murder of the dictator, he openly joined the conspirators. (
Ad Alt. 13.10,
ad Fam. 12.14, 4;
Plut. Caes. 67, &c.)
The senate sent him as proquaestor to C. Trebonius, who held Asia as proconsul for the conspirators. When the latter was slain by Dolabella, Lentulus assumed the title of propraetor, and sent home a despatch containing an exaggerated account of his own services; and he certainly was of use in supplying Cassius with money, and harassing Dolabella. (
Cic. Fam. 12.14,
15.) When Brutus and Cassius took the field, he joined them, and coined money in their name, with the figure and title of
Libertas. (See the annexed, coin.)
He served with Cassius against Rhodes; with Brutus in Lycia. (
App. BC 4.72,
82.) After Philippi, he escaped death, for his name appears with the augurs' insignia on denaries of Augustus, which proves that he was alive in B. C. 27, when Octavius assumed this name.
