Qui'ntius
3. L.
Quintius, tribune of the plebs, B. C. 74. is characterised by Cicero as a man well fitted to speak in public assemblies (
Cic. Brut. 62).
He distinguished himself by his violent opposition to the constitution of Sulla, and endeavoured to regain for the tribunes the power of which they had been deprived.
The unpopularity excited against the judices by the general belief that they had been bribed by Cluentius to condemn Oppianicus, was of service to Quintius in attacking another of Sulla's measures, by which the judices were taken exclusively from the senatorial order. Quintius warmly espoused the cause of Oppianicus, constantly asserted his innocence, and raised the flame of popular indignation to such a height, that Junins, who had presided at the trial, was obliged to retire from public life. L. Quintius, however, was not strong enough to obtain the repeal of any of Sulla's laws.
The consul Lucullus opposed him vigorously in public, and induced him, by persuasion in private, says Plutarch, to abandon his attempts.
It is not improbable that the aristocraey made use of the powerful persuasion of money to keep him quiet. (
Plut. Luc. 5; Sallust,
Hist. p. 173, ed. Orelli; Pseudo-Ascon.
in Div. in Cueeil. p. 103,
in Act. i. in Verr. pp. 127, 141, ed. Orelli;
Cic. Clu. 27-
29,
37,
39.)
In B. C. 67 Quintius was praetor, in which year he took his revenge upon his old enemy Lucullus, by inducing the senate to send him a successor in his province, although he had, according to a statement of Sallust, received money from Lucullus to prevent the appointment of a successor. (
Plut. Luc. 33, where he is erroneously called
L. Quintus ; Sail. apud
Schol. in Cic. de Leg. Man. p. 441. ed. Orelli.)
