[
29]
Metellus was banished by them at the instigation of Gaius Marius, who was
then in his sixth consulship, and was the secret enemy of Metellus. Thus
they all helped each other. Saturninus brought forward a law to divide the
land which the Cimbri (a Celtic tribe lately driven out
by
Marius) had seized in the country now called
Gaul by the Romans, and which was considered as no longer
Gallic but Roman territory. It was provided also in this law that if the
people should enact it the senators should take an oath within five days to
obey it, and that any one who should refuse to do so should be expelled from
the Senate and should pay a fine of twenty talents for the benefit of the
people. Thus they intended to punish those who should take it with a bad
grace, and especially Metellus, who was too high-spirited to submit to the
oath. Such was the proposed law. Saturninus appointed the day for holding
the comitia and sent messengers to summon from the country districts those
in whom he had most confidence, because they had served in the army under
Marius. As the law gave the larger share to the Italian allies the city
people were not pleased with it.
