A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

904 CURSOR. CURSOR.
in which Atticus and Cicero were to be the heirs of the consul L. Camillus, who had been taken
of his property, Cicero receiving one-fourth, and seriously ill. Cursor and his magister equitunm,
Atticus the rest. Among Cicero's letters to his Q. Fabius, afterwards surnamed Maximus, were
friends there are three addressed to Curius (vii. the most distinguished generals of the time.
23-26), and one (vii. 29) is addressed by Curius Shortly after Papirius had taken the field, a doubt
to Cicero. (Cic. ad. Fam. viii. 5, 6, xiii. 7, 17, 50, as to the validity of the auspices he had taken bexvi. 4, 5, 9, 11, ad Att. vii. 2, 3, xvi. 3.) fore marching against the enemy, obliged him to
5. M'. CURIUS, a man notorious as a gambler, return to Rome and take them again. Q. Fabius
who, however, was notwithstanding this appointed was left behind to supply his place, but with the
judex by Antony in B. c. 44. (Cic. Phil. v. 5, express command to avoid every engagement with
viii. 9.) the enemy during the dictator's absence. But
6. C. CuRius, a brother-in-law of C. Rabirius Fabius allowed himself to be drawn into a battle
(the murderer of Saturninus), and father of the with the Samnites near a place called Imbrinium
C. Rabirius Postumus, who was adopted by C. or Imbrivium, and he gained a signal victory over
Rabirius. He was a man of equestrian rank, and the enemy. Papirius was fearfully exasperated at this
is called princeps ordinis equestris. He was the want of military discipline, and hastened back to
largest farmer of the public revenue, and acquired the army to punish the offender. He was pregreat wealth by his undertakings, which he spent vented, however, from carrying his intention into
in such a manner, that he seemed to acquire it effect by the soldiers, who sympathized with Faonly with the view of obtaining the means for bius, and threatened the dictator with a mutiny.
shewing his kindness and benevolence. Notwith- Fabius thereupon fled to Rome, where both the
standing this noble character, he was once accused senate and the people interfered on his behalf.
of having embezzled sums of public money, and Papirius was thus obliged to pardon, though withwith having destroyed a document by fire; but out forgiving him, and returned to the army. He
he was most honourably acquitted. (Cic. pro was looked upon by the soldiers as a tyrant, and
Rabir. perd. 3, pro Rabir. Post. 2, 17.) in consequence of this disposition of his, army, he
7. (Q. CURIUS, a Roman senator, who had once was defeated in the first battle he fought against
held the office of quaestor, came forward in B. c. the enemy. But, after having condescended to
64 as a candidate for the consulship; but he not regain the good-will of the soldiers by promising
merely lost his election, but, being a man of a bad them the booty which they might make, he obcharacter and a notorious gambler, he was even tained a most complete victory over the Samnites,
ejected from the senate. He was a friend of Cati- and then allowed his men to plunder the country
line, and an accomplice in his conspiracy; but he far and wide. The Samnites now sued for a truce,
betrayed the secret to his mistress Fulvia, through which was granted by the dictator for one year,
whom it became known to Cicero. Whether he on condition that they should clothe his whole
perished during the suppression of the conspiracy, army and give them pay for a year. Papirius
or survived it, is uncertain. In the latter case, he thereupon returned to Rome, and celebrated a
may have been the same as the Curius mentioned triumph.
by Appian (B. C. v. 137), who was in Bithynia In B. c. 320, Papirius Cursor was made consul
with Cn. Domitius Ahenobarbus, and attempted to the second (or the third) time, and again underbetray him, for which he paid with his life. took the command against the Samnites in Apulia.
(Cic. de Petit. Cons. 3, in Tog. Cand. p. 426, It was however uncertain, even in the days of
and Ascon. in Tog. Cand, p. 95, ed. Orelli; Cic. Livy, whether the consuls of that year conducted
ad Att. i. 1; Sallust, Catil. 17, 23, 26; Appian, the war with two armies, or whether it was carB. C. ii. 3.) [L. S.] ried on by a dictator and L. Papirius as his magisCU'RIUS FORTUNATIA'NUS. [FORTU- ter equitum. It is certain, however, that Papirius
NATIANUS.] blockaded Luceria, and that his camp was reduced
CU'RIUS, VI'BIUS, a commander of the ca- to such extremities by the Samnites, who cut off
valry in Caesar's army, when he commenced all supplies, that he would have been lost, had he
the war against Pompey in Italy. Several of not been relieved by the army of his colleague, Q.
Pompey's generals at the time deserted to Vibius Publilius Philo. He continued his operations in
Curius. (Caes. B. C. i. 24; Cic. ad Att. ii. 20, ix. Apulia in the year B. c. 319 also, for which he
6; Quintil. vi. 3. ~ 73.) [L. S.] was likewise appointed consul. About this time
CUROPALATES. [CODINUS.] the Tarentines. offered to act as mediators between
CURSOR, the name of a family of the Papiria the Romans and Samnites, but were haughtily
gens, which was probably given to the first who rejected by Papirius, who now made a successful
bore it from distinguishing himself in running. attack upon the camp of the Samnites: they were
1. L. PAPIRIUS CURSOR, censor in B. c. 393, compelled to retreat and to leave Luceria to its
and afterwards twice military tribune, in n. c. 387 fate. Seven thousand Samnites at Luceria are
and 385. (Liv. vi. 5, 11, ix. 34.) said to have capitulated for a free departure, with2. SP. PAPIRIUS CuitsoR, a son of the former, out their arms and baggage; and the Frentanians,
was military tribune in B. c. 380. (Liv. vi. 27.) who attempted to revolt against the Romans, were
3. L. PAPIRIUs CURSOR, a son of No. 2, does obliged to submit as subjects and give hostages.
not occur in history till the time when lie was After these things were accomplished, he returned
made magister equitum to the dictator L. Papirius to Ronme and celebrated his second triumph.
Crassus in B. c. 340. In B. c. 333 he was made In n. c. 314 Papirius obtained the consulship
consul with C. Poetelius Libo, and according to for the fourth (or fifth) time. Although the war
some annals lie obtained the same office a second against the Sanmnites was still going on, neither
time in B. c. 326, the year in which the second Papirius nor his colleague Publilius Philo is menSamnite war broke out. In the year following he tioned by Livy as having taken part in the camwas appointed dictator to conduct the war in place paigns of that year, whichl were conducted by