V. A strife betweene the inhabitants of Nuceria, and the Pompeians.
ABout the same time, of a light quarrell rose a great murder betweene the inhabitants of Nuceria, and Pompeians at a shew of fencers, which Liuineius Regulus put from the Senate as before I haue rehearsed, represented to the people. For first prouoking one another with bitter termes, as it is often seene in malapert and saucie townesmen, they came to stones, and last of all to weapons; the Pompeians being the stronger, with whom the shew was set forth. Many of the Nucerians were brought lame and wounded to the towne, and many wept for the death of their children and parents: the determining of which the Prince referred to the Senate, the Senate to the Consuls. And the cause being againe brought to the Senators, the Pompeians were forbidden to assemble any such companies for tenne yeeres, and their corporations erected against the lawes dissolued. Liui∣neius and such others as raysed the sturre, were banished. Pedius Blaesus also was put from his Senators roome, at the information of the Cyrenensians; who layd to his charge that he had robbed the treasure of the god Aesculapius, and mustered soul∣diers for money and suite. The same Cyrenensians accused Acilius Strabo some∣time Pretor, and sent by Claudius as arbitrator of certaine lands which once be∣longing to King Apio, and left to the people of Rome with the kingdome, their neighbours possessed and occupied, and by long licence and iniurie defended them to be theirs by right and equitie. The lands therefore being giuen from them by sentence, they enuied the iudge: and the Senate answered they were ignorant of Claudius pleasure, and that they should aske the Princes aduise. The Prince appro∣uing Straboes sentence, wrote neuertheles that he would ayde the allies, and giue them that which they had vsurped. There died not long after, Domitius Afer, and M. Seruilius, two notable personages, which flourished with great honors and elo∣quence: he in pleading of causes, Seruilius famous for long frequenting the Forum, and then for writing the Romane histories, carriage of himselfe, and neatnes of life, which made him more renowned; as equall to the other in wit, yet different in conditions.