[308] _Dicessit_; that is, after the senate, a division having taken place, had decided in favour of Cato's opinion. Compare p. 50, note 2 [note 245]. [309] Read _tresviros_; each one by himself was called _triumvir_ 'one of the college of the three.' These officers belonging to the magistratus minores, had the superintendence of the public prison, and the carrying of the sentence into execution; whence their complete title was _tresviri capitales_. The singular, _triumvir_, does not justify the plural _triumviri_, since the ordinary grammatical laws require _tres viri_. In manuscripts, we usually had _III. viri_. Compare Zumpt, S 124. [310] The preposition _de_ in this compound adds to the idea of the simple verb _ducere_, that of the place to which a person is led, and in which he is to remain; hence it is frequently used in the expression _domum deducere_, 'to take' or 'lead a person home.' [311] _Locus, quod_. Respecting the gender of the relative pronoun, see Zumpt, S 372. [312] The whole structure was called _carcer Mamertinus_, and its main parts still exist, being changed into a Christian church, _San Pietro in carcere_. It is situated not far from the ancient _forum Romanum_, to the north-east, at the foot of the Capitoline hill. According to Sallust's description, persons on entering had to go down a few steps leading to the entrance of the _Tullianum_, a subterraneous apartment cut into the rock, and covered over with a roof; and this was the place where prisoners were executed. Their corpses were afterwards publicly exhibited in the adjoining _Scalae Gemoniae_. The name Tullianum is derived by the Romans from their king, Tullius Hostilius. [313] 'The roof is bound together by arches of stone,' to make it strong, for otherwise, wooden beams were used for such purposes. [314] _Incultus_, a substantive of rare occurrence, denoting 'want of cleanliness,' 'the absence of care.' [315] 'Punishers of capital offences' is only a paraphrase for _carnifices_, 'executioners.' [316] _Cornelius Lentulus_ had been consul as early as B.C. 71, but the year after, he had been ejected from the senate by the censors, on account of his base conduct. In order to be able to re-enter the senate, he caused himself to become praetor a second time in this year, B.C. 63, in which he ended his life so disgracefully. It is mentioned that he was of a manly and handsome appearance; but the baseness of his character is attested also by other authors. [317] The only one among the others who was a member of the senate was Cornelius Cethegus; Gabinius and Statilius were men of equestrian rank, and Caeparius was a native of the municipium of Terracina.