[182] LXII. Was summoned to appear in person at Tisidium, etc. --_Cum ipse ad imperandum Tisidium vocaretur._ The gerund is used, as grammarians say, in a passive sense. "The town of Tisidium is nowhere else mentioned. Strabo (xvii. 3, p. 488, Ed. Tauch.) speaks of a place named [Greek: _Tisiaioi_], which was utterly destroyed, and not a vestige of it left." _Gerlach_. [183] LXIII. Sacrificing to the gods--_Per hostias dis supplicante._ Supplicating or worshiping the gods with sacrifices, and trying to learn their intentions as to the future by inspection of the entrails. "Marius was either a sincere believer in the absurd superstitions and dreams of the soothsayers, or pretended to be so, from a knowledge of the nature of mankind, who are eager to listen to wonders, and are ore willing to be deceived than to be taught." _Burnouf._ See Plutarch, Life of Marius. He could interpret omens for himself, according to Valerius Maximus, i. 5. [184] The people--disposed of, etc.--_Etiam tum alios magistratus plebes, consulatum nobilitas, inter se per manus tradebat._ The commentators have seen the necessity of understanding a verb with _plebes._ Kritzius suggests _habebat;_ Gerlach _grebat_ or _accipiebat_. [185] A disgrace to it--_Pollutus._ He was considered, as it were, unclean. See Cat., c. 23, _fin_. [186] LXIV. As soon as the public business would allow him--_Ubi primum potuisset per negotia publica._ As soon as he could through (regard to) the public business. [187] With his own son--_Cum filio suo._ With the son of Metellus. He tells Marius that it would be soon enough for him to stand for the consulship in twenty-three years' time, the legitimate age for the consulship being forty-three. [188] In the camp with his father--_Contubernio patris._ He was among the young noblemen in the consul's retinue, who were sent out to see military service under him. This was customary. See Cic. Pro Cael. Pro Planc. 11. [189] LXV. Which was as weak as his body--_Ob morbos--parum valido._ Sallust had already expressed this a few lines above. [190] Merchants--_Negotiatores._ "Every one knows that Romans of equestrian dignity were accustomed to trade in the provinces." _Burnouf_. [191] With the most honorable demonstrations in his favor --_Honestissimâ suffragatione._ "_Suffragatio_ was the zealous recommendation of those who solicited the votes of their fellow-citizens in favor of some candidate. See Festus, s.v. _Suffragatores,_ p. 266, Lindem." _Dietsch._ It was honorable, in the case of Marius, as it was without bribery, and seemed to have the good of the republic in view. [192] The Mamilian law--See c. 40. [193] LXVI. Advantageous positions--_Suos locos._ Places favorable for his views. See Kritzius on c. 54.