XXVI. When Crassus[207] was about to set out for Syria, he wished Cicero to be his friend rather than his enemy, and he said in a friendly manner that he wished to sup with him, and Cicero received him readily. A few days after when some of his friends spoke with him about Vatinius, and said that Vatinius sought a recollection and to be on good terms with him, for he was then at enmity with Cicero. "Surely," said Cicero, "Vatinius too does not want to sup with me." Such was his behaviour to Crassus. As to Vatinius, who had tumours in his neck, and was on one occasion pleading a cause, Cicero called him a tumid orator. Hearing that Vatinius was dead, and being shortly after certainly informed that he was still living, "Ill betide the man," said he, "who lied so ill." Many of the senators were dissatisfied with Cæsar's carrying a measure for the distribution of the land in Campania among the soldiers, and Lucius Gellius,[208] who was also one of the oldest of them, said, that it should never take place while he lived. "Let us wait," said Cicero, "for Gellius asks for no long delay." There was a certain Octavius[209] who had the ill-repute of being a native of Libya, and on the occasion of a certain trial he said that he could not hear Cicero. "And yet," said Cicero, "your ear is not without a hole in it." Metellus Nepos observing that Cicero by giving testimony against persons had caused more to be condemned than he had caused to be acquitted by undertaking their cause, "Well," said he, "I admit that I have more credit than eloquence." A certain youth who was charged with giving poison to his father in a cake, spoke with great confidence, and said that he would abuse Cicero; "I would rather have this from you," said Cicero, "than a cake." Publius Sextius[210] had Cicero with others as his advocate in a cause, but he chose to say everything himself and would let nobody else speak, and when it was plain that he would be acquitted and the judices were giving their votes, Cicero said, "Make the most of your opportunity to-day, for to-morrow you will be a mere nobody." One Publius Consta,[211] who set up for a lawyer, but was an ignorant and stupid fellow, was called as a witness by Cicero on a trial. On Consta saying that he knew nothing, "Perhaps," said Cicero, "you suppose that you are asked about legal matters." Metellus Nepos during a dispute with Cicero often repeated, "Who is your father?" on which Cicero said, "As for yourself, your mother has made this answer rather difficult for you." Now the mother of Nepos was considered to be an unchaste woman, and himself a fickle kind of man. On one occasion he suddenly deserted his office of tribune and sailed off to join Pompeius[212] in Syria, whence he returned with just as little reason. Nepos had buried his teacher Philagrus with more than usual respect, and set upon his tomb a raven of stone: "In this," said Cicero, "you have acted wiser than your wont, for