40 He accordingly
commissioned one Publius Umbrenus to apply to certain deputies of the
Allobroges, and to lead them, if he could, to a participation in the war;
supposing that as they were nationally and individually involved in debt, and
as the Gauls were naturally warlike, they might easily be drawn into such an
enterprise. Umbrenus, as he had traded in Gaul, was known to most of the chief
men there, and personally acquainted with them; and consequently without loss
of time, as soon as he noticed the envoys in the Forum, he asked them, after
making a few inquiries about the state of their country, and affecting to
commiserate its fallen condition, “what termination they expected to such
calamities?” When he found that they complained of the rapacity of the
magistrates, inveighed against the senate for not affording them relief, and
looked to death as the only remedy for their sufferings, “Yet I,” said he, “if
you will but act as men, will show you a method by which you may escape these
pressing difficulties.” When he had said this, the Allobroges, animated with
the highest hopes, besought Umbrenus to take compassion on them; saying that
there was nothing so disagreeable or difficult, which they would not most
gladly perform, if it would but free their country from debt. He then conducted
them to the house of Decimus Brutus, which was close to the Forum, and, on
account of Sempronia, not unsuitable to his purpose, as Brutus was then absent
from Rome. In
order, too, to give greater weight to his representations, he sent for
Gabinius, and, in his presence, explained the objects of the conspiracy, and
mentioned the names of the confederates, as well as those of many other
persons, of every sort, who were guiltless of it, for the purpose of inspiring
the embassadors with greater confidence. At length, when they had promised
their assistance, he let them depart.
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