y Auletes first appealed to the senate (B.C.
57) to restore him to the throne of Egypt, it appears that a resolution
was passed authorizing the proconsul of Cilicia to do so; but as Pompey
wished to have the business, the senate found itself in a difficulty,
not wishing to put him in military command, or daring to offend him by
an open refusal (Dio, xxxix. 12). The tribune C. Cato found up a
Sibylline oracle forbidding the employment of an army for the purpose,
which served the senate as a decent excuse. The commission to Lentulus
was eventually withdrawn by an _auctoritas senatus_, and Lentulus did
not venture to do it. Ptolemy, finding that he could not succeed in
getting Pompey commissioned, retired to Ephesus, and afterwards
succeeded by an enormous bribe in inducing Gabinius, the proconsul of
Syria, to do it (B.C. 55).]

[Footnote 437: Of having been induced by greed or ambition to undertake
the restoration of Ptolemy.]

[Footnote 438: Reading _tibicini_ for the unmeaning _tibi_. It is not
certain, but it makes good sense. Ptolemy was called _Auletes_
(flute-player), of which the Latin _tibicen_ is a translation, meant, no
doubt, somewhat jocosely.]

[Footnote 439: _I.e._, before going to the senate on the Ides of January
(13th). See next letter.]

[Footnote 440: The Sibylline oracle forbade restoring the king "with a
multitude."]

[Footnote 441: Pompey had at this time _imperium_ as _curator annonae_.]

[Footnote 442: Because it was on Lentulus's motion that Pompey had been
made _curator annonae_, and so in possession of _imperium_ with naval and
military forces.]

XCV (F I, 2)

TO P. LENTULUS SPINTHER (IN CILICIA)

ROME, 15 JANUARY

[Sidenote: B.C. 56, AET. 50]

Nothing was done on the 13th of January in the senate, because the day
was to a great extent spent in an altercation between the consul
Lentulus and the tribune Caninius. On that day I also spoke at
considerable length, and thought that I made a very great impression on
the senate by dwelling on your affection for the house. Accordingly,
next day we resolved that we would deliver our opinions briefly: for it
appeared to us that the feelings of the senate had been softened towards
us--the result not only of my speech, but of my personal appeal and
application to individual senators. Accordingly, the first proposition,
that of Bibulus, having been delivered, that three legates should
restore the king: the second, that of Hortensius, t