Читать книгу Yale Classics (Vol. 2) - Луций Анней Сенека - Страница 467

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Accordingly he employed one P. Umbrenus to apply to the deputies of the Allobroges,28 and engage them, if possible, to join in the war: for he imagined, that as they were oppressed both with public and private debts, and the whole nation of the Gauls was naturally warlike, it would be no difficult matter to persuade them to enter into such a design. Umbrenus, having traded in Gaul, was known to most of the principal men in it, and acquainted with the characters. Accordingly, without any delay, as soon as he saw the deputies in the forum, after putting a few questions to them concerning the state of their nation, and affecting a deep concern for their grievances, he proceeded to ask, what issue they hoped for to their calamities? then, perceiving that they complained of the covetousness of our magistrates; that they inveighed against the senate for yielding them no protection; and that they expected from death alone a remedy to their miseries; he replied, “If you will only act like men, I will put you on a method to get rid of all your pressures.” The Allobroges, on hearing this, conceived mighty hopes, and besought Umbrenus to take pity on them; for that there was no enterprise so difficult or dangerous in which they would not with the utmost readiness engage, provided it would free their state from so vast a load of debt. He then carried them to the house of D. Brutus, which joined to the forum, and was a very proper place for such a consultation, Sempronia being an accomplice, and Brutus then from Rome. To give the greater weight to what he had to say, he sent for Gabinius, too, before whom he laid open to them the conspiracy, named all who were engaged in it, and also many innocent persons, of every rank, to give them the greater courage; and then dismissed them, after they had promised their assistance.