Book 14
7.12
Caesar, angered at this and feeling that such treatment was unjust and undeserved, ordered his faithful guardsSee note, p. 56. to arrest the prefect. When this became known, Montius, who was then quaestor,Corresponding in the court of Gallus to the quaestor sacri palatii of the emperor. a spirited man but somewhat inclined to moderate measures, having in view the public welfare, sent for the foremost members of the palace troops and addressed them in mild terms, pointing out that such conduct was neither seemly nor expedient and adding in a tone of reproof that if they approved of this course, it would be fitting first to overthrow the statues of Constantius and then plan with less anxiety for taking the life of the prefect.
7.13
On learning this, Gallus, like a serpent attacked by darts or stones, waiting now for a last expedient and trying to save his life by any possible means, ordered all his troops to be assembled under arms, and while they stood in amazement, he said, baring and gnashing his teeth, Stand by me, my brave men, who are like myself in danger.
7.14
Montius with a kind of strange and unprecedented arrogance in this loud harangue of his accuses us of being rebels and as resisting the majesty of Augustus, no doubt in anger because I ordered an insolent prefect, who presumes to ignore what proper conduct requires, to be imprisoned, merely to frighten him.
