20
Quinctius being perplexed at this desertion, obtains a few days' delay from the Scapulae; he sends into Gaul to have those things sold which he had advertised; being absent, he sells them at a less favourable time than before; he pays the Scapulae with more disadvantage to himself than he would have done. Then of his own accord he calls Naevius to account, in order, since he suspected that there would be a dispute about something, to provide for the termination of the business as soon as possible, and with the smallest possible trouble.
21
He appoints as his umpire his friend Marcus Trebellius; we name a common friend, a relation of our own, Sextus Alphenus, who had been brought up in his house, and with whom he was exceedingly intimate. No agreement could be come to; because the one was willing to put up with a slight loss, but the other was not content with a moderate booty.
22
So from that time the matter was referred to legal decision. Lit. “recognizances were entered into.” When the praetor had granted an action, the plaintiff required the defendant to give security for his appearance before the praetor on a stated day, commonly the day but one after the in jus vocatio. After many delays, and when much time had been wasted in that business, and nothing had been done, Naevius appeared before the judge.
