At
own property as unscrupulously as that of others, a somewhat later time, he is called in a letter of
and no means were ample enough to satisfy his Cicero's addressed to him (ad Fam.
own property as unscrupulously as that of others, a somewhat later time, he is called in a letter of
and no means were ample enough to satisfy his Cicero's addressed to him (ad Fam.
William Smith - 1844 - Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities - a
III.
4; Zonar.
vii.
leius Saturninus was murdered, Curio was with
6; Niebuhr, Hist. of Rome, i. p. 348; comp. the consuls. In B. c. 90, the year in which the
HORATIUS. ) No members of the patrician Curiatia Marsic war broke out, Curio was tribune of the
gens, so far as our records go, rose to any eminence people.
He afterwards served in the army of
at Rome, and there are but few whose names have Suila during his war in Greece against Archelaus,
come down to us. The only cognomen of the gens the general of Mithridates, and when the city of
in the times of the republic is FISTUS. For the Athens was taken, Curio besieged the tyrant
plebeians who are mentioned without a cognomen, Aristion in the acropolis. In B. c. 82 he was in-
see CURIATIUS.
[L. S. ] vested with the prietorship, and in 76 he was
CURIA'TIUS. 1. P. CURIATIUS, tribune of made consul ingether with Cn. Octavius. After
the people in B. C. 401. The college of tribunes the expiration of the consulship, he obtained Ma-
in that year laboured under great unpopularity, as ccdonia as his province, and carried on a war for
two of them had been appointed by the co-optation three years in the north of his province against
## p. 902 (#922) ############################################
902
CURIO.
CURIO.
>
the Dardanians and Moesians with great success. reckless in squandering money as he was insatiable
He was the first Roman general who advanced in in acquiring it, had by this time contracted enor-
those regions as far as the river Danube, and on mous debts, and he siw no way of getting out of
his return to Rome in 71, he celebrated a triumph his difficulties except by an utter confusion of the
over thc Dardanians. Curio appears to have hence affairs of the sepublic. It was believed that he
forth remained at Rome, where he took an active would direct his power and influence as tribune
part in all public affairs. He acted as an opponent against Caesar, and at first he did so ; but Caesar,
of Julius Caesar, and was connected in intimate who was anxious to gain over some of the influen-
friendship with Cicero. When the punishment of tial men of the city, paid all Curio's debts on con-
the Catilinarian conspirators was discussed in the dition of his abandoning the Pompeian party.
senate, Curio also spoke, and afterwards expressed This scheme was perfectly successful; but Curio
his satisfaction with Cicero's measures. In the was too clever and adroit a person at once to turn
trial of P. Clodius, for having violated the sacra of his back upon his former friends. At first he
the Bona Dea, Curio spoke in favour of Clodius, continued to act against Caesar; by and by he
probably out of enmity towards Caesar; and Cicero assumed an appearance of neutrality; and in order
on that occasion attacked both Clodius and Curio to bring about a rupture between himself and the
most vehemently in a speech of which considerable Pompeian party, he brought forward some laws
fragments are still extant. This event, however, which he knew could not be carried, but which
does not appear to have at all interrupted their would afford him a specious pretext for descrting
personal friendship, for Cicero speaks well of him his friends. When it was demanded that Caesar
as a man on all occasions; he says, that he was should lay down his imperium before coming to
one of the good men of the time, and that he was Rome, Curio proposed that Pompey should do the
always opposed to bad citizens. In B. c. 57 Curio same. This demand itself was as fair as the
was appointed pontifex maximus; he died four source from which it originated was impure. Pom-
years later, B. c. 53. Like his father and his son, pey shewed indeed a disposition to do anything that
Curio acquired in his time some reputation as an was fair, but it was evident that in reality he did
orator, and we learn from Cicero, that he spoke on not intend to do any such thing. Curio therefore
various occasions; but of all the requisites of an now openly attacked Pompey, and described him as
orator he had only one, viz. elocution, and he ex- a person wanting to set himself up as tyrant; but,
celled most others in the purity and brilliancy of in order not to lose every appearance of neutrality
his diction ; but his mind was altogether unculti- even now, he declared, that if Caesar and Pompey
vated; he was ignorant without being aware of would not consent to lay down their imperium,
this defect; he was slow in thinking and invent- both must be declared public ememies, and war
ing, very awkward in his gesticulation, and with must be forth with made against them. This ex-
out any power of memory. With such deficiencies cited Pompey's indignation so much, that he with-
he could not escape the ridicule of able rivals or of drew to a suburban villa. Curio, however, conti-
his audience; and on one occasion, probably during nued to act his part in the senate; and it was
his tribuneship, while he was addressing the peo- decreed that Pompey and Caesar should each dis.
ple, he was gradually deserted by all his hearers. miss one of their legions, which were to be sent to
His orations were published, and he also wrote Syria. Pompey cunningly evaded obeying the
a work against Caesar in the form of a dialogue, command by demanding back from Caesar a legion
in which his son, C. Scribonius Curio, was one of which lie had lent him in B. c. 53; and Caesar
the interlocutors, and which had the same defi- sent the two legions required, which, however,
ciencies as his orations. (The numerous passages instead of going to Syria, took up their winter-
in which he is spoken of by Cicero are given in quarters at Capua.
Orelli's Onom. Tull. ii. p. 525, &c. ; comp. Plut. Soon after, the consul Claudius Marcellus pro-
Sull. 14; Appian, Mithrid. 60; Eutrop. vi. 2; posed to the senate the question, whether a suc-
Oros. iv. 23; Suet. Cacs. 9, 49, 52; Dion Cass. cessor of Caesar should be sent out, and whether
xxxviii. 16; Val. Max. ix. 14. $ 5; Plin. H. N. Pompey was to be deprived of his imperium ?
vii. 12 ; Solin. i. 6 ; Quintil. vi. 3. S 76. ) The senate consented to the former, but refused to
4. C. SCRIBONIUS Cirio, the son of the former, do the latter. Curio repeated his former proposal,
and, like his father, a friend of Cicero, and an ora- that both the proconsuls should lay down their
tor of great natural talents, which however he left power, and when it was put to the vote, a large
uncultivated from carelessness and want of indus- majority of the senators voted for Curio. Claudius
try. Cicero knew him from his childhood, and Marcellus, who had always pretended to be a
did all he could to direct his great talents into a champion of the senate, now refused obedience to
proper channel, to suppress his love of pleasure its decree ; and as there was a report that Caesar
and of wealth, and to create in him a desire for was advancing with his army towards Rome, he
true fame and virtue, but without any success, proposed that the two legions stationed at Capua
and Curio was and remained a person of most pro- should be got ready at once to march against Cae-
frigate character. He was married to Fulvia, who Curio, however, denied the truth of the re-
afterwards became the wife of Antony, and by port, and prevented the consul's command being
whom Curio had a daughter who was as dissolute obeyed. Claudius Marcellus and his colleague,
as her mother. Owing to his family connexions Ser. Sulpicius Rufus now rushed out of the city to
and several other outward circumstances, he be- Pompey, and solemnly called upon him to under-
Jonged to the party of Pompey, although in his take the command of all the troops in Italy, and
heart he was favourably disposed towards Caesar. save the republic. Curio now could not interfere,
After having been quaestor in Asia, where he had as he could not quit the city in the character of
discharged the duties of his office in a praise worthy tribune ; le therefore addressed the people, and
manner, he sued for and obtrined the tribuneship called upon them to demand of the consuls not to
for the eventful var 1. c. 30. Curiu, who was as perinit Pompy to levy an army. But he was not
sar.
## p. 903 (#923) ############################################
CURITIS.
903
CURIUS.
go
to
na.
listened to. Amid these disputes the year of goddess. (Ov. Fust. ii. 177, vi. 4); Macrob. Sut.
Curio's tribuneship was coming to its closc, and as i. 9. ) Hartung (Die Relig. der Rom. ii. p. 72) finds
he had good reason to fear for his own safety, he in the surname Curitis an allusion to a marriage
was induced by despair to quit the city and ceremony, in which some of the bride's hair was
Caesar, who was at Ravenna and consulted him as either really or symbolically cut off with the
to what was to be done. Curio urged the neces- curved pont of a sword. (Plut. Quuest. Rom. 87;
sity of immediately collecting his troops and march- Or. Bust. ii. 560. )
[L. S. )
ing them against Rome. Caesar, however, was CUʻRIUS. 1. M. CURius, probably a grand-
still inclined to settle the question in a peaceful son of M'. Curius Dentatus, was tribune of the
manner, and despatched Curio with a message to people in B. c. 199. He and one of his colleagues,
the senate. But when Domitius Ahenobarbus was M. Tulvius, opposed T. Quinctius Flamininus, who
actually appointed Caesar's successor, and when offered himself as a candidate for the consulshiil',
the new tribunes, Antony and Q. Cassius, who without having held any of the intermediate of-
followed in Curio's footsteps, were commanded by tices between that of quaestor and consul; but the
the consuls to quit the senato, and when even tribunes yielded to the wishes of the senate. (Liv.
their lives were threatened by the partizans of xxxii. 7. )
Pompey, the tribunes together with Curio tled in 2. M. Curius, is known only through a law-
the night following, and went to Caesar at Raven- suit which he had with M. Coponius about an
lle and his arıy received them as men per- inheritance, shortly before B. c. 91. A Roman
secuted, and treated as enemies for their zeal in citizen, who was anticipating his wife's confine-
upholding the freedom of the republic.
ment, made a will to this effect, that if the child
The breaking out of the civil war could now be should be a son and die before the age of maturity,
avoided no longer. Curio collected the troops sta- M'. Curius should succeed to his property. Soon
tioned in Umbria and Etruria, and led em to after, the testator died, and his wife did not give
Caesar, who rewarded him with the province of birth to a son. M. Coponius, who was the next of
Sicily and the title of propraetor, B. C. 49. Curio kin to the deceased, now came forward, and, ap-
was successful in crushing the party of Pompey in pealing to the letter of the will, claimed the pro-
Sicily, and compelled Cato to quit the island. Af- | perty which had been left. Q. Mucius Scaevola
ter having effected this, he crossed over to Africa undertook to plead the cause of Coponius, and L,
to attack king Juba and the Pompeian general, Licinius Crassus spoke for Curius. Crassus suc-
P. Attius Varus. Curio was at first successful, ceeded in gaining the inheritance for his client.
but desertion gradually became general in his This trial (Curiana causa), which attracted great
army, which consisted of only two legions, and attention at the time, on account of the two emi-
when he began to lay siege to Utica, he was at- nent men who conducted it, is often mentioned by
tacked by Juba, and fell in the ensuing battle. Cicero. (De Orat. i. 39, 56, 57, ii. 6, 32, 54,
His troops were dispersed, killed, and taken pri- | Brut. 39, 52, 53, 73, 88, pro Caecin. 18, Topric.
soners, and only a few them were able to return 10. )
to Sicily. Africa was thus again in the hands of 3. M'. Curius (is in some editions called M.
the Pompeian party.
Curtius), a friend of Cicero and a relation (conso
C. Scribonius Cirio had been one of the main brinus) of C. Caelius Caldus. He was quaestor
instruments in kindling the civil war between urbanus in B. c. 6), and tribune of the people in
Caesar and Pompey. He was a bold man and 58, when Cicero hoped that Curius would protect
profligate to the last degree ; he squandered his him against the machinations of P. Clodius.
At
own property as unscrupulously as that of others, a somewhat later time, he is called in a letter of
and no means were ample enough to satisfy his Cicero's addressed to him (ad Fam. xiii. 49) a
demands. His want of modesty knew no bounds, governor of a Roman province with the title of
and he is a fair specimen of a depraved and profli- proconsul, but it is not known of what province he
gate Roman of that time. But he was never- had the administration. The letter above referred
theless a man of eminent talent, especially as to is the only one extant among the ad Familiares
an orator. This Cicero saw and appreciated, and which is addressed to him. In the declaration
he never lost the hope of being able to turn the Post Reditum in Senatu (8) Cicero states, that he
talent of Curio into a proper direction. This cir- had been quaestor to Curius's father, whereas it is
cumstance and the esteem which Cicero had enter- a well-known fact, that Cicero had been quaestor
tained for Curio's father, are the only things that to Sex. Peducaeus. This contradiction is usually
can account for his tender attachment to Curio; solved by the supposition, that Curius was the
and this is one of the many instances of Cicero's adoptive son of Peducaeus. (Cic. ad Fam. ii. 19,
amiable character. The first seven letters of the ad Quint. Frat. i. 4, pro Flacc. 13. )
second book of Cicero's “ Epistolae ad Familiares" 4. M. CURIUS, one of the most intimate friends
are addressed to him. (Orelli
, Onom. Tull. ii. p. of Cicero, who had known him from his childhood,
526, &c. ; comp. Caes. B. C. ii. 23, &c. ; Vell. Pat and describes him as one of the kindest of men,
ii. 48, 55; Appian, B. C. ii. 23, &c. ; Suet. Caes. always ready to serve his friends, and as a very
29, 36, de Clar. Rhet. 1; Tacit. de Clur. Orat. 37; pattern of politeness (urbanitas). He lived for
Liv. Epit
. 109, 110; Plut. Caes. 29, &c. , Pomp. several years as a negotiator at Patrae in Pelopon-
58; Dion Cass. xl. 60, &c. ; Quintil. vi. 3. & 76; nesus. At the time when Tiro, Cicero's freedman,
Schol. Bob. in Argum. ad Cic. Orat. in Clod. et was ill at Patrae, B. c. 50 and subsequently, Curius
Cur. )
[L. S. ] took great care of him. In B. C. 46, Cicero recom-
CÚRI'TIS, a surname of Juno, which is usually mended Curius to Serv. Sulpicius, who was then
derived from the Sabine word curis, a lance or governor of Achaia, and also to Auctus, his succes-
spear, which according to the ancient notions was The intim. cy between Curius and Atticus
the symbol of the imperium and mancipium, and was still greater than that between Cicero and
would accordingly designate Juno is the ruling Curius; and the latter is said to have made a will
>
sor.
## p. 904 (#924) ############################################
904
CURSOR.
CURSOR.
a
in which Atticus and Cicero were to be the heirs of the consul L. Camillus, who had been taken
of his property, Cicero receiving one-fourth, and seriously ill. Cursor and his magister equitum,
Atticus the rest. Among Cicero's letters to his Q. Fabius, afterwards surnamed Maximus, wero
friends there are three addressed to Curius (vii. the most distinguished generals of the time.
23-26), and one (vii. 29) is addressed by Curius Shortly after Papirius had inken the field, a doubt
to Cicero. (Cic. ad. Fam. viji. 5, 6, xiii. 7, 17, 50, as to the validity of the auspices he had taken be-
xvi. 4, 5, 9, 11, ad Att. vii. 2, 3, xvi. 3. )
fore marching against the enemy, obliged him to
5. M'. Curus, a man notorious as a gambler, return to Rome and take them again. Q. Fabius
who, however, was not withstanding this appointed was left behind to supply his place, but with the
judex by Antony in B. a 44. (Cic. Phil. v. 5, express command to avoid every engagement with
viii. 9. )
the enemy during the dictator's absence. But
6. C. Curius, a brother-in-law of C. Rabirius Fabius allowed himself to be drawn into a battle
(the murderer of Saturninus), and father of the with the Samnites ncar a place called Imbrinium
C. Rabirius Postumus, who was adopted by C. or Imbrivium, and he gained a signal victory over
Rabirius. He was a man of equestrian rank, and the enemy. Papirius was fearfully exasperated at this
is called princeps ordinis equestris. He was the want of military discipline, and hastened back to
largest farmer of the public revenue, and acquired the army to punish the offender. He was pre-
great wealth by his undertakings, which he spent vented, however, from carrying his intention into
in such a manner, that he seemed to acquire it effect by the soldiers, who sympathized with Fa-
only with the view of obtaining the means for bius, and threatened the dictator with a mutiny.
shewing his kindness and benevolence. Notwith Fabius thereupon fled to Rome, where both the
standing this noble character, he was once accused senate and the people interfered on bis behalf.
of having embezzled sums of public money, and Papirius was thus obliged to pardon, though with-
with having destroyed a document by fire; but out forgiving him, and returned to the army. He
he was most honourably acquitted. (Cic. pro was looked upon by the soldiers as a tyrant, and
Rabir. perd. 3, pro Rubir. Post. 2, 17. )
in consequence of this disposition of his
army,
he
7. Q. CURIUS, a Roman senator, who had once was defeated in the first battle he fought against
held the office of quaestor, came forward in B. C. the enemy. But, after having condescended to
64 as a candidate for the consulship; but he not regain the good-will of the soldiers by promising
merely lost his election, but, being a man of a bad them the booty which they might make, he ob-
character and a notorious gambler, he was even tained a most complete victory over the Samnites,
ejected from the senate. He was a friend of Cati- and then allowed his men to plunder the country
line, and an accomplice in his conspiracy ; but he far and wide. The Samnites now sued for a truce,
betrayed the secret to his mistress Fulvia, through which was granted by the dictator for one year,
whom it became known to Cicero. Whether he on condition that they should clothe bis whole
perished during the suppression of the conspiracy, army and give thein pay for a year. Papirius
or survived it, is uncertain. In the latter case, he thereupon returned to Rome, and celebrated a
may have been the same as the Curius mentioned triumph.
by Appian (B. C. v. 137), who was in Bithynia In B. C. 320, Papirius Cursor was made consul
with Cn. Domitius Ahenobarbus, and attempted to the second (or the third) time, and again under-
betray him, for which he paid with his life. took the command against the Samnites in Apulia.
(Cic. de Petit. Cons. 3, in Tog. Cand. p. 426, It was however uncertain, even in the days of
and Ascon. in Tog. Cand. p. 95, ed. Orelli; Cic. Livy, whether the consuls of that year conducted
ad Att. i. 1; Sallust, Cati. 17, 23, 26; Appian, the war with two armies, or whether it was car-
B. C. ii. 3. )
(L. S. ) ried on by a dictator and L. Papirius as his magis-
CU'RIUS FORTUNATIA'NUS. [FORTU- ter equitum. It is certain, however, that Papirius
NATIANUS. )
blockaded Luceria, and that his camp was reduced
CU'RIUS, VI'BIUS, a commander of the ca- to such extremities by the Samnites, who cut off
valry in Caesar's army, when he commenced all supplies, that he would have been lost, had he
the war against Pompey in Italy. Several of not been relieved by the army of his colleague, Q.
Pompey's generals at the time deserted to Vibius Publilius Philo. He continued his operations in
Curius. (Caes. B. C. i. 24; Cic. ad Att. ii. 20, ix. Apulia in the year B. C. 319 also, for which he
6; Quintil. vi. 3. $ 73. )
[L. S. ] was likewise appointed consul. About this time
CUROPALATES. [CODINUs. ]
the Tarentines offered to act as mediators between
CURSOR, the name of a family of the Papiria the Romans and Samnites, but were haughtily
gens, which was probably given to the first who rejected by Papirius, who now made a successful
bore it from distinguishing himself in running. attack upon the camp of the Samnites : they were
1. L.
6; Niebuhr, Hist. of Rome, i. p. 348; comp. the consuls. In B. c. 90, the year in which the
HORATIUS. ) No members of the patrician Curiatia Marsic war broke out, Curio was tribune of the
gens, so far as our records go, rose to any eminence people.
He afterwards served in the army of
at Rome, and there are but few whose names have Suila during his war in Greece against Archelaus,
come down to us. The only cognomen of the gens the general of Mithridates, and when the city of
in the times of the republic is FISTUS. For the Athens was taken, Curio besieged the tyrant
plebeians who are mentioned without a cognomen, Aristion in the acropolis. In B. c. 82 he was in-
see CURIATIUS.
[L. S. ] vested with the prietorship, and in 76 he was
CURIA'TIUS. 1. P. CURIATIUS, tribune of made consul ingether with Cn. Octavius. After
the people in B. C. 401. The college of tribunes the expiration of the consulship, he obtained Ma-
in that year laboured under great unpopularity, as ccdonia as his province, and carried on a war for
two of them had been appointed by the co-optation three years in the north of his province against
## p. 902 (#922) ############################################
902
CURIO.
CURIO.
>
the Dardanians and Moesians with great success. reckless in squandering money as he was insatiable
He was the first Roman general who advanced in in acquiring it, had by this time contracted enor-
those regions as far as the river Danube, and on mous debts, and he siw no way of getting out of
his return to Rome in 71, he celebrated a triumph his difficulties except by an utter confusion of the
over thc Dardanians. Curio appears to have hence affairs of the sepublic. It was believed that he
forth remained at Rome, where he took an active would direct his power and influence as tribune
part in all public affairs. He acted as an opponent against Caesar, and at first he did so ; but Caesar,
of Julius Caesar, and was connected in intimate who was anxious to gain over some of the influen-
friendship with Cicero. When the punishment of tial men of the city, paid all Curio's debts on con-
the Catilinarian conspirators was discussed in the dition of his abandoning the Pompeian party.
senate, Curio also spoke, and afterwards expressed This scheme was perfectly successful; but Curio
his satisfaction with Cicero's measures. In the was too clever and adroit a person at once to turn
trial of P. Clodius, for having violated the sacra of his back upon his former friends. At first he
the Bona Dea, Curio spoke in favour of Clodius, continued to act against Caesar; by and by he
probably out of enmity towards Caesar; and Cicero assumed an appearance of neutrality; and in order
on that occasion attacked both Clodius and Curio to bring about a rupture between himself and the
most vehemently in a speech of which considerable Pompeian party, he brought forward some laws
fragments are still extant. This event, however, which he knew could not be carried, but which
does not appear to have at all interrupted their would afford him a specious pretext for descrting
personal friendship, for Cicero speaks well of him his friends. When it was demanded that Caesar
as a man on all occasions; he says, that he was should lay down his imperium before coming to
one of the good men of the time, and that he was Rome, Curio proposed that Pompey should do the
always opposed to bad citizens. In B. c. 57 Curio same. This demand itself was as fair as the
was appointed pontifex maximus; he died four source from which it originated was impure. Pom-
years later, B. c. 53. Like his father and his son, pey shewed indeed a disposition to do anything that
Curio acquired in his time some reputation as an was fair, but it was evident that in reality he did
orator, and we learn from Cicero, that he spoke on not intend to do any such thing. Curio therefore
various occasions; but of all the requisites of an now openly attacked Pompey, and described him as
orator he had only one, viz. elocution, and he ex- a person wanting to set himself up as tyrant; but,
celled most others in the purity and brilliancy of in order not to lose every appearance of neutrality
his diction ; but his mind was altogether unculti- even now, he declared, that if Caesar and Pompey
vated; he was ignorant without being aware of would not consent to lay down their imperium,
this defect; he was slow in thinking and invent- both must be declared public ememies, and war
ing, very awkward in his gesticulation, and with must be forth with made against them. This ex-
out any power of memory. With such deficiencies cited Pompey's indignation so much, that he with-
he could not escape the ridicule of able rivals or of drew to a suburban villa. Curio, however, conti-
his audience; and on one occasion, probably during nued to act his part in the senate; and it was
his tribuneship, while he was addressing the peo- decreed that Pompey and Caesar should each dis.
ple, he was gradually deserted by all his hearers. miss one of their legions, which were to be sent to
His orations were published, and he also wrote Syria. Pompey cunningly evaded obeying the
a work against Caesar in the form of a dialogue, command by demanding back from Caesar a legion
in which his son, C. Scribonius Curio, was one of which lie had lent him in B. c. 53; and Caesar
the interlocutors, and which had the same defi- sent the two legions required, which, however,
ciencies as his orations. (The numerous passages instead of going to Syria, took up their winter-
in which he is spoken of by Cicero are given in quarters at Capua.
Orelli's Onom. Tull. ii. p. 525, &c. ; comp. Plut. Soon after, the consul Claudius Marcellus pro-
Sull. 14; Appian, Mithrid. 60; Eutrop. vi. 2; posed to the senate the question, whether a suc-
Oros. iv. 23; Suet. Cacs. 9, 49, 52; Dion Cass. cessor of Caesar should be sent out, and whether
xxxviii. 16; Val. Max. ix. 14. $ 5; Plin. H. N. Pompey was to be deprived of his imperium ?
vii. 12 ; Solin. i. 6 ; Quintil. vi. 3. S 76. ) The senate consented to the former, but refused to
4. C. SCRIBONIUS Cirio, the son of the former, do the latter. Curio repeated his former proposal,
and, like his father, a friend of Cicero, and an ora- that both the proconsuls should lay down their
tor of great natural talents, which however he left power, and when it was put to the vote, a large
uncultivated from carelessness and want of indus- majority of the senators voted for Curio. Claudius
try. Cicero knew him from his childhood, and Marcellus, who had always pretended to be a
did all he could to direct his great talents into a champion of the senate, now refused obedience to
proper channel, to suppress his love of pleasure its decree ; and as there was a report that Caesar
and of wealth, and to create in him a desire for was advancing with his army towards Rome, he
true fame and virtue, but without any success, proposed that the two legions stationed at Capua
and Curio was and remained a person of most pro- should be got ready at once to march against Cae-
frigate character. He was married to Fulvia, who Curio, however, denied the truth of the re-
afterwards became the wife of Antony, and by port, and prevented the consul's command being
whom Curio had a daughter who was as dissolute obeyed. Claudius Marcellus and his colleague,
as her mother. Owing to his family connexions Ser. Sulpicius Rufus now rushed out of the city to
and several other outward circumstances, he be- Pompey, and solemnly called upon him to under-
Jonged to the party of Pompey, although in his take the command of all the troops in Italy, and
heart he was favourably disposed towards Caesar. save the republic. Curio now could not interfere,
After having been quaestor in Asia, where he had as he could not quit the city in the character of
discharged the duties of his office in a praise worthy tribune ; le therefore addressed the people, and
manner, he sued for and obtrined the tribuneship called upon them to demand of the consuls not to
for the eventful var 1. c. 30. Curiu, who was as perinit Pompy to levy an army. But he was not
sar.
## p. 903 (#923) ############################################
CURITIS.
903
CURIUS.
go
to
na.
listened to. Amid these disputes the year of goddess. (Ov. Fust. ii. 177, vi. 4); Macrob. Sut.
Curio's tribuneship was coming to its closc, and as i. 9. ) Hartung (Die Relig. der Rom. ii. p. 72) finds
he had good reason to fear for his own safety, he in the surname Curitis an allusion to a marriage
was induced by despair to quit the city and ceremony, in which some of the bride's hair was
Caesar, who was at Ravenna and consulted him as either really or symbolically cut off with the
to what was to be done. Curio urged the neces- curved pont of a sword. (Plut. Quuest. Rom. 87;
sity of immediately collecting his troops and march- Or. Bust. ii. 560. )
[L. S. )
ing them against Rome. Caesar, however, was CUʻRIUS. 1. M. CURius, probably a grand-
still inclined to settle the question in a peaceful son of M'. Curius Dentatus, was tribune of the
manner, and despatched Curio with a message to people in B. c. 199. He and one of his colleagues,
the senate. But when Domitius Ahenobarbus was M. Tulvius, opposed T. Quinctius Flamininus, who
actually appointed Caesar's successor, and when offered himself as a candidate for the consulshiil',
the new tribunes, Antony and Q. Cassius, who without having held any of the intermediate of-
followed in Curio's footsteps, were commanded by tices between that of quaestor and consul; but the
the consuls to quit the senato, and when even tribunes yielded to the wishes of the senate. (Liv.
their lives were threatened by the partizans of xxxii. 7. )
Pompey, the tribunes together with Curio tled in 2. M. Curius, is known only through a law-
the night following, and went to Caesar at Raven- suit which he had with M. Coponius about an
lle and his arıy received them as men per- inheritance, shortly before B. c. 91. A Roman
secuted, and treated as enemies for their zeal in citizen, who was anticipating his wife's confine-
upholding the freedom of the republic.
ment, made a will to this effect, that if the child
The breaking out of the civil war could now be should be a son and die before the age of maturity,
avoided no longer. Curio collected the troops sta- M'. Curius should succeed to his property. Soon
tioned in Umbria and Etruria, and led em to after, the testator died, and his wife did not give
Caesar, who rewarded him with the province of birth to a son. M. Coponius, who was the next of
Sicily and the title of propraetor, B. C. 49. Curio kin to the deceased, now came forward, and, ap-
was successful in crushing the party of Pompey in pealing to the letter of the will, claimed the pro-
Sicily, and compelled Cato to quit the island. Af- | perty which had been left. Q. Mucius Scaevola
ter having effected this, he crossed over to Africa undertook to plead the cause of Coponius, and L,
to attack king Juba and the Pompeian general, Licinius Crassus spoke for Curius. Crassus suc-
P. Attius Varus. Curio was at first successful, ceeded in gaining the inheritance for his client.
but desertion gradually became general in his This trial (Curiana causa), which attracted great
army, which consisted of only two legions, and attention at the time, on account of the two emi-
when he began to lay siege to Utica, he was at- nent men who conducted it, is often mentioned by
tacked by Juba, and fell in the ensuing battle. Cicero. (De Orat. i. 39, 56, 57, ii. 6, 32, 54,
His troops were dispersed, killed, and taken pri- | Brut. 39, 52, 53, 73, 88, pro Caecin. 18, Topric.
soners, and only a few them were able to return 10. )
to Sicily. Africa was thus again in the hands of 3. M'. Curius (is in some editions called M.
the Pompeian party.
Curtius), a friend of Cicero and a relation (conso
C. Scribonius Cirio had been one of the main brinus) of C. Caelius Caldus. He was quaestor
instruments in kindling the civil war between urbanus in B. c. 6), and tribune of the people in
Caesar and Pompey. He was a bold man and 58, when Cicero hoped that Curius would protect
profligate to the last degree ; he squandered his him against the machinations of P. Clodius.
At
own property as unscrupulously as that of others, a somewhat later time, he is called in a letter of
and no means were ample enough to satisfy his Cicero's addressed to him (ad Fam. xiii. 49) a
demands. His want of modesty knew no bounds, governor of a Roman province with the title of
and he is a fair specimen of a depraved and profli- proconsul, but it is not known of what province he
gate Roman of that time. But he was never- had the administration. The letter above referred
theless a man of eminent talent, especially as to is the only one extant among the ad Familiares
an orator. This Cicero saw and appreciated, and which is addressed to him. In the declaration
he never lost the hope of being able to turn the Post Reditum in Senatu (8) Cicero states, that he
talent of Curio into a proper direction. This cir- had been quaestor to Curius's father, whereas it is
cumstance and the esteem which Cicero had enter- a well-known fact, that Cicero had been quaestor
tained for Curio's father, are the only things that to Sex. Peducaeus. This contradiction is usually
can account for his tender attachment to Curio; solved by the supposition, that Curius was the
and this is one of the many instances of Cicero's adoptive son of Peducaeus. (Cic. ad Fam. ii. 19,
amiable character. The first seven letters of the ad Quint. Frat. i. 4, pro Flacc. 13. )
second book of Cicero's “ Epistolae ad Familiares" 4. M. CURIUS, one of the most intimate friends
are addressed to him. (Orelli
, Onom. Tull. ii. p. of Cicero, who had known him from his childhood,
526, &c. ; comp. Caes. B. C. ii. 23, &c. ; Vell. Pat and describes him as one of the kindest of men,
ii. 48, 55; Appian, B. C. ii. 23, &c. ; Suet. Caes. always ready to serve his friends, and as a very
29, 36, de Clar. Rhet. 1; Tacit. de Clur. Orat. 37; pattern of politeness (urbanitas). He lived for
Liv. Epit
. 109, 110; Plut. Caes. 29, &c. , Pomp. several years as a negotiator at Patrae in Pelopon-
58; Dion Cass. xl. 60, &c. ; Quintil. vi. 3. & 76; nesus. At the time when Tiro, Cicero's freedman,
Schol. Bob. in Argum. ad Cic. Orat. in Clod. et was ill at Patrae, B. c. 50 and subsequently, Curius
Cur. )
[L. S. ] took great care of him. In B. C. 46, Cicero recom-
CÚRI'TIS, a surname of Juno, which is usually mended Curius to Serv. Sulpicius, who was then
derived from the Sabine word curis, a lance or governor of Achaia, and also to Auctus, his succes-
spear, which according to the ancient notions was The intim. cy between Curius and Atticus
the symbol of the imperium and mancipium, and was still greater than that between Cicero and
would accordingly designate Juno is the ruling Curius; and the latter is said to have made a will
>
sor.
## p. 904 (#924) ############################################
904
CURSOR.
CURSOR.
a
in which Atticus and Cicero were to be the heirs of the consul L. Camillus, who had been taken
of his property, Cicero receiving one-fourth, and seriously ill. Cursor and his magister equitum,
Atticus the rest. Among Cicero's letters to his Q. Fabius, afterwards surnamed Maximus, wero
friends there are three addressed to Curius (vii. the most distinguished generals of the time.
23-26), and one (vii. 29) is addressed by Curius Shortly after Papirius had inken the field, a doubt
to Cicero. (Cic. ad. Fam. viji. 5, 6, xiii. 7, 17, 50, as to the validity of the auspices he had taken be-
xvi. 4, 5, 9, 11, ad Att. vii. 2, 3, xvi. 3. )
fore marching against the enemy, obliged him to
5. M'. Curus, a man notorious as a gambler, return to Rome and take them again. Q. Fabius
who, however, was not withstanding this appointed was left behind to supply his place, but with the
judex by Antony in B. a 44. (Cic. Phil. v. 5, express command to avoid every engagement with
viii. 9. )
the enemy during the dictator's absence. But
6. C. Curius, a brother-in-law of C. Rabirius Fabius allowed himself to be drawn into a battle
(the murderer of Saturninus), and father of the with the Samnites ncar a place called Imbrinium
C. Rabirius Postumus, who was adopted by C. or Imbrivium, and he gained a signal victory over
Rabirius. He was a man of equestrian rank, and the enemy. Papirius was fearfully exasperated at this
is called princeps ordinis equestris. He was the want of military discipline, and hastened back to
largest farmer of the public revenue, and acquired the army to punish the offender. He was pre-
great wealth by his undertakings, which he spent vented, however, from carrying his intention into
in such a manner, that he seemed to acquire it effect by the soldiers, who sympathized with Fa-
only with the view of obtaining the means for bius, and threatened the dictator with a mutiny.
shewing his kindness and benevolence. Notwith Fabius thereupon fled to Rome, where both the
standing this noble character, he was once accused senate and the people interfered on bis behalf.
of having embezzled sums of public money, and Papirius was thus obliged to pardon, though with-
with having destroyed a document by fire; but out forgiving him, and returned to the army. He
he was most honourably acquitted. (Cic. pro was looked upon by the soldiers as a tyrant, and
Rabir. perd. 3, pro Rubir. Post. 2, 17. )
in consequence of this disposition of his
army,
he
7. Q. CURIUS, a Roman senator, who had once was defeated in the first battle he fought against
held the office of quaestor, came forward in B. C. the enemy. But, after having condescended to
64 as a candidate for the consulship; but he not regain the good-will of the soldiers by promising
merely lost his election, but, being a man of a bad them the booty which they might make, he ob-
character and a notorious gambler, he was even tained a most complete victory over the Samnites,
ejected from the senate. He was a friend of Cati- and then allowed his men to plunder the country
line, and an accomplice in his conspiracy ; but he far and wide. The Samnites now sued for a truce,
betrayed the secret to his mistress Fulvia, through which was granted by the dictator for one year,
whom it became known to Cicero. Whether he on condition that they should clothe bis whole
perished during the suppression of the conspiracy, army and give thein pay for a year. Papirius
or survived it, is uncertain. In the latter case, he thereupon returned to Rome, and celebrated a
may have been the same as the Curius mentioned triumph.
by Appian (B. C. v. 137), who was in Bithynia In B. C. 320, Papirius Cursor was made consul
with Cn. Domitius Ahenobarbus, and attempted to the second (or the third) time, and again under-
betray him, for which he paid with his life. took the command against the Samnites in Apulia.
(Cic. de Petit. Cons. 3, in Tog. Cand. p. 426, It was however uncertain, even in the days of
and Ascon. in Tog. Cand. p. 95, ed. Orelli; Cic. Livy, whether the consuls of that year conducted
ad Att. i. 1; Sallust, Cati. 17, 23, 26; Appian, the war with two armies, or whether it was car-
B. C. ii. 3. )
(L. S. ) ried on by a dictator and L. Papirius as his magis-
CU'RIUS FORTUNATIA'NUS. [FORTU- ter equitum. It is certain, however, that Papirius
NATIANUS. )
blockaded Luceria, and that his camp was reduced
CU'RIUS, VI'BIUS, a commander of the ca- to such extremities by the Samnites, who cut off
valry in Caesar's army, when he commenced all supplies, that he would have been lost, had he
the war against Pompey in Italy. Several of not been relieved by the army of his colleague, Q.
Pompey's generals at the time deserted to Vibius Publilius Philo. He continued his operations in
Curius. (Caes. B. C. i. 24; Cic. ad Att. ii. 20, ix. Apulia in the year B. C. 319 also, for which he
6; Quintil. vi. 3. $ 73. )
[L. S. ] was likewise appointed consul. About this time
CUROPALATES. [CODINUs. ]
the Tarentines offered to act as mediators between
CURSOR, the name of a family of the Papiria the Romans and Samnites, but were haughtily
gens, which was probably given to the first who rejected by Papirius, who now made a successful
bore it from distinguishing himself in running. attack upon the camp of the Samnites : they were
1. L.
