As the senate took a brief recess, the most hungry of the bunch quickly shuffled out of the door. Lucius Tillius Cimber was, however, not one of those in such haste. Walking up to shake the hand that belonged to the new face in the Senate, he gave a hearty smile and spoke. “Lucius Longinus! When did you become so tall and learn to speak so eloquently?”

It was Ursus Longinus that welcomed the hand and smiled back. “Cimber, it has been a long while since last I’ve seen you. How are you?”

“I am well thank you! Much better now that my eyes rest upon you. I thank the Gods for your safe return. If only there were an army of the Longinus clan to fight for Rome!” Cimber put an arm around his old friend, the actual Lucius Longinus. “We should celebrate! Come let me buy you both a drink!” And with a mischievous smile he added to Ursus, “And you can even have your own urn. As long as you don’t get your hands in my cellar again, I don’t think you’ll drink me into the poor house.”

“Always with the wit!” Lucius beamed. “And what a sight! Three future quaestors standing together.

Cimber let out an even bigger grin and hailed the consul, Arminius Terentius, as he made his way to the exit! “Consul, congratulations on your appointment to Sicily. We all owe you a debt for your steadfast service. It is good to have you home. Rome needs great men such as yourself that can temper our differences and lead us on to greater glory.”

Arminius, cordially warm as ever, shook the hand of each man in turn. “You’ve made quite a reputation for yourself, Cimber, unlike what I’ve heard about your authoritative style in the courts, it would seem as though you let your hackles bristle this past day.”

“We all have our moments, I concede” Cimber replied. But unable to resist, he pushed the issue and squelched a laugh. “I thank you for your sound judgment and articulate expression as to why the Library of Alexandria should be copied!” Some of the remaining senators within earshot attempted to hide their smiles as they shuffled out.

“Cimber, please rest”, Arminius implored. “Casca is an honorable and learned man. He works hard for the greater good of Rome, a quality that I understand you to respect above all others.”

“Yes, I know he his”, Cimber sighed. “But if only he wasn’t so dour and antagonistic all the time he would see that we are all working toward the same goals. Until you pulled him aside to reconcile with Nerva, name me one piece of legislation that he supported or attempted to modify in the spirit of Roman cooperation. I could have simply vetoed his proposals, but I have at least put my personal feelings aside to try to bring out the good aspects of his bills and talk of ways to improve legislation.”

“Just remember, young Lucius, that the deepest cut is the one that you inflict upon a man’s pride.”