[339] By this time no one except the emperor was expected to address official letters referring to the general political situation to the consuls or the senate. Valens' action was therefore presumptuous (cp. iv. [4]).
[340] The meaning seems to be that Caecina indulged the men in order to win popularity, Valens in order to obtain licence for his own dishonesty.
[341] He had depleted them by sending detachments forward with Valens and Caecina (see i. [61]).
[342] One of the vilest and most hated of imperial menials (see chap. [95], and iv. [11]). The gold ring was a token of equestrian rank (cp. i. [13]).
[343] Caesariensis (Fez) and Tingitana (Morocco). They had been imperial provinces since a.d. 40.
[345] Gemina.
[346] The military titles here used have a technical meaning which translation cannot convey. A senior centurion (cp. note [57]) could rise to the command of an auxiliary cohort, like the Festus and Scipio here mentioned (praefecti cohortium). The next step would be to tribunus legionis, and from that again to praefectus alae. This was Pollio's position, the highest open to any but soldiers of senatorial rank.