ex civitate male pacata. The limits of Transalpine Gaul were not accurately defined at this time, and disturbances on the borders were frequent. The Allobroges actually revolted two years later, and were suppressed temporarily by C. Pomptinus; they shared in the universal subjugation of Gaul by Caesar, 58-51 b.c.
ultro, 'spontaneously,' 'unsought,' because the first advances were made by Lentulus.
potuerint, 'especially as they (were men who) might have,' etc.
ad omnia pulvinaria. See [on supplicatio 3. 15].
togati. See [on 2. 28].
The historical allusions in this section will be best explained by the following sketch.
In 88 b.c. Sulla was consul, and had just ended the Social War. P. Sulpicius made certain proposals in the interests of the democratic party, one of which was to transfer the command against Mithridates of Pontus from Sulla to Marius. Sulla marched on Rome; Sulpicius, with a few adherents, was killed; Marius, with others, escaped with difficulty. Sulla thereupon departed for the East.
In 87 Cinna, as consul, revived the schemes of Sulpicius. His colleague Octavius drove him from the city; he collected an army, was joined by Marius, and effected his return by force. A reign of terror followed, during which many aristocrats were killed. Marius died in 86; Cinna was killed in a mutiny two years later.