Chapter 4

Meanwhile one of his lieutenants, L. Phineus, asked Caesar to give him authority to treat with Considius, if by any means he could be brought to see reason. Permission being granted, he accordingly wrote a letter, which he gave to a prisoner to take to Considius in the town. As soon as the prisoner had arrived there, and when he was in the very act of [landing Considius the letter in accordance with his instructions, the latter remarked before accepting it: Where did you get this? Whereupon the prisoner replied: From the commander-in-chief. Caesar. Then Considius retorted: There is but one commander-in-chief of the Roman people at the moment, namely Scipio. He then ordered the prisoner to be executed forthwith in his presence, and gave the letter—still unread and with its seals intact—to a reliable messenger to take to Scipio.