[-15-] After these achievements Caesar marched upon Patrae and occupied it easily, as he had frightened out Cato and his followers in advance.  While these various troubles were being settled, there was an uprising in Spain, although the country was at peace.  The Spaniards were at the time subject to many abuses from Quintus Longinus, and at first some few banded together to kill him.  He was wounded but escaped, and after that proceeded to wrong them a great deal more.  Then a number of Cordubasians and a number of soldiers who had formerly belonged to the Pompeian party rose against him, putting at their head Marcus Marcellus Aeserninus, the quaestor.  He did not accept their appointment with his whole heart, but seeing the uncertainty of events and admitting that they might turn out either way, he straddled the issue.  All that he said or did was of a neutral character, so that whether Caesar or Pompey should prevail he would seem to have fought for the cause of either one.  He favored Pompey by receiving those who transferred their allegiance to him and by fighting against Longinus, who declared he was on Caesar’s side:  at the same time he did a kindness to Caesar because he assumed charge of the soldiers when (as he would say) Longinus was guilty of certain irregularities, and kept these men for him, while not allowing their commander to be alienated.  And when the soldiers inscribed the name of Pompey on their shields he erased it so that he might by this act offer to the one man the deeds done by the arms and to the other their reputed ownership, and by laying claim to one thing or the other as done in behalf of the victor and by referring the opposite to necessity or to different persons he might continue safe.[-16-] Consequently, although he had the opportunity of overthrowing Longinus altogether by mere numbers, he refused, but while extending his actions over considerable time in the display and preparation of what he desired, he put the responsibility for doubtful measures upon other persons.  Therefore both in his setbacks and the advantages he gained he could make the plea that he was acting equally in behalf of the same person:  the setbacks he might have planned himself or might not, and for the advantages others might or might not be responsible.  He continued in this way until Caesar conquered, when, having incurred the victor’s wrath, he was temporarily banished, but was later brought back from exile and honored.  Longinus, however, being denounced by the Spaniards in an embassy, was deprived of his office and while on his way home perished near the mouth of the Iber.