and pontiffs, because they had not contributed their share while the war subsisted.  The priests in vain appealed to the tribunes; and the contribution was exacted for every year in which they had not paid.  During the same year two pontiffs died, and others were substituted in their room:  Marcus Marcellus, the consul, in the room of Caius Sempronius Tuditanus, who had been a praetor in Spain; and Lucius Valerius, in the room of Marcus Cornelius Cethegus.  An augur also, Quintius Fabius Maximus, died very young, before he had attained to any public office; but no augur was appointed in his place during that year.  The consular election was then held by the consul Marcellus.  The persons chosen were, Lucius Valerius Flaccus and Marcus Porcius Cato.  Then were elected praetors, Caius Fabricius Luscinus, Caius Atinius Labeo, Cneius Manlius Vulso, Appius Claudius Nero, Publius Manlius, and Publius Porcius Laeca.  The curule aediles, Marcus Fulvius Nobilior and Caius Flaminius, made a distribution to the people of one million pecks of wheat, at the price of two asses.  This corn the Sicilians had brought to Rome, out of respect to Caius Flaminius and his father; and he gave share of the credit to his colleague.  The Roman games were solemnized with magnificence, and exhibited thrice entire.  The plebeian aediles, Cneius Domitius Aenobarbus and Caius Scribonius, chief curio, brought many farmers of the public pastures to trial before the people.  Three of these were convicted; and out of the money accruing from fines imposed on them, they built a temple of Faunus in the island.  The plebeian games were exhibited for two days, and there was a feast on occasion of the games.

[Footnote 1:  It was their office to regulate the feasts of the gods.]

43.  Lucius Valerius Flaccus and Marcus Porcius, on the ides of March, the day of their entering into office, consulted the senate respecting the provinces; who resolved, that “whereas the war in Spain was grown so formidable, as to require a consular army and commander; it was their opinion, therefore, that the consuls should either settle between themselves, or cast lots, for Hither Spain and Italy as their provinces.  That he to whom Spain fell should carry with him two legions, five thousand of the Latin confederates, and five hundred horse; together with a fleet of twenty ships of war.  That the other consul should raise two legions; for these would be sufficient to maintain tranquillity in the province of Gaul, as the spirits of the Insubrians and Boians had been broken the year before.”  The lots gave Spain to Cato, and Italy to Valerius.  The praetors then cast lots for their provinces:  to Caius Fabricius Luscinus fell the city jurisdiction; Caius Atinius Labeo obtained the foreign; Cneius Manlius Vulso, Sicily; Appius Claudius Nero, Farther Spain; Publius Porcius Laeca, Pisa, in order that he might be at the back of the Ligurians; and Publius Manlius was sent into Hither Spain, as an assistant to the consul.  Quinctius