§39.41.1hunc, sicut omni vita, tum petentem premebat nobilitas; coierantque praeter C. Flaccum, qui collega in consulatu fuerat, candidati omnes ad deiciendum honore, §39.41.2non solum ut ipsi potius adipiscerentur, nec quia indignabantur novum hominem censorem videre, sed etiam quod tristem censuram periculosamque multorum famae et ab laeso a plerisque et laedendi cupido exspectabant.
As in his entire life, so then too, the nobility pressed upon him as he was seeking office; and all the candidates, except Gaius Flaccus, who had been his colleague in the consulship, had united to debar him from the office, not only so that they themselves might rather obtain it, nor because they were indignant to see a "new man" as censor, but also because they expected a harsh censorship, dangerous to the reputation of many, from a man who had been injured by most of them and was eager to injure them in turn.
§39.41.3etenim tum quoque minitabundus petebat, refragari sibi, qui liberam et fortem censuram timerent, criminando.
Indeed, at that time too, he was seeking office in a threatening manner, by accusing those who feared a free and strong censorship of opposing him.
§39.41.4et simul C. Valerio suffragabatur: illo uno collega castigare se nova flagitia et priscos revocare mores posse.
And at the same time, he supported Gaius Valerius, asserting that with him alone as his colleague he would be able to chastise new vices and restore ancient morals.
his accensi homines, adversa nobilitate, non M. Porcium modo censorem fecerunt, sed collegam ei C. Valerium Flaccum adiecerunt.
Excited by these words, the people, despite the opposition of the nobility, not only made Marcus Porcius censor, but also added Gaius Valerius Flaccus to him as his colleague.
§39.41.5secundum comitia censorum consules praetoresque in provincias profecti praeter Q. Naevium, quem quattuor non minus menses, priusquam in Sardiniam iret, quaestiones veneficii, quarum magnam partem extra urbem per municipia conciliabulaque habuit, quia ita aptius visum erat, tenuerunt.
After the election of the censors, the consuls and praetors set out for their provinces, except Quintus Naevius, whom the investigations into poisoning—which he conducted for the most part outside the city in the municipalities and forums, because it seemed more convenient to do so—held back for no less than four months before he could go to Sardinia.
§39.41.6si Antiati Valerio credere libet, ad duo milia hominum damnavit.
If one wishes to believe Valerius Antias, he condemned up to two thousand people.
et C. Postumius praetor, cui Tarentum provincia evenerat, magnas pastorum coniurationes vindicavit, et reliquias Bacchanalium quaestionis cum cura exsecutus est.
And Gaius Postumius the praetor, to whom Tarentum had fallen as his province, punished the great conspiracies of the shepherds, and carefully prosecuted the remains of the investigation into the Bacchanalia.
multos, §39.41.7qui aut citati non adfuerant aut vades deseruerant, in ea regione Italiae latentes partim noxios iudicavit, partim comprehensos Romam ad senatum misit.
Many, who either had not appeared when summoned or had forfeited their bail, and were hiding in that region of Italy, he partly judged guilty, and partly, having arrested them, sent them to the senate in Rome.
in carcerem omnes a P. Cornelio coniecti sunt.
All of them were thrown into prison by Publius Cornelius.