<head>Attalus, Nicomedes, And Prusias</head>The Romans sent envoys to restrain the impetuosity of<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note7">Mission to <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Bithynia&groupId=402&placeId=748">Bithynia</a> to investigate the quarrel between Nicomedes (II.) and his</note>Nicomedes and to prevent Attalus from going to war with Prusias. The men appointed were Marcus Licinius, who was suffering from gout, and was quite lamed by it, and with him Aulus<pb n="509" />Mancinus, who, from a tile falling on his head, had so many and such great scars on it, that it was a matter of wonder that he escaped with his life, and Lucius Malleolus who was reputed the stupidest man in <a class="linkToPlace" target="_blank" href="/place?placename=Rome&groupId=935&placeId=1669">Rome</a>.<note anchored="yes" place="marg" id="note8">father Prusias II. See<foreign lang="la">supra,</foreign><ref target="b32c28" targOrder="U">32, 28</ref>, B. C. 148.</note>As the business required speed and boldness, these men seemed the least suitable possible for the purpose that could be conceived; and accordingly they say that Marcus. Porcius Cato remarked in the Senate that "Not only would Prusias perish before they got there, but that Nicomedes would grow old in his kingdom. For how could a mission make haste, or if it did, how could it accomplish anything, when it had neither feet, head, nor intelligence?" . . .
Walbank Commentary