Marcellus’ flogging of a man of Comum had been premature and by no means to the liking of Pompeius (Ad Att. 5, 11, 2). […] The word means courage, the ultimate virtue of a free man. […] clearly patronage and a means of admitting partisans to the Senate in an orderly fashion. […] But Hirtius was by no means favourable to the Liberators, ib. 14, 6, I ff. […] Supported by the plebs and the veterans, he possessed the means to split the Caesarian party.