A portion of the duty devolved upon the Praetors, as wars became more numerous; and latterly the commanders were attended by Quaestors.

The Governors of the provinces, Proconsuls, or Propraetors with proconsular authority, always combined military with civil authority.

The art of war was, therefore, a necessary part of the education of a man intended to rise in the service of the State.

Cicero, though, in his endeavor to follow his own tastes, he made a strong effort to keep himself free from such work, and to remain at Rome instead of being sent abroad as a Governor, had at last to go where fighting was in some degree necessary, and, in the saddest phase of his life, appeared in Italy with his lictors, demanding the honors of a triumph.

In anticipation of such a career, no doubt under the advice of his friends, he now went out to see, if not a battle, something, at any rate, of war.