In reading of these things the reader will know by instinct how much he may believe, and how much he should receive as mythic.

That he was a fast young nobleman, brought up to know no scruples, to disregard blood, and to look upon his country as a milch cow from which a young nobleman might be fed with never-ending streams of rich cream in the shape of money to be borrowed, wealth to be snatched, and, above all, foreigners to be plundered, we may take, I think, as proved.

In spite of his vices, or by aid of them, he rose in the service of his country.

That such a one should become a Praetor and a Governor was natural.

He went to Africa with proconsular authority, and of course fleeced the Africans.