"Metellus Scipio, declare what is your judgment." "I protest at this unseemly haste," cried Antonius; "let us consider the letter first!" "And I protest against this boisterous and unlawful interruption," retorted the consul, fiercely.

"Rise, Metellus Scipio!" Antonius flushed with rage, but sank into his seat.

Drusus leaned over his friend's shoulder and whispered "Veto." Antonius shook his head.
"They must speak.

We should be foolish to shoot away our best arrow before the battle had really begun." Scipio arose.

He was not the "chief senator,"[141] usually entitled to speak first; but everybody knew that his words were the mere expressions of his son-in-law, the mighty Pompeius.