[28]
For when he came to Alexandria to
Auletes,1 O
judges, this one means of saving his money was proposed to Postumus by the
king—namely, that he should undertake the management, and, as it
were, the stewardship of the royal revenues. And he could not do that unless
he became the steward. For he uses that title which had been given to the
office by the king. The business seemed an odious one to Postumus, but he
had actually no power of declining it. The name itself, too, annoying; but
the business had that name or old among those people, it was not now newly
imposed by the king. He detested also that dress, but without it he could
neither have the title nor fill his office. Therefore, I say, that he was
compelled by force to act as he did,—by force
which, as our great poet says “
Breaks and subdues the loftiest dignity.
”
”
