3. M.CurtiusPostumus, was recommended by Cicero to Caesar in B. C. 54 for the post of tribune of the soldiers, which he obtained. (Cic. ad Q. Fr. 2.15.3, 3.1.3.) On the breaking out of the civil war, in B. C. 49, he espoused with zeal the cause of Caesar, and was, on that account, a disagreeable guest to Cicero, whom he visited at his Formian villa. He appears to have entertained the hope of obtaining, through Caesar's influence, some of the higher dignities in the state (dibaphun, cogitat). It appears that Atticus was afraid lest Curtius should prevent him from leaving Italy
512
about this time. (Cic. Att. 9.2, a, 5, 6, 10.13.3, ad Fam. 2.16.7.) When Cicero had returned to Rome, after the defeat of the Pompeians, and considered it advisable to cultivate the friendship of Caesar, he renewed his acquaintance with Curtius, and accordingly speaks of him as one of his friends in B. C. 46; but in the following year he writes with indignation to Atticus that Curtius thinks of becoming a candidate for the consulship (ad Fam. 6.12.2, ad Att. 12.49.). After Caesar's death Curtius attacked with vehemence those persons, like Cicero, who rejoiced at Caesar's death, but defended his acts (ad Att. 14.9.2). Instead of Curtius Postumus, we frequently find Curtius Postumius in many manuscripts and editions of Cicero.