21. P.CorneliusLentulusSpinther, P. F. P. N., son of the last. (Cic. Fam. 1.7, 12.15, ad Q. Fr. 2.3, &c.) He assumed the toga virilis in B.
C. 57, and therefore was born in 74. In the same year he was elected in the college of
augurs, having been first received (by a sham adoption) into the Manlian gens; because two of
the same gens could not at once be in the college, and Faustus Sulla of the Cornelian was
already a member. (Cic. pro Sext. 69; D. C.
39.17; comp. Vaill. Cornel. No. 48-51, Eckhel, vol. v. p. 184,
&c.) In 56, when Cato endeavoured to recal his father from Cilicia, he appeared publicly
in mourning. (Cic. ad Q. Fr. 2.3, init.) He followed Pompey's fortunes
with his father, and was supposed to have gone to Alexandria after the murder of their
chief-perhaps to intercede with Caesar. (Ad Att. 11.13.) The dictator
pardoned him, and he returned to Italy. In B. C. 45 he was divorced
from his abandoned wife, Metella. (Horat. Serm. 2.3. 339; Cic. Att. 11.15, 23, 12.52, 13.7.) Soon after we find
him visiting Cicero, and in close connection with M. Brutus. After the murder of the dictator,
he openly joined the conspirators. (Ad Alt. 13.10, ad
Fam. 12.14, 4; Plut. Caes. 67, &c.) The senate sent
him as proquaestor to C. Trebonius, who held Asia as proconsul for the conspirators. When the
latter was slain by Dolabella, Lentulus assumed the title of propraetor, and sent home a
despatch containing an exaggerated account of his own services; and he certainly was of use in
supplying Cassius with money, and harassing Dolabella. (Cic. Fam.
12.14, 15.) When Brutus and Cassius took the field,
he joined them, and coined money in their name, with the figure and title of
Libertas. (See the annexed, coin.) He served with Cassius against
Rhodes; with Brutus in Lycia. (App. BC 4.72, 82.) After Philippi, he escaped death, for his name appears with
the augurs' insignia on denaries of Augustus, which proves that he was alive in
B. C. 27, when Octavius assumed this name.