3. L.CaeciliusMetellus, brother of No. 2, had, after the battle of Cannae in B. C. 216, formed the project, with other noble youths, of abandoning Italy and trying their fortunes elsewhere; but P. Scipio compelled him and his associates to swear that they would abandon this design. In consequence of his conduct on this occasion the censors removed him from his tribe, and reduced him to the condition of an aerarian two years afterwards (B. C. 214), when he was quaestor. Notwithstanding this degradation he was elected tribune of the plebs for the following year, and immediately he had entered upon his office, he cited the censors before the court of the people, but was prevented by the other tribunes from proceeding in his accusation. (Liv. 22.53, 24.18, 43; V. Max. 2.9.8, 5.6.7.)