1His father died early. 1He himself, as a very young man, because of his connection by marriage with Publius Sulpicius, who was killed as tribune of the plebs, did not escape a share in that danger: for Anicia, a cousin of Pomponius, had married Servius, Sulpicius' brother. 2Therefore, after Sulpicius had been killed, when he saw that the state was thrown into turmoil by the uprising of Cinna, and that he was given no opportunity of living as befitted his rank without offending one side or the other, since the citizens' feelings were divided, some favouring the party of Sulla, others that of Cinna, he thought it a suitable time for pursuing his studies and moved to Athens.
2None the less he helped the young Marius, who had been declared a public enemy, with his resources, and eased his flight with money. 3And so that this sojourn abroad should not bring any loss to his estate, he transferred a large part of his fortune to the same place. 3Here he lived in such a way that he was deservedly very dear to all the Athenians. 4For besides his influence, which was already great while he was still a young man, he often relieved their public poverty from his own resources. 4For when it was necessary for the state to borrow and they could not get fair terms for it, he always intervened, and in such a way that he never took interest from them, nor allowed them to stay in debt longer than had been agreed.
4Both of these things were beneficial to them: for he neither let their debt grow old through indulgence nor let it increase through the multiplying of interest. 6He added to this service by another act of generosity as well: for he made a gift of grain to them all, so that six modii of wheat were given to each person, a measure which at Athens is called a medimnus.