in 181 bc, sextus served as a military tribune under lucius aemilius paullus macedonicus, proconsul of liguria. in 170, he was one of the legates sent to thrace in order to restore liberty to the people of abdera, and to seek out and return those who had been sold into slavery. in 165, sextus was one of the curule aediles. at the megalesian games, he and his colleague, gnaeus cornelius dolabella, gave the first, unsuccessful presentation of terence's comedy, "hecyra". sextus subsequently held the praetorship; the exact year is uncertain, but it was no later than 160.