He was working as a 'lowly' clerk.
He resented his 'lowly' status.
her 'lowly' origins
(..) MESSALA: In spite of that, I'm thankful Pilate's on my side, brother. More thankful to see you. Me, too. To think you were just a lowly Hur before you left. (BOTH CHUCKLE) Well, Mother missed you every day. Ah, I'm sorry I left you alone with her. Tirzah? How is she? Tirzah's good, she's well. (..)2016 Ben-Hur
(..) Oh... Simonides, go to bed. Messala! - You and Tirzah would be like... - Like what? Like we were family. We're not family, are we? Are we? I'm just a lowly orphan your family took in. Oh, my God. Of course we're family! You're my brother. You'll always be my brother. Everything I own is yours. (..)2016 Ben-Hur