The Letters of Cicero, Volume 1 - Marcus Cicero

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145

Nep. Att. c. 18.

146

Atticus seems to have seen a copy belonging to some one else at Corfu. Cicero explains that he had kept back Atticus's copy for revision.

147

Cicero evidently intends Atticus to act as a publisher. His librarii will make copies. See p. 32, note 1.

148

The passage in brackets is believed by some, not on very good grounds, to be spurious. Otho is L. Roscius Otho, the author of the law as to the seats in the theatre of the equites. The "proscribed" are those proscribed by Sulla, their sons being forbidden to hold office, a disability which Cicero maintained for fear of civil disturbances. See in Pis. §§ 4-5.

149

Pulchellus, i.e., P. Clodius Pulcher, the diminutive of contempt.

150

Where he had been as quæstor. Hera is said to be another name for Hybla. Some read heri, "only yesterday."

151

Clodius is shewing off his modesty. It was usual for persons returning from a province to send messengers in front, and to travel deliberately, that their friends might pay them the compliment of going out to meet them. Entering the city after nightfall was another method of avoiding a public reception. See Suet. Aug. 53.

152

See p. 37, note 3.

153

Clodia, wife of the consul Metellus. See p. 22, note.

154

We don't know who this is; probably a cavaliere servente of Clodia's.

155

I.e., in the business of her brother Clodius's attempt to get the tribuneship.

156

Though Cæsar has been mentioned before in regard to his candidature for the consulship, and in connexion with the Clodius case, this is the first reference to him as a statesman. He is on the eve of his return from Spain, and already is giving indication of his coalition with Pompey. His military success in Spain first clearly demonstrated his importance.

157

During the meeting of the senate at the time of the Catilinarian conspiracy (2 Phil. § 16).

158

The consul Cæcilius Metellus was imprisoned by the tribune Flavius for resisting his land law (Dio, xxxvii. 50).

159

M. Favonius, an extreme Optimate. Ille Catonis æmulus (Suet. Aug. 13). He had a bitter tongue, but a faithful heart (Plut. Pomp. 60, 73; Vell. ii 73). He did not get the prætorship (which he was now seeking) till b.c. 49. He was executed after Philippi (Dio. 47, 49).

160

P. Scipio Nasica Metellus Pius, the future father-in-law of Pompey, who got the prætorship, was indicted for ambitus by Favonius.

161

Ἀπολλόνιος Μόλων of Alabanda taught rhetoric at Rhodes. Cicero had himself attended his lectures. He puns on the name Molon and molæ, "mill at which slaves worked."

162

See pp. 57, 60.

163

Reading discessionibus, "divisions in the senate," with Manutius and Tyrrell, not dissentionibus; and deinde ne, but not st for si.

164

His study, which he playfully calls by this name, in imitation of that of Atticus. See p. 30.

165

See Letter XV, p. 25.

166

His translation of the Prognostics of Aratus.

167

Gaius Octavius, father of Augustus, governor of Macedonia.

168

The roll being unwound as he read and piled on the ground. Dicæarchus of Messene, a contemporary of Aristotle, wrote on "Constitutions" among other things. Procilius seems also to have written on polities.

169

Herodes, a teacher at Athens, afterwards tutor to young Cicero. He seems to have written on Cicero's consulship.

170

These remarks refer to something in Atticus's letter.

171

Gaius Antonius, about to be prosecuted for maiestas on his return from Macedonia.

172

P. Nigidius Figulus, a tribune (which dates the letter after the 10th of December). The tribunes had no right of summons (vocatio), they must personally enforce their commands.

173

"The Conqueror," i.e., Pompey. Aulus's son is L. Afranius.

174

I.e., his military get-up.

175

Cyrus was Cicero's architect; his argument or theory he calls Cyropædeia, after Xenophon's book.

176

He supposes himself to be making a mathematical figure in optics:

177

The theory of sight held by Democritus, denounced as unphilosophical by Plutarch (Timoleon, Introd.).

178

Apparently a villa in the Solonius ager, near Lanuvium.

179

The Cornelius Balbus of Gades, whose citizenship Cicero defended b.c. 56 (consul b.c. 40). He was Cæsar's close friend and agent.

180

Cicero was apparently not behind the scenes. The coalition with Pompey certainly, and with Crassus probably, had been already made and the terms agreed upon soon after the elections. If Cicero afterwards discovered this it must have shewn him how little he could trust Pompey's show of friendship and Cæsar's candour. Cæsar desired Cicero's private friendship and public acquiescence, but was prepared to do without them.

181

From Cicero's Latin poem on his consulship.

182

εἶς οἰωνός ἄριστος ἀμύνεσθαι περὶ πάτρης (Hom. Il. xii. 243).

183

A country festival and general holiday. It was a feriæ conceptivæ, and therefore the exact day varied. But it was about the end of the year or beginning of the new year (in Pis. § 4; Aul. Gell. x. 24; Macrob. Sat. i. 4; ad Att. vii. 5; vii. 7, § 2).

184

Of the persons mentioned, L. Ælius Tubero is elsewhere praised as a man of learning (pro Lig. § 10); A. Allienus (prætor b.c. 49) was a friend and correspondent; M. Gratidius is mentioned in pro Flacco, § 49, as acting in a judicial capacity, and was perhaps a cousin of Cicero's.

185

The class of Romans who have practically become provincials.

186

Rome and its society and interests.

187

Father of Augustus, governor of Macedonia, b.c. 60-59. But he seems to refer to his prætorship (b.c. 61) at Rome; at any rate, as well as to his conduct in Macedonia.

188

Reading primum; others primus, "his head lictor."

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