which he could hardly expect if he were
farther off. This year Cicero was much away from Rome, and yet his
correspondence is meagre compared with other years. So far as this is
not due to accident in the preservation of his letters, it may be
accounted for by the fact that he was working at his _de Oratore_--so
hard, that even his brother Quintus had scruples in breaking in upon
him.]

[Footnote 514: This may refer to the laws of Trebonius, giving Pompey
and Crassus Spain and Syria respectively, and Caesar an additional five
years in Gaul, or to some of Pompey's own legislation.]

[Footnote 515: L. Domitius Ahenobarbus, a candidate for the consulship
of B.C. 55, but whose election had never come off. By various
contrivances the _comitia_ were prevented, so that the new year opened
with an _interregnum_; and Pompey and Crassus were elected under the
presidency of an _interrex_ (Dio, xxxix. 31).]

[Footnote 516: Pompey.]

[Footnote 517: L. Natta, a brother-in-law of Clodius, a pontifex who had
presided at the _consecratio_ of Cicero's house. He seems to have just
died.]

[Footnote 518: A friend of Pompey's. I think "your guest" must be Pompey
himself, whom Atticus is about to entertain at dinner.]

CXVIII (F I, 8)

TO P. LENTULUS SPINTHER (IN CILICIA)

ROME (JANUARY)

[Sidenote: B.C. 55, AET. 51]

What debates have taken place in the senate, what determination has been
come to in your business, and what Pompey has undertaken to do, all this
you will best learn from Marcus Plaetorius, who has not only been engaged
in these matters, but has even taken the lead in them, and left nothing
undone which the greatest affection for you, the greatest good sense,
and the greatest care could do. From the same man you will ascertain the
general position of public affairs, which are of such a nature as is not
easy to put in writing. They are, it is true, all in the power of our
friends, and to such an extent that it does not seem probable that the
present generation will witness a change. For my part, as in duty bound,
as you advised, and as personal affection and expediency compel, I am
attaching myself to the fortunes of the man whose alliance you thought
you must court when my fortunes were in question. But you must feel how
difficult it is to put away a political conviction, especially when it
happens to be right and proved up to the hilt. However, I conform myself
to the wishes of him from whom I cannot disse