very
intimate, C. Avianius Flaccus, for whose sake I not only desire, but am
in duty bound to secure every possible favour. In regard to him I both
spoke earnestly to you in a personal interview--on which occasion you
answered me with the greatest kindness--and have written with full
particulars to you on a previous occasion; but he thinks it to his
interest that I should write to you as often as possible. Wherefore I
would have you pardon me if, in compliance with his wishes, I shall
appear to be at all forgetful of the stability of your character. What I
beg of you is this--that you would accommodate Avianius as to the place
and time for landing his corn: for which he obtained by my influence a
three years' licence whilst Pompey was at the head of that business. The
chief thing is--and you can therein lay me under the greatest
obligation--that you should have convinced Avianius that I enjoy your
affection, since he thinks himself secure of mine. You will greatly
oblige me by doing this.

[Footnote 714: Pompey was _praefectus annonae_ B.C. 57-52. As such he had
a number of _legati_, of whom this Titus Titius was one; but there is
nothing to shew in which of the corn-supplying countries he was
employed. Avianius is a corn merchant, and wants concessions as to the
importation of his cargoes.]

CLXXVIII (F V, 17)

[Sidenote: B.C. 52. Coss., from V. Kal, Mart., Cn. Pompeius Magnus
(alone); from 1st August, with Q. Metellus Scipio.]

This year again, owing to the riots in the previous year excited by
Clodius to prevent the election of Milo, began with a series of
_interregna_ lasting nearly three months, January, February, and
the intercalary month. On the 17th of January Clodius was killed
near Bovillae by Milo's servants, and by his order. Riots followed
in Rome, the body was burnt in the Curia, which caught fire and was
destroyed. Cicero undertook Milo's defence under a new law _de vi_
brought in by Pompey, but broke down, and Milo was condemned
(April). Later in the year he successfully prosecuted T. Munatius
Plancus Bursa, who as tribune had promoted the riots after the
death of Clodius, and who had also supported the plan of making
Pompey dictator.

TO P. SITTIUS[715] (IN EXILE)

ROME

[Sidenote: B.C. 52, AET. 54]

It was not because I had forgotten our friendship, or had any intention
of breaking off my correspondence, that I have not wr