[90.1] ‘preserved.’
[90.2] Sc. erant; also erat with gravis. Through the influence of iam prīdem both verbs have the force of Eng. pluperfects: H 535, 1 (469, 2): M 738: A 277, b: G 234: B 260, 4.
[90.3] Point out the chiasmus ([p. 21, n. 15]) in Caesaris . . . superiōrem.
[90.4] The law required a candidate to give notice of his candidacy in person at Rome within seventeen days of the election. Caesar desired to stand for the consulship in 49 B.C.
[90.5] Cf. [p. xviii], E 5.
[90.6] bellandum (sc. esse): an impersonal passive: ‘that war was necessary.’
[90.7] quī . . . erat: this river also formed the boundary between Italy proper and Cisalpine Gaul; hence by crossing it Caesar put himself in a position of open hostility to the government.
[90.8] = per, ‘through the midst of.’
[90.9] cōpiīs . . . cēssantibus: causal abl. abs.: ‘when, because his forces . . . tarried too long, he had sent,’ etc.