[466] The famous C. Asinius Pollio.
[467] The postponement of the Egyptian commission.
[468] ἐξ ἀπαλῶν ὀνύχων, i.e., "from your earliest youth." Others explain it to mean "from the bottom of your heart," or "thoroughly," from the idea that the nerves ended in the nails. ἔξ αὐτῶν τῶν ὀνύχων, "thoroughly," occurs in late Greek, and similar usages in the Anthology.
[469] L. Æmilius Paullus, prætor B.C. 53, consul B.C. 50, a strong Optimate and friend of Cicero's.
[470] P. Vatinius, the tribune of B.C. 59, who had supported Cæsar and proposed the law for his five years' command in Gaul. Cicero spoke against him for perjury; but afterwards we shall find them ostensibly reconciled.
[471] A Greek grammarian and geographer, of whom we have heard before, and shall hear of again in connexion with Cicero's library.
[472] P. Furius Crassipes. Tullia's first husband, C. Calpurnius Piso Frugi, died, it seems, before Cicero returned from exile in B.C. 57. This second marriage (or, perhaps, only betrothal) was shortly ended by a divorce.
[473] I.e., on which the sponsalia could not take place.
[474] Not going the right way to work to get it.
[475] At the end of the next letter he says that, pending Quintus's arrival, he has stopped some of his building.