[516] Pompey.
[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.
[518] A friend of Pompey's. I think "your guest" must be Pompey himself, whom Atticus is about to entertain at dinner.
[519] The extreme Optimates, such as Cato.
[520] Against the predatory and piratic inhabitants of Cilicia.
[521] His poem "On his own Times."
[522] In his poem de Consulatu suo, the second book of which (Urania) ends with a speech of Iupiter, who recommends his leaving politics for literature.
[523] A statue in the temple of Tellus.
[524] Brogitarus was a Galatian and connexion of Deiotarus. Clodius, as tribune, had done some services to Byzantium, and had also got Brogitarus the office of high priest of Cybele. He wants now to go and get his money for these favours.
[525] The prætorian elections, like the consular, had been put off till February. Those elected would therefore enter on their office at once, and so escape prosecution, to which they would have been liable if, as in ordinary years, they had been "prætors-designate" from July to January. Afranius's motion seems to have been for suspending the bribery laws pro hac vice. Cato had been beaten: if there had been an opportunity of impeaching his rivals he might have got in.