[636] He means that Atticus—as a lender of money—would be glad of anything that kept the rate of interest up (see p. [286]). He is, of course, joking.
[637] Antius is not known. Favonius was a close imitator of Cato's Stoicism. He was now opposing both Pompey and Cæsar strenuously, but on the Civil War breaking out, attached himself strongly to Pompey. He was put to death by Augustus after the battle of Philippi (Suet. Aug. 13). He had a very biting tongue. See Plut. Pomp. 60.
[638] Drusus was probably Livius Drusus, the father of Livia, wife of Augustus; he was accused by Lucretius of prævaricatio, "collusion."
[639] This time for ambitus.
[640] The de Oratore.
[641] C. Memmius, a tribune of this year, not the same as the C. Memmius Gemellus of the last letter.
[642] Referring to the fact that Gabinius, on his arrival outside Rome, without the usual procession of friends which met a returning proconsul, skulked about till nightfall, not venturing to enter Rome (the city of his enemies!) in daylight. By entering Rome he gave up his imperium and could no longer ask a triumph.
[643] Cæsar was accustomed to come to North Italy (Gallia Cisalpina) for the winter to Ravenna or Luca, and there he could be communicated with and exercise great influence.
[644] That is, he would go to his province of Cilicia on the strength of his nomination or allotment by the senate. There was some doubt as to the question whether such allotment did not give imperium even without a lex curiata. Besides, the consul had already imperium, and he might consider it to be uninterrupted if he left Rome immediately. However, as there was always an interval between the end of the consulship and the quitting Rome paludatus, the lex curiata had generally been considered necessary (Cæs. B. C. i. 6). After B.C. 52 the lex Pompeia enacted a five years' interval, when, of course, a law would be necessary.
[645] θετικώτερον. From θέσις, a philosophical proposition or thesis. In Paradox. præf. he uses θετικά of subjects suited to such theses.