[646] Pompey was outside the pomœrium (ad Romam) as having imperium.
[647] Two gladiators, one incomparably superior to the other.
[648] A proverbial expression, cp. "snapped my nose off."
[649] C. Pomptinus, prætor in B.C. 63 (when he had supported Cicero), was afterwards employed against the Allobroges as proprætor of Narbonensis (B.C. 61). He had been, ever since leaving his province (? B.C. 58), urging his claim to a triumph. He obtained it now by the contrivance of the prætor Serv. Sulpicius Galba, who got a vote passed by the comitia before daybreak, which was unconstitutional (Dio, 39, 65).
[650] P. Servilius Vatia Isauricus (consul B.C. 48) was an admirer of Cato. See p. [112].
[651] Ἄρη πνέων.
[652] Cicero gives him this title, by which he had been greeted by his soldiers after some victory over the predatory tribes in Cilicia. This letter is Cicero's most elaborate apology for his change of policy in favour of the triumvirs.
[653] Cicero has been variously supposed to refer to C. Cato (who proposed the recall of Lentulus), to Appius the consul, and finally to Pompey. The last seems on the whole most likely, though the explanation is not without difficulties. In that case the "disclosure" will refer to Pompey's intrigues as to the restoration of Ptolemy Auletes, of which he wished to have the management.
[654] I.e., to keep in with the Optimates, who were at this time suspicious of, and hostile to Pompey.
[655] At the trial of Sestius.