[705] Ennius, Ann. 275. The phrase manum consertum in legal language meant to make a joint claim by the symbolical act of each claimant laying a hand on the property (or some representation of it) in court. But it also meant "to join hands in war." Hence its equivocal use in this passage. Consertum is a supine, and some such word as eunt must be understood before it.
[706] Reading at tu non soles. I cannot explain Prof. Tyrrell's reading et tu soles in connexion with what follows.
[707] This elaborate joke is founded on a pun upon the name of the Gallic Treviri and the commissioners in Rome: (1) the III viri capitales, who had charge of prisons, executions, etc.; (2) the III viri auro argento æri flando feriundo, "the commissioners for coining gold, silver, and bronze." Also there is a reference to the meaning of capitalis, "deadly," "affecting the life or citizenship."
[708] Græculam tibi misi cautionem chirographi mei. Various interpretations have been given to this: (1) "a truly Greek security," i.e., "not to be depended on"; (2) referring to a poem in Greek, perhaps the one in praise of Cæsar's achievements, mentioned before (p. [338]), in which some compliment to Trebatius was introduced; (3) Prof. Tyrrell would make it refer to this letter itself, which he supposes to have been written in Greek, and afterwards translated by Tiro. But this letter does not read like a translation, and, after all, is not of a nature to shew as a "commendation." It is conceived in too jocular a vein. I have taken it to refer to some inclosure written in Greek which he might use in this way, and the mention of his "own handwriting" to refer to the fact that he would naturally have employed a Greek secretary to write Greek. The diminutive Græculam I take to be apologetic for the Greek. But it is not at all certain.
[709] On his journey along the via Appia to one of his seaside villas Cicero has put up at a friend's house (a freedman of Lepidus), near the Pomptine marshes, as was his wont (Att. vii. 5). It was near Ulubræ, of which he was deputy patronus in the absence of Trebatius, and he jestingly pretends that the frogs which he hears croaking in the marshes are frogs of Ulubræ turning out to do him honour, as though they were the citizens of the town. Ulubræ was a very dull and decaying town.
[710] The great rising in Gaul in B.C. S4-53, and the second expedition across the Rhine.
[711] The friendship between Trebatius and Matius remained as long as we know anything about them. Cicero afterwards acknowledges (F. ii. 27) the great services Matius had done him with Cæsar, to whom Matius remained attached to the end.
[712] In these vague though ominous sentences Cicero is referring to the constant and violent hindrances to the election of magistrates, that is, to the orderly working of the constitution, which were occurring. No consuls were elected till September.
[713] Milo. His full name is T. Annius Milo Papianus; originally of the gens Papia, he had been adopted by his maternal grandfather, T. Annius.
[714] Pompey was præfectus annonæ B.C. 57-52. As such he had a number of legati, of whom this Titus Titius was one; but there is nothing to shew in which of the corn-supplying countries he was employed. Avianius is a corn merchant, and wants concessions as to the importation of his cargoes.