[211] Delay—Dies prolatando. By putting off from day to day.
[212] XLIV. Soon to visit their country—Semet eò brevi venturum. "It is plain that the adverb relates to what precedes (ad cives); and that Cassius expresses an intention to set out for Gaul." Dietsch.
[213] Remember that you are a man—Memineris te virum. Remember that you are a man, and ought to act as one. Cicero, in repeating this letter from memory (Orat. in Cat., iii. 5), gives the phrase, Cura ut vir sis.
[214] XLV. The praetors—Praetoribus urbanis, the praetors of the city.
[215] The Milvian Bridge—Ponte Mulvio. Now Ponte Molle.
[216] Of the object with which they were sent—Rem—cujus gratiâ mittebantur.
[217] From each side of the bridge—Utrinque. "Utrinque," observes Cortius, "glossae MSS. exponunt _ex utrâque parte pontis," and there is little doubt that the exposition is correct. No translator, however, before myself, has availed himself of it.
[218] XLVI. The box with the letters—Scrinium cum literis. Litterae may be rendered either letter or letters. There is no mention made previously of more letters than that of Lentulus to Catiline, c. 44. But as it is not likely that the deputies carried a box to convey only one letter, I have followed other translators by putting the word in the plural. The oath of the conspirators, too, which was a written document, was probably in the box.
[219] XLVII. His letter—Litteris. His own letter to Catiline, c. 44. So praeter litteras a little below.
[220] What object he had had in view, etc.—Quid, aut quâ de causâ, consilli habuisset. What design he had entertained, and from what motive he had entertained it.