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Epistulae ad Familiares, I. i.

we are in favour of your being authorized to restore the king, "so far as you can do so without detriment to the state"; so that while the religious difficulty eliminates the army, the Senate retains you to manage the whole affair. Crassus votes for three commissioners, not excluding Pompey, for he extends the selection even to those who happen to be in the enjoyment of imperium.[1] Bibulus votes for three commissioners, to be chosen definitely from those who have no imperium. The other consulars agree with Bibulus, excepting Servilius, who declares that there ought to be no restoration at all; and Volcatius, who, on the motion of Lupus, votes for the appointment of Pompey; and Afranius, who agrees with Volcatius. And this increases the suspicion that Pompey desires the appointment, for it was noticed that his friends agreed with Volcatius. We are grievously embarrassed, and we have lost ground.[2] The hurried meetings and fussy anxiety of Libo and Hypsaeus," about which there is no concealment, and the zeal of all Pompey's intimates, have created the impression that Pompey seems bent on being appointed, and those who would reject him are at the same time no friends of yours, because of the appointment you secured him.

4 For myself, I carry the less weight in the affair because I am in your debt, and any desire there is to please me is crushed by a notion people have that they are pleasing Pompey.

We stand much as we did long before you left; the king himself and Pompey's friends and associates have secretly inflamed the sore, then the consulars have openly made things worse and aroused strong popular prejudice. My own loyalty will be acknow-

  1. ↑ Pompey held the imperium ("imperial command of naval and military forces") by virtue of his office as curator annonae" ("Controller of the Corn Supply") to which he had been appointed on the motion of Lentulus Spinther.
  2. ↑ Or "our cause has received a shock" (Manutius).
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