CICERO IN EXILE, MARCH 58 B.C.-AUGUST 57 B.C. (2)
Pr. Nonas Sextiles Dyrrachio sum profectus, ipso illo die, quo lex est lata de nobis; Brundisium veni Nonis Sextilibus: ibi mihi Tulliola mea fuit praesto natali suo ipso die, qui casu idem natalis erat et Brundisinae coloniae et tuae vicinae Salutis; quae { 5} res animadversa a multitudine summa Brundisinorum gratulatione celebrata est. Ante diem vi Idus Sextiles cognovi, cum Brundisii essem, litteris Quinti, mirifico studio omnium aetatum atque ordinum, incredibili concursu Italiae legem comitiis { 10} centuriatis esse perlatam: inde a Brundisinis honestissimis ornatus iter ita feci, ut undique ad me cum gratulatione legati convenerint. Ad urbem ita veni, ut nemo ullius ordinis homo nomenclatori notus fuerit, qui mihi obviam non venerit, praeter eos { 15} inimicos, quibus id ipsum, se inimicos esse, non liceret aut dissimulare aut negare. Cum venissem ad portam Capenam, gradus templorum ab infima plebe completi erant, a qua plausu maximo cum esset mihi gratulatio significata, similis et frequentia { 20} et plausus me usque ad Capitolium celebravit, in foroque et in ipso Capitolio miranda multitudo fuit. Postridie in senatu, qui fuit dies Nonarum Septembr., senatui gratias egimus.
[Linenotes: 1. +Dyrrachio+ (formerly _Epidamnus_, mod. _Durazzo_), a town in Illyria, on a peninsula in the Adriatic. It was the usual port of landing and departure from and for Brundisium (distant about 100 miles). 3. +Tulliola+, Cicero’s dearly-loved daughter Tullia, the only one of his family of whose conduct he never complains, and his tender and sympathising companion in all his pursuits. 4-5. +qui casu ... coloniae.+ Brundisium was founded 244 B.C. The Via Appia terminated here. 5. +tuae vicinae Salutis+, the Temple of Salus on the Quirinal was near the house of Atticus. 9. +Quinti+ (sc. _Ciceronis_): Cicero’s only brother, a gallant soldier (e.g. as legatus to Caesar in Gaul), but a man of violent temper. Proscribed by the Triumvirs, and put to death in 43 B.C. 11-12. +a Brundisinis ... ornatus+ = _having received attentions from the most respectable men of Brundisium_. 13. +legati+ = _deputations_, i.e. from the various towns en route. 14. +nomenclatori+ (= lit. _one who calls by name_, cf. καλ-έω, _Cal-endae_): a confidential slave who attended his master in canvassing, and on similar occasions, and told him the names of the people he met. 18. +ad portam Capenam+ (_Porta S. Sebastiano_), by which the Via Appia led to Capua. ‘Cicero, perhaps for effect, followed the line of triumphal procession.’ --Impey.]