[Footnote 371: The phrase _ornare provincias, ornare consules_, etc., means the vote in the senate deciding the number of troops, amount of money, and other outfit that the magistrates going to their provinces were to have. The provinces to be taken by outgoing consuls were decided before the elections--in this case they were Cilicia and Spain. But the _ornatio_ usually took place after the consuls had entered on their office, _i.e._, after the 1st of January. For this year, however--we don't know why--it had taken place before the 1st of December, B.C. 58. The result of this would be that the new tribunes for B.C. 57--entering on their office 10th December, B.C. 58--would have no voice in the matter, and would thus lose a great hold on the consuls. Most of these tribunes were supporters of Cicero, while he was doubtful as to one of the consuls--Q. Cæcilius Metellus Nepos. He thinks, therefore, that his cause has lost by this measure, for the tribunes will have less power of putting force on the consuls to do anything for him, and yet the same power of stopping them should they wish to do anything of their own accord. Besides, the new tribunes may be alienated by what they may think a measure derogatory to their position. These fears came to nothing; the tribunes were loyal to Cicero, and the consul Piso forwarded his recall.] [Footnote 372: Because the tribunes could have vetoed any measure brought before the people, and so could have forced the consuls to come to terms.] [Footnote 373: _I.e._, that the senate would pass no decree prior to one recalling Cicero.] LXXXV (A III, 25) TO ATTICUS (? IN EPIRUS[374]) DYRRACHIUM (DECEMBER) [Sidenote: B.C. 58, ÆT 48] After you left me I received a letter from Rome, from which I see clearly that I must rot away in this state of disfranchisement: for I can't believe (don't be offended at my saying so) that you would have left town at this juncture, if there had been the least hope left of my restoration. But I pass over this, that I may not seem to be ungrateful and to wish everything to share my own ruin. All I ask of you is what you have faithfully promised, that you will appear before the 1st of January wherever I may be. [Footnote 374: There is no indication in the letter as to where Atticus is. He left Rome late in B.C. 58, and apparently did not return till after Cicero's recall. The most natural explanation is that he was in Epirus, or somewhere in Greece, and that he had visited Cicero at Dyrrachium on his way. I do not quite see how this should be thought impossible in view of the last sentence of LXXXV or the next letter. Cicero asks Atticus to join him, but he might do so whether Atticus were at Buthrotum, or Rome, or anywhere else.] LXXXVI (A III, 26) [Sidenote: B.C. 57. Coss., P. Cornelius Lentulus Spinther, Q. Cæcilius Metellus Nepos.