thoroughly restored, for I have lost both strength and flesh. However, if I can once get completely rid of my complaint, I shall, I hope, easily recover these. [Footnote 432: The year of this letter has been inferred from the mention of Lentulus's augural banquet. For P. Cornelius Lentulus Spinther, son of the consul of B.C. 57, was in this year elected into the college of augurs. Yet as we know that Cicero's Tusculan villa was dismantled by Clodius, and was advertised for sale (though not sold), it seems rather extraordinary that Cicero should have gone there for his health. The _Fadii Galli_ were a family of Cicero's native place, Arpinum.] [Footnote 433: There were several sumptuary laws. Those which may possibly be referred to here are (1) the _lex Licinia_ (? B.C. 103), which defined certain foods as illegal at banquets, but excepted _quod ex terra vite arbore ve sit natum_ (Macrobius, _Sat._ iii. 17, 9; Gell. ii. 24, 7); (2) the _lex Æmilia_ (B.C. 68), which also defined both the quantity and quality of food allowable at banquets (Gell. ii. 24, 12).] [Footnote 434: C. Anicius, a senator and intimate friend of Cicero's.] XCIV (F I, I) [Sidenote: B.C. 56. Coss., Cn. Cornelius Lentulus Marcellinus, L. Marcius Philippus.] In the year B.C. 56 the growing differences between the triumvirs were temporarily composed at the meeting at Luca, and Cicero made up his mind that the only course for him to pursue was to attach himself to them, as the party of the _boni_ had not, as he hoped, taken advantage of those differences to attach Pompey to themselves as a leader against Cæsar. His recantation is indicated in the speeches _de Provinciis Consularibus_ and _pro Balbo_, in which he practically supports part, at least, of the arrangements of Luca. TO P. LENTULUS SPINTHER[435] (IN CILICIA) ROME, 13 JANUARY [Sidenote: B.C. 56, ÆT. 50]