Marcus Tullius Cicero

“ By entering Rome he gave up his imperium and could no longer ask a triumph.↑ Caesar was accustomed to come to North Italy (Gallia Cisalpina) for the winter to Ravenna or Luca, and there he could be communicated with and exercise great influence.↑ That is, he would go to his province of Cilicia on the strength of his nomination or allotment by the senate. There was some doubt as to the question whether such allotment did not give imperium even without a lex curiata. Besides, the consul had already imperium, and he might consider it to be uninterrupted if he left Rome immediately. ”

“ Domitius Calvinus by Memmius (the tribune) , Memmius (the candidate) by Q. Acutius, an excellent young man and a good lawyer, Messalla by Q. Pompeius, Scaurus by Triarius. The affair causes great commotion, because it is a plain alternative between shipwreck for the men concerned or for the laws. Pressure is being applied to prevent the trials taking place. It looks like an interregnum again. The consuls desire to hold the comitia: the accused don't wish it, and especially Memmius, because he hopes that Caesar's approach [3] may secure him the consulship. But he is at a very low ebb. ”

“ That is all the public news. At home all is well: your house itself is being proceeded with by the contractors with fair expedition.
Footnotes ↑ C. Memmius, a tribune of this year, not the same as the C. Memmius Gemellus of letter A 4.7.↑ Referring to the fact that Gabinius, on his arrival outside Rome, without the usual procession of friends which met a returning proconsul, skulked about till nightfall, not venturing to enter Rome (the city of his enemies!) in daylight. ”