be making a mathematical figure in
optics:

[Illustration]]

[Footnote 176: The theory of sight held by Democritus, denounced as
unphilosophical by Plutarch (_Timoleon_, Introd.).]

[Footnote 177: Apparently a villa in the _Solonius ager_, near
Lanuvium.]

[Footnote 178: The Cornelius Balbus of Gades, whose citizenship Cicero
defended B.C. 56 (consul B.C. 40). He was Caesar's close friend and
agent.]

[Footnote 179: Cicero was apparently not behind the scenes. The
coalition with Pompey certainly, and with Crassus probably, had been
already made and the terms agreed upon soon after the elections. If
Cicero afterwards discovered this it must have shewn him how little he
could trust Pompey's show of friendship and Caesar's candour. Caesar
desired Cicero's private friendship and public acquiescence, but was
prepared to do without them.]

[Footnote 180: From Cicero's Latin poem on his consulship.]

[Footnote 181: [Greek: eis oionos aristos amynesthai peri patres] (Hom.
_Il._ xii. 243).]

XXIX (Q FR I, 1)

Quintus Cicero was praetor in B.C. 62. In B.C. 61 (March) he went
out to "Asia" as propraetor; his first year of office would be up in
March, B.C. 60, but his governorship was, as was very common,
extended till March, B.C. 59. Towards the end of B.C. 60 the senate
seems to have arranged not to appoint his successor, that is, he
would be left in office till about March, B.C. 58. It is in view of
this third year of office that Cicero writes this essay-letter to
him on the duties of a provincial governor. Apparently Quintus had
faults of temper which had caused some scandals to reach Rome. We
have seen how he was one of the few who managed to quarrel with
Atticus; and in B.C. 48 we shall find how fiercely he resented the
exercise of his brother's influence which had led him to take the
losing side, which from his attachment to Caesar he may have been
half inclined to think the wrong side. His constant squabbles with
his wife (though the fault was evidently in great part hers) also
go towards forming our conclusion about him that, with some ability
and honesty, he was _un peu difficile_.

TO HIS BROTHER QUINTUS (IN ASIA)

ROME (DECEMBER)

[Sidenote: B.C. 60, AET. 46]

I. Though I have no doubt that many messengers, and even common rumour,
with its usual speed, will anticipate this letter, and that you will
already h