Letter coll=F:book=2:letter=16 Letter LI: ad familiares 2.16
Cumae, May 4, 49 B.C.
This is Cicero's reply to Ep. L. A month after he wrote this letter, in which he disclaims any intention of joining the Pompeians, he set out for the East. This seems to be a frank statement, however, of Cicero's intentions at the time.
[sect. 1]
meis superioribus litteris : cf. tuis litteris, Ep. L.1n.
sollicitum habent: the analytical method of forming the perfect tenses, as illustrated by habeo dictum for dixi, which came into vogue in late Latin and in the Romance languages, developed out of such combinations as this; cf. Thielmann in Arch. f. Lat. Lex. 2.372 ff. See also Intr. 84d.
nam non eam, etc., for I have appreciated your penetration too well to suppose that you do not see what I see. Cicero's high appreciation of the political judgment and foresight of Caelius was shown by his selection of him as his special correspondent in 51-50 B.C.
hominis : i.e. Caesaris.