text=A:book=5:letter=7
DAY after day, or rather more and more as the days go on, I send you shorter letters. For day after day I become more suspicious of your having started for Epirus. However, to prove to you that I have not neglected what you wrote to me about, I am informed by Pompey that he intends to appoint five new prefects See Letter CLXXXVI. The praefecti fabrum, socium, etc., were nominated by the commander-in-chief, i.e., the consul, in the Roman army. Later on it became the practice for a proconsul to a province to nominate a certain number of praefecti with such duties, judicial or other, as he chose to give them. Sometimes, as in this instance perhaps, the office was honorary. Under the empire the name was extended to a large number of officials. Atticus seems to have had somebody whom he wished to recommend to Pompey for each of the Spains, in order to exempt them from serving on juries. For myself, after having spent three days with Pompey, and in his house, I am starting for Brundisium on the 21st of May. In him I am quitting a noble citizen, and one most thoroughly well-prepared to ward off the dangers which are at present causing us such alarm. I shall look forward to a letter from you to tell me both what you are doing and where you are.
