[sect. 2]
Lentulus: elected to the consulship for 57 B.C.
Cicero based great hopes upon this man's friendship for him and influence with Pompey.
de Metello: Q. Caecilius Metellus Nepos was to be the colleague of Lentulus. He had, as tribune, prevented Cicero, at the close of his Consulship (Fam. 5.2.7), from making the customary speech to the people. Atticus had subsequently brought about a reconciliation. Cf. also Ep. XII.1n.