[sect. 4]
Cassio: Gallus had probably rented or bought a house from Cassius (Tyrrell conjectures Crasso, as the latter had a sister named Licinia). Licinia, the sister of Cassius, is at present occupying the house, and does not wish to make a change during the absence of her husband in Spain.
ne vivam: Cicero's favorite asseverations in the letters are moriar; Si (Att. 5.20.6); ne vivam, Si (Att. 4.17.5); and ne sim salvus, Si (Att. 16.13 A. i). His less elegant correspondent Caelius writes peream, Si (Ep. XLVIII. 2). Horace uses the latter expression in Sat. 2.1.6 peream male, Si; cf. also dispeream, ni, 1.9.47.