[sect. 2]
Italici belli et civilis: the Social War and the struggle between Sulla and the Marian party.
Callisthenes, etc.: subjects of some verb like scripserunt suggested by fecerunt. Callisthenes wrote not only a general history of Greece (Ἑλληνικά), but a special treatise on the Phocian War. Timaeus published a history of his native land, Sicily, and also a sketch of the campaigns of Pyrrhus. Polybius wrote, besides his universal history, an account of the war of Numantia. The last illustration is especially in point, for as Polybius was led to write a separate history of the Numantine War by his friendship for its hero Scipio, Cicero hopes that Lucceius may be induced by a similar sentiment to compose a special treatise.
primum [gap in text] deinde: Cicero makes two requests of Lucceius: (1) that he shall write a separate treatise, (2) that he shall emphasize his achievements.