[sect. 4]
de familia liberata: Cicero's disposition of his own slaves before leaving Rome is fully explained in the sentence, ceterorum servorum [gap in text] oppido pauci. Terentia evidently fears the loss of her slaves. Cicero quiets her anxiety by assuring her that the control of her slaves rests in her own hands (te facturam esse, etc.).
in officio, faithful.
si obtinere potuissent, if they could maintain (their claim to freedom against my enemies).
oppido: a colloquial word; cf. Dziatzko on Ter. Phorm. 317 and Wlfflin, Lat. U. rom. Comparation, 21.
