[sect. 2]
fallebat : epistolary tense, as are the tenses of most of the verbs in this section.
discrimen: Cicero expresses the same opinion three months later in a letter to D. Brutus himself (Ep. XCIX. 2): res se sic habet: is bellum confecerit qui Antonium oppresserit.
Claternae, etc.: all the places mentioned were on the via Aemilia, and, with the exception of Regium Lepidi and Parma, lay to the southeast of Mutina, in which town D. Brutus was besieged.
magno praesidio: Antony had somewhat more than six legions at his disposal. Cf Philipp. 8.25.
noster Hirtius: Cf Intr. 42.
Forum Cornelium: a rare form for Forum Corneli:
Caesar: i.e. Octavianus
tuos clientis Transpadanos: this relationship does not seem to be mentioned elsewhere
exceptis consularibus, etc. cf. Fam 10.28.3 (written about Feb. 2, 43 B.C.
) habemus fortem senatum, consularis partim timidos, partim male sentientis; magnum damnum factum est in Servio; L. Caesar optisne sentit sed, quod avunculus (i.e. of Antony) est, non acerrimas dicit sententias. The leader of the moderate faction was Q. Fufius Calenus. Cf. Philipp. 8.11; Philipp. 10.3; Philipp. 12.3 and Philipp. 12.18.