They who refused him succor did do so not because to give it him would be illegal, but lest Caesar and Pompey would be offended.

It did not last long, and during the short period of his exile he found perhaps more of friendship than of enmity; but he directed his steps in accordance with the bearing of party-spirit.

We are told that he was afraid to go to Athens, because at Athens lived that Autronius whom he had refused to defend.

Autronius had been convicted of conspiracy and banished, and, having been a Catilinarian conspirator, had been in truth on Caesar's side.

Nor were geographical facts sufficiently established to tell Cicero what places were and what were not without the forbidden circle.