Clodius was no longer Tribune, and Pompey had been brought to yield.

The Senate were all but unanimous.

But there was still life in Clodius and his party; and day dragged itself after day, and month after month, while Cicero still lingered at Dyrrachium, waiting till a bill should have been passed by the people.

Pompey, who was never whole-hearted in anything, had declared that a bill voted by the people would be necessary.

The bill at last was voted, on the 14th of August, and Cicero, who knew well what was being done at Rome, passed over from Dyrrachium to Brundisium on the same day, having been a year and four months absent from Rome.