CICERO'S LETTERS TO ATTICUS BOOK XIII

I CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

Tusculum, May 23, B.C. 45

You used just the right amount of severity and of moderation in your letter to my son, and it was exactly as I should have wished it to be. Your notes, too, to the Tullii^[87] were full of good advice. So either those letters will set things right or we shall have to try some other means. As to the money, I see you are making every effort, or rather you have done so already. If you manage it, I shall owe the gardens to you. Indeed, there is no other kind of property I should prefer, especially for the matter I have in hand. You remove my impatience by your promise, or rather your pledge, about the summer. There is nothing either that could be found more likely to solace my declining years and my sorrow. My eagerness for it impels me at times to urge you to haste. But I restrain myself, for I have no doubt that, as you know I want it very much, your eagerness more than equals mine. So I count the matter as already settled.

I am waiting to hear what your friends decide about the letter to Caesar. Nicias is as devoted to you, as he ought to be, and is highly delighted at your remembering him. I am extremely fond of

110vehementer diligo; nam et, quanti patrem feci, totum in hunc et ipsum per se aeque amo atque illum amavi, te vero plurimum, qui hoc ab utroque nostrum fieri velis. Si hortos inspexeris, et si de epistula certiorem me feceris, dederis mihi, quod ad te scribam; si minus, scribam tamen aliquid. Numquam enim derit.

II CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Scr. in Tusculano IX K. Iun. a. 709

Gratior mihi celeritas tua quam ipsa res. Quid enim indignius? Sed iam ad ista obduruimus et humanitatem omnem exuimus. Tuas litteras hodie exspectabam, nihil equidem ut ex iis novi; quid enim? verum tamen ——.

IIa CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Scr. in Tusculano VI K. Iun. a. 709

Oppio et Balbo epistulas deferri iubebis et tamen Pisonem sicubi de auro. Faberius si venerit, videbis, ut tantum attribuatur, si modo attribuetur, quantum debetur. Accipies ab Erote.

Ariarathes, Ariobarzani filius, Romam venit. Vult, opinor, regnum aliquod emere a Caesare; nam, quo modo nunc est, pedem ubi ponat in suo, non habet. Omnino eum Sestius noster, parochus publicus, occupavit; quod quidem facile patior. Verum tamen,

111Peducaeus; for all I felt for his father I have given to him, and I love him for himself as much as I loved his father; and you most of all for trying to promote this feeling between us. If you see the gardens, and if you let me know about the letter, you will supply me with something to write about; but, anyhow, I will write something. For there will always be something to say.

II CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

Tusculum, May 24, B.C. 45

Your promptitude was more pleasing to me than the news you sent. For what could be more insulting? However I have hardened myself to insult, and put off all human feeling. I am looking forward to your letter to-day, not that I expect any news. What could there be? However ——.

IIa CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

Tusculum, May 27, B.C. 45

Please have the letters sent to Balbus and Oppius, and anyhow speak to Piso about the gold when you can. If Faberius comes, see that the right amount of the debt is put to my credit, if anything is. Eros will tell you about it.

Ariarathes, son of Ariobarzanes, has come to Rome, I suppose he wants to buy some kingdom from Caesar: for, as things are at present, he cannot set foot in his own. Our friend Sestius, in his character of public host, has monopolized him; and I am not sorry for it. However, as I am intimate with

112quod mihi summo beneficio meo magna cum fratribus illius necessitudo est, invito eum per litteras, ut apud me deversetur. Ad eam rem cum mitterem Alexandrum, has ei dedi litteras.

IIb CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Scr. in Tusculano IV K. Iun. a. 709

Cras igitur auctio Peducaei. Cum poteris ergo. Etsi impediet fortasse Faberius. Sed tamen cum licebit. Dionysius noster graviter queritur et tamen iure a discipulis abesse se tam diu. Multis verbis scripsit ad me, credo item ad te. Mihi quidem videtur etiam diutius afuturus. Ac nollem; valde enim hominem desidero.

A te litteras exspectabam, nondum scilicet; nam has mane rescribebam.

III CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Scr. in Tusculano III K. Iun. a. 709

Ego vero ista nomina sic probo, ut nihil aliud me moveat, nisi quod tu videris dubitare. Illud enim non accipio in bonam partem, quod ad me refers; qui, si^[88] ipse negotium meum gererem, nihil gererem^[89] nisi consilio tuo. Sed tamen intellego magis te id facere diligentia, qua semper uteris, quam quod dubites de nominibus istis. Etenim Caelium non probas,

113his brothers on account of the great service I rendered them, I am sending a letter to invite him to stay at my house. As I was sending Alexander with it, I gave him this letter.

IIb CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

Tusculum, May 29, B.C. 45

So to-morrow is Peducaeus' auction. Come^[90] when you can, then. But perhaps Faberius will prevent you. However, when you can manage it. Our friend Dionysius is complaining loudly at being so long away from his pupils, and there is some justice in his complaint. He has written a long letter to me, and I expect to you too. I think he will be away for some time still: and I am sorry, for I miss him very much.

I am expecting a letter from you, but not yet, as I am writing in the early morning.

III CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

Tusculum, May 30, B.C. 45

For my part I am so satisfied with the debtors you mention, that the only thing which disquiets me is that you seem to have doubts. For I don't take it at all kindly of you to refer the matter to me. If I managed my own business, I should never manage anything without your advice. However, I know you did it more from your usual carefulness than because you had any doubts about the debtors. The fact is you don't approve of Caelius and you don't

114plura non vis. Utrumque laudo. His igitur utendum est. Praes^[91] aliquando factus esses^[92] in his quidem tabulis. A me igitur omnia. Quod dies longior est, teneamus modo, quod volumus, puto fore istam etiam a praecone diem, certe ab heredibus.

De Crispo et Mustela videbis, et velim scire, quae sit pars duorum. De Bruti adventu eram factus certior. Attulerat enim ab eo Aegypta libertus litteras. Misi ad te epistulam, quia commode scripta erat.

IV CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Scr. in Tusculano K. Iun. a. 709

Habeo munus a te elaboratum decem legatorum. Et quidem de Tuditano idem^[93] puto. Nam filius anno post quaestor fuit quam consul Mummius. Sed, quoniam saepius de nominibus quaeris quid placeat, ego quoque tibi saepius respondeo placere. Si quid poteris, cum Pisone conficies; Avius enim videtur in officio futurus. Velim ante possis; si minus, utique simul simus, cum Brutus veniet in Tusculanum. Magni interest mea una nos esse. Scies autem, qui dies is futurus sit, si puero negotium dederis, ut quaerat.

115like to increase their number.^[94] I agree with you in both points. So we must make the best of them as they are. Sometime you would have had to go bail for me even in this sale.^[95] So now I shall pay in full myself. As to the delay in collecting the money, if only I get what I want, I think I can arrange for delay with the auctioneer or at any rate with the heirs.

See about Crispus and Mustela, and I should like to know what the share of the two is. I had heard already of Brutus' arrival, for my freedman Aegypta had brought me a letter from him. I have sent it to you, as it is obligingly written.

IV CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

Tusculum, June 1, B.C. 45

I have received your piece of work about the ten ambassadors: and I agree with you about Tuditanus. For the son was quaestor in the year after Mummius was consul.^[96] But, as you keep on asking if I am satisfied about the debtors, I too keep on answering that I am. Arrange something with Piso if you can: for I think Avius will do his duty. I wish you could come first; but, if you can't, at any rate be with me, when Brutus comes here. It is of great importance to me that we should be together. You will be able to ascertain the day, if you commission a servant to find out.

116

V CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Scr. in Tusculano IV Non. Iun. a. 709

Sp. Mummium putaram in decem legatis fuisse, sed videlicet (etenim εὔλογον) fratri fuisse. Fuit enim ad Corinthum. Misi tibi Torquatum. Colloquere tu quidem cum Silio, ut scribis, et urgue. Illam diem negabat esse mense Maio, istam non negabat. Sed tu ut omnia istuc quoque ages diligenter. De Crispo et Mustela scilicet, cum quid egeris. Quoniam ad Bruti adventum fore te nobiscum polliceris, satis est, praesertim cum hi tibi dies in magno nostro negotio consumantur.

VI CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Scr. Asturae med. m. Mart., ut videtur, a. 709

De aquae ductu probe fecisti. Columnarium vide ne nullum debeamus; quamquam mihi videor audisse a Camillo commutatam esse legem. Pisoni quid est quod honestius respondere possimus quam solitudinem Catonis? Nec de^[97] coheredibus solum Herennianis, sed etiam, ut scis (tu enim mecum egisti), de puero Lucullo, quam pecuniam tutor (nam hoc quoque ad rem pertinet) in Achaia sumpserat. Sed agit liberaliter, quoniam negat se quicquam facturum contra nostram

117

V CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

Tusculum, June 2, B.C. 45

I had thought Sp. Mummius was one of the ten legates: but of course, as was natural, he was private legate to his brother. For he was at Corinth.^[98] I have sent Torquatus^[99] to you. Speak with Silius as you say and urge him on. He said my receiving day would not fall in May, but he did not say the same about the other.^[100] But please attend to the point carefully, as you always do. As to Crispus and Mustela, yes, when you have settled anything. As you promise to be with me when Brutus comes, I am satisfied, especially as you are spending these days on important business of mine.

VI CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

Astura, March, B.C. 45

You have done quite right about the aqueduct. Make sure whether I owe any pillar-tax at all. However, I think I heard from Camillus that the law had been changed. What better answer can we give Piso than that Cato's guardians are away? It was not only from the heirs of Herennius that he borrowed, but, as you know (for you were acting with me), from young Lucullus: and that money was taken in Achaia by his guardian. That is another point that has to be considered. But Piso is behaving generously, as he says he will not do anything

118voluntatem. Coram igitur, ut scribis, constituemus, quem ad modum rem explicemus. Quod reliquos coheredes convenisti, plane bene.

Quod epistulam meam ad Brutum poscis, non habeo eius exemplum; sed tamen salvum est, et ait Tiro te habere oportere, et, ut recordor, una cum illius obiurgatoria tibi meam quoque, quam ad eum rescripseram, misi. Iudiciali molestia ut caream, videbis.

VIa CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Scr. in Tusculano prid. Non. Iun. a. 709

Tuditanum istum, proavum Hortensi, plane non noram, et filium, qui tum non potuerat esse legatus, fuisse putaram. Mummium fuisse ad Corinthum pro certo habeo. Saepe enim hic Spurius, qui nuper decessit,^[101] epistulas mihi pronuntiabat versiculis facetis ad familiaris missas a Corintho. Sed non dubito, quin fratri fuerit legatus, non in decem. Atque hoc etiam accepi, non solitos maiores nostros eos legare in decem, qui essent imperatorum necessarii, ut nos ignari pulcherrimorum institutorum aut neglegentes potius M. Lucullum et L. Murenam et ceteros ad L. Lucullum misimus. Illudque εὐλογώτατον, illum fratri in primis eius legatis fuisse. O operam tuam multam, qui et haec cures et mea expedias et sis in tuis non multo minus diligens quam in meis!

119against our will. So, as you say, we will arrange, when we meet, how the matter is to be straightened out. It is quite as well that you have seen the other joint heirs.

You ask for my letter to Brutus. I have not a copy: but there is one in existence and Tiro says you ought to have it: and, so far as I recollect, I sent you my answer along with his letter of reproof. Please see that I am not troubled with serving on a jury.

VIa CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

Tusculum, June 4, B.C. 45

The Tuditanus you mention, great-grandfather of Hortensius, I had never heard of, and I thought it was the son who was the ambassador, though he could not have been at the time. I take it as certain that Mummius was at Corinth. For Spurius, who died lately, often used to recite to me letters Mummius wrote to his friends from Corinth in clever verse. But I have no doubt he was a special legate to his brother, not among the ten ambassadors. Here is another point too that I have been taught, that it was not the custom of our ancestors to appoint among the ten ambassadors anyone who was related to the generals, as we in ignorance of, or rather in contempt for, the soundest institutions did in sending M. Lucullus and L. Murena and others to L. Lucullus. But it was most natural that he should be among the first of his brother's legates. What a lot of work you get through, attending to points like this, managing my affairs and bestowing nearly as much care on your own affairs as on mine!

120

VII CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Scr. in Tusculano V Id. Iun. a. 709

Sestius apud me fuit et Theopompus pridie. Venisse a Caesare narrabat litteras; hoc scribere, sibi certum esse Romae manere, causamque eam ascribere, quae erat in epistula nostra, ne se absente leges suae neglegerentur, sicut esset neglecta sumptuaria (est εὔλογον, idque eram suspicatus. Sed istis mos gerendus est, nisi placet hanc ipsam sententiam nos persequi), et Lentulum cum Metella certe fecisse divortium. Haec omnia tu melius. Rescribes igitur, quicquid voles, dum modo aliquid. Iam enim non reperio, quid te rescripturum putem, nisi forte de Mustela, aut si Silium videris.

VIIa CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Scr. in Tusculano IV Id. Iun. a. 709

Brutus heri venit in Tusculanum post horam decimam. Hodie igitur me videbit, ac vellem tum tu adesses. Iussi equidem ei nuntiari te, quoad potuisses, exspectasse eius adventum venturumque, si audisses, meque, ut facio, continuo te certiorem esse facturum.

VIII CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Scr. in Tusculano VI Id. Iun. a. 709

Plane nihil erat, quod ad te scriberem; modo enim discesseras et paulo post triplicis remiseras. Velim cures fasciculum ad Vestorium deferendum et alicui

121

VII CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

Tusculum, June 9, B.C. 45

Sestius came to see me yesterday and Theopompus too. He told me that Caesar had sent a letter saying he had resolved to stay at Rome and assigning as a reason the one mentioned in my letter, fear that if he went away his laws would be disregarded, as his sumptuary law was. That is reasonable enough and is just what I suspected. But I must humour your friends, unless you think I could use that very line of argument. He tells me too that Lentulus has certainly divorced Metella. But you will know all this better than he does. So please send an answer,—anything you like provided it is something. For at the moment I cannot think of anything you will put in your answer, unless it is something about Mustela, or unless you see Silius.

VIIa CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

Tusculum, June 10, B.C. 45

Brutus came to Tusculum yesterday after four o'clock. So to-day he will see me, and I wish you were with me. I sent him word that you had waited for him as long as you could, and that you would come, if you heard; and I would let you know, as soon as I could, which I am doing.

VIII CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

Tusculum, June 8, B.C. 45

I have nothing to write; for you have only just left, and soon after you went, you sent me back my notebook. Please see that the packet is delivered to Vestorius, and commission someone to find out if

122des negotium, qui quaerat, Q. Staberi fundus num quis in Pompeiano Nolanove venalis sit. Epitomen Bruti Caelianorum velim mihi mittas et a Philoxeno Παναιτίου περὶ προνοίας. Te Idibus videbo cum tuis.

IX CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Scr. in Tusculano XIV K. Quint. a. 709

Commodum discesseras heri, cum Trebatius venit, paulo post Curtius, hic salutandi causa, sed mansit invitatus. Trebatium nobiscum habemus. Hodie mane Dolabella. Multus sermo ad multum diem. Nihil possum dicere ἐκτενέστερον, nihil φιλοστοργότερον. Ventum est tamen ad Quintum. Multa ἄφατα, ἀδιήγητα, sed unum eius modi, quod nisi exercitus sciret, non modo Tironi dictare, sed ne ipse quidem auderem scribere. Sed hactenus.

Εὐκαίρως ad me venit, cum haberem Dolabellam, Torquatus, humanissimeque Dolabella, quibus verbis secum egissem, exposuit. Commodum enim egeram diligentissime; quae diligentia grata est visa Torquato. A te exspecto, si quid de Bruto. Quamquam Nicias confectum putabat, sed divortium non probari. Quo etiam magis laboro idem quod tu. Si quid est enim offensionis, haec res mederi potest.

Mihi Arpinum eundum est. Nam et opus est constitui a nobis illa praediola, et vereor, ne exeundi

123any part of Q. Staberius' land at Pompeii or Nola is for sale. Please send me Brutus' Epitome of the Annals of Caelius, and get from Philoxenus Panaetius On Foresight. I shall see you and your family on the 13th.

IX CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

Tusculum, June 18, B.C. 45

You had only just left yesterday, when Trebatius came, and then Curtius shortly afterwards. The latter only came to pay a call, but he stayed at my invitation. Trebatius is with me too, and this morning came Dolabella. We had a long talk till late in the day. I cannot exaggerate his cordiality and friendliness. However, we touched on young Quintus. Much of what he told me was unmentionable, unspeakable; but there was one thing so bad that, if the whole army did not know of it, I should not dare to dictate it to Tiro or even to write it down myself. But enough of this.

Torquatus came to me opportunely, while Dolabella was with me, and Dolabella very kindly repeated to him what I had just been saying. For I had just been pleading his cause very earnestly; and my earnestness seemed to please Torquatus greatly. I am waiting to know if you have any news about Brutus. However, Nicias thought that the matter was settled, but that the divorce was not approved. For that reason I am all the more eager about the thing, as you are too. For, if any offence has been given, this can remedy it.

I must go to Arpinum. For my little place there needs putting in order and I am afraid I may not

124potestas non sit, cum Caesar venerit; de cuius adventu eam opinionem Dolabella habet, quam tu coniecturam faciebas ex litteris Messallae. Cum illuc venero intellexeroque, quid negotii sit, tum, ad quos dies rediturus sim, scribam ad te.

X CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Scr. in Tusculano inter a. d. XIII et XI K. Quint. a. 709

Minime miror te et graviter ferre de Marcello et plura vereri periculi genera. Quis enim hoc timeret, quod neque acciderat antea nec videbatur natura ferre ut accidere posset? Omnia igitur metuenda. Sed illud παρὰ τὴν ἱστορίαν, tu praesertim, me reliquum consularem. Quid? tibi Servius quid videtur? Quamquam hoc nullam ad partem valet scilicet, mihi praesertim, qui non minus bene actum cum illis putem. Quid enim sumus aut quid esse possumus? domin an foris? Quodnisi mihi hoc venisset in mentem, scribere ista nescio quae, quo verterem me, non haberem.

Ad Dolabellam, ut scribis, ita puto faciendum, κοινότερα quaedam et πολιτικώτερα. Faciendum certe aliquid est; valde enim desiderat. Brutus si quid egerit, curabis, ut sciam; cui quidem quam primum agendum puto, praesertim si statuit. Sermunculum

125have much chance of leaving Rome, when Caesar comes. About his coming Dolabella holds the same idea which you had inferred from Messalla's letter. When I get there and know how much there is to be done, then I will write and let you know, when I shall return.

X CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

Tusculum, June 19-21, B.C. 45

I am not at all surprised at your being upset about Marcellus^[102] and fearing all sorts of new dangers. For who would have feared this? Such a thing never happened before and it did not seem as though nature could allow such things to happen. So one may fear anything. But fancy you of all people making such a historical slip as to call me the only surviving ex-consul. Why, what about Servius? However, that of course has not the slightest importance in any respect, least of all to me, who think my dead comrades' fate quite as happy as my own. For what am I or what can I be? Am I anything in private life or in public? If it had not occurred to me to write my books, such as they are, I should not know what to do with myself.

I think I must follow your advice and dedicate something more general and more political to Dolabella. I must certainly do something for him, as he is very anxious for it. If Brutus makes any move, pray let me know. I think he ought to make one as soon as possible, especially if he has made up his mind.^[103] That would either put an end to all chatter

126enim omnem aut restinxerit aut sedarit. Sunt enim, qui loquantur etiam mecum. Sed haec ipse optime, praesertim si etiam tecum loquetur.

Mihi est in animo proficisci XI Kal. Hic enim nihil habeo, quod agam, ne hercule illic quidem nec usquam, sed tamen aliquid illic. Hodie Spintherem exspecto. Misit enim Brutus ad me. Per litteras purgat Caesarem de interitu Marcelli; in quem, ne si insidiis quidem ille interfectus esset, caderet ulla suspicio. Nunc vero, cum de Magio constet, nonne furor eius causam omnem sustinet? Plane, quid sit, non intellego. Explanabis igitur. Quamquam nihil habeo, quod dubitem, nisi, ipsi Magio quae fuerit causa amentiae; pro quo quidem etiam sponsor sum factus. Et nimirum id fuit. Solvendo enim non erat. Credo eum petisse a Marcello aliquid, et illum, ut erat, constantius respondisse.

XI CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Scr. in Arpinati IX K. Quint. a. 709

"Οὐ ταὐτὸν εἶδος." Credebam esse facile; totum est aliud, posteaquam sum a te diiunctior. Sed fuit faciendum, ut et constituerem mercedulas praediorum et ne magnum onus observantiae Bruto nostro imponerem. Posthac enim poterimus commodius colere inter nos in Tusculano. Hoc autem tempore, cum

127or at any rate lessen it. For there are people who talk even to me. But he is the best judge himself, especially if he talks it over with you too.

I am thinking of setting out on the 21st, for I have nothing to do here, and precious little to do there or anywhere else; still there is something to do there. To-day I am expecting Spinther, for Brutus has sent him to me. He writes to exculpate Caesar of Marcellus' death. But no suspicion would have fallen on Caesar, even if his death had been due to treachery; and now that Magius is known to be mad, surely that accounts for everything. I don't see his point at all. Perhaps you will explain. However, there is nothing I am in doubt about except the reason for Magius' madness; why, I had even gone security for him. That no doubt was the point; he was insolvent. I suppose he asked some favour of Marcellus, and the latter, as was his way, gave a rather decided answer.

XI CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

Arpinum, June 23, B.C. 45

"Not the same look."^[104] I thought it was easy; but it is quite the reverse, now I am farther away from you. But it had to be done, that I might fix some trifles like the rents of my farms and might not lay too great a burden of attendance on our friend Brutus. For in the future we shall find ourselves able to cultivate each other's society at Tusculum more easily. But at the present time, when he wanted

128ille me cotidie videre vellet, ego ad illum ire non possem, privabatur omni delectatione Tusculani. Tu igitur, si Servilia venerit, si Brutus quid egerit, etiam si constituerit, quando obviam, quicquid denique erit, quod scire me oporteat, scribes. Pisonem, si poteris convenies. Vides, quam maturum sit. Sed tamen, quod commodo tuo fiat.

XII CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Scr. in Arpinati VIII K. Quint. a. 709

Valde me momorderunt epistulae tuae de Attica nostra; eaedem tamen sanaverunt. Quod enim te ipse consolabare eisdem litteris, id mihi erat satis firmum ad leniendam aegritudinem.

Ligarianam praeclare vendidisti. Posthac, quicquid scripsero, tibi praeconium deferam. Quod ad me de Varrone scribis, scis me antea orationes aut aliquid id genus solitum scribere, ut Varronem nusquam possem intexere. Postea autem quam haec coepi φιλολογώτερα, iam Varro mihi denuntiaverat magnam sane et gravem προσφώνησιν. Biennium praeteriit, cum ille Καλλιππίδης adsiduo cursu cubitum nullum processerat, ego autem me parabam ad id, quod ille mihi misisset, ut "αὐτῷ τῷ μέτρῳ καὶ λώϊον," si modo potuissem. Nam hoc etiam Hesiodus ascribit, "αἴ κε δύνηαι."

Nunc illam περὶ τελῶν σύνταξιν sane mihi probatam

129to see me every day and I could not go to him, he got no pleasure at all out of his estate. So, if Servilia has come, if Brutus has begun to do anything, even if he has made up his mind when I am to meet Caesar, in short anything there is to tell, please write and tell me. See Piso,^[105] if you can. It is high time, as you can see; however, suit your convenience.

XII CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

Arpinum, June 24, B.C. 45

Your letter about dear Attica stung me to the quick; but it healed the wound again. For you consoled yourself in the same letter, and that I counted sufficient warrant for moderating my grief.

You have given my speech for Ligarius a magnificent start. Henceforth, when I write anything, I shall leave it to you to advertise it. As to what you say about Varro, you know formerly I have written speeches or things of such a kind, that I could not introduce him; but afterwards, when I began these more literary works, Varro had already promised to dedicate a great and important work to me. Two years have passed and that slow coach,^[106] though always on the move, has not advanced an inch, while I was prepared to pay him back "full measure and more" for what he sent, if I could. For Hesiod adds "if you can."^[107]

Now I have pledged my De Finibus, of which I

130Bruto, ut tibi placuit, despondimus, idque eum non nolle mihi scripsisti. Ergo illam Ἀκαδημικήν, in qua homines nobiles illi quidem, sed nullo modo philologi nimis acute loquuntur, ad Varronem transferamus. Etenim sunt Antiochia, quae iste valde probat. Catulo et Lucullo alibi reponemus, ita tamen, si tu hoc probas; deque eo mihi rescribas velim.

De Brinniana auctione accepi a Vestorio litteras. Ait sine ulla controversia rem ad me esse conlatam. Romae videlicet aut in Tusculano me fore putaverunt a. d. VIII Kal. Quinct. Dices igitur vel amico tuo, S. Vettio, coheredi meo, vel Labeoni nostro, paulum proferant auctionem; me circiter Nonas in Tusculano fore. Cum Pisone Erotem habes. De Scapulanis hortis toto pectore cogitemus. Dies adest.

XIII, XIV CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Scr. in Arpinati VI K. Quint. a. 709

Commotus tuis litteris, quod ad me de Varrone scripseras, totam Academiam ab hominibus nobilissimis abstuli, transtuli ad nostrum sodalem et ex duobus libris contuli in quattuor. Grandiores sunt omnino, quam erant illi, sed tamen multa detracta. Tu autem mihi pervelim scribas, qui intellexeris illum velle; illud vero utique scire cupio, quem intellexeris

131think very highly, to Brutus as you advised, and you have told me he was gratified. So I must assign the Academica to Varro. The speakers in it are men of birth to be sure, but not scholars, and talk above their own heads. And indeed the doctrines are those of Antiochus,^[108] of which Varro is a strong supporter. I will make it up to Catulus and Lucullus somewhere else^[109]; that is to say, if you agree. Please write and tell me.

I have had a letter from Vestorius about the auction of Brinnius' estate. He tells me I was unanimously given the direction of it. They evidently thought I should be in town or at Tusculum on the 24th. So please tell your friend S. Vettius, my co-heir, or Labienus, to put the sale off for a while; and that I shall be at Tusculum about July 7th. You have Eros to help with Piso. Let us throw ourselves heart and soul into the purchase of Scapula's gardens. The time is drawing near.

XIII, XIV CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

Arpinum, June 26, B.C. 45

Under the influence of your letters about Varro I have taken the whole of my Academica from its eminent interlocutors and transferred it to our friend: and from two books I have turned it into four. They are certainly finer than the first draft though a good deal has been cut out. But I should very much like you to tell me how you knew Varro wanted it: and one thing at any rate I want to know, who

132ab eo ζηλοτυπεῖσθαι nisi forte Brutum. Id hercle restabat. Sed tamen scire pervelim. Libri quidem ita exierunt, nisi forte me communis φιλαυτία decipit, ut in tali genere ne apud Graecos quidem simile quicquam. Tu illam iacturam feres aequo animo, quod illa, quae habes de Academicis, frustra descripta sunt. Multo tamen haec erunt splendidiora, breviora, meliora. Nunc autem ἀπορῶ, quo me vertam. Volo Dolabellae valde desideranti; non reperio, quid, et simul |Iliad, vi. 442; xxii. 100| "αἰδέομαι Τρῶας" neque, si aliquid, potero μέμψιν effugere. Aut cessandum igitur aut aliquid excogitandum. Sed quid haec levia curamus?

Attica mea, obsecro te, quid agit? Quae me valde angit. Sed crebro regusto tuas litteras; in his acquiesco. Tamen exspecto novas.

Brinni libertus, coheres noster, scripsit ad me velle, si mihi placeret, coheredes, se et Sabinum Albium, ad me venire. Id ego plane nolo. Hereditas tanti non est. Et tamen obire auctionis diem facile poterunt (est enim III Idus), si me in Tusculano postridie Nonas mane convenerint. Quodsi laxius volent proferre diem, poterunt vel biduum vel triduum, vel ut videbitur; nihil enim interest. Quare, nisi iam profecti sunt, retinebis homines. De Bruto, si quid egerit, de Caesare, si quid scies, si quid erit praeterea, scribes.

133was it of whom you noticed he was jealous: unless perhaps it was Brutus. Upon my word that is the only possible answer:^[110] but still I should much like to know. Unless I am deceived like most people by egotism, the books have turned out superior to anything of the kind even in Greek. You must not be annoyed at the loss you have incurred in having the part of the Academica you have copied in vain. The new draft will be far finer, shorter, and better. But now I don't know where to turn. I want to do something for Dolabella, as he is very anxious for it. But I can't think of anything, and at the same time "I fear the Trojans,"^[111] and even if I can think of something, I shall not escape criticism. So I must either be idle or rack my brains for something. But why do I bother about trifles like this?

Pray tell me how dear Attica is. I am very anxious about her. But I keep dipping into your letter again and again, and that solaces me. Nevertheless I am looking forward to a fresh one.

Brinnius' freedman, my co-heir, has written to me that the rest of the heirs want him and Sabinus Albius to come to me, if I am willing. I am all against that: it is more than the legacy is worth. However, they can easily manage to attend the auction, which is on the 13th, if they meet me at my place at Tusculum early on the 8th. But, if they want to put off the date still further, they can do so two or three days or as much as they like: it does not matter to me. So, unless the people have started already, stop them. If Brutus has done anything, or if you have any news about Caesar or anything else, let me know.

134

XIV, XV CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Scr. in Arpinati V K. Quint, a. 709

Illud etiam atque etiam consideres velim, placeatne tibi mitti ad Varronem, quod scripsimus. Etsi etiam ad te aliquid pertinet. Nam scito te ei dialogo adiunctum esse tertium. Opinor igitur, consideremus. Etsi nomina iam facta sunt; sed vel induci vel mutari possunt.

Quid agit, obsecro te, Attica nostra? Nam triduo abs te nullas acceperam; nec mirum. Nemo enim venerat, nec fortasse causa fuerat. Itaque ipse, quod scriberem, non habebam. Quo autem die has Valerio dabam, exspectabam aliquem meorum. Qui si venisset et a te quid attulisset, videbam non defuturum, quod scriberem.

XVI CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Scr. in Arpinati IV K. Quint, a. 709

Nos, cum flumina et solitudinem sequeremur, quo facilius sustentare nos possemus, pedem e villa adhuc egressi non sumus; ita magnos et adsiduos imbres habebamus. Illam Ἀκαδημικὴν σύνταξιν totam ad Varronem traduximus. Primo fuit Catuli, Luculli, Hortensi; deinde, quia παρὰ τὸ πρέπον videbatur, quod erat hominibus nota non illa quidem ἀπαιδευσία, sed in iis rebus ἀτριψία, simul ac veni ad villam, eosdem illos sermones ad Catonem Brutumque transtuli. Ecce tuae litterae de Varrone. Nemini visa

135

XIV, XV CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

Arpinum, June 27, B.C. 45

Please give your earnest consideration to deciding whether what I have written ought to be sent to Varro: though the point has some personal interest for you too: for you must know I have brought you in as a third speaker in the dialogue. So I think we must consider. The names, however, have been entered, but they can be scratched out or altered.

Pray tell me how Attica is. It is three days since I heard from you, and no wonder: for no one has come here, and perhaps there was no reason for writing. So I myself have nothing to write. However, I am expecting one of my messengers the very day I am giving this to Valerius. If he comes and brings something from you, I foresee I shall have no lack of material.

XVI CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

Arpinum, June 28, B.C. 45

Though I was looking for streams and solitude, to make life more endurable, at present I have not stirred a foot away from the house; we have had such heavy and continuous rain. The "Academic Treatise" I have transferred entirely to Varro. At first it was assigned to Catulus, Lucullus, and Hortensius; then, as that seemed inappropriate because they were well-known not to be up in such matters, though not illiterate, as soon as I came here I transferred the conversations to Cato and Brutus. Then came your letter about Varro and he seemed the most appropriate person possible to air Antiochus'

136est aptior Antiochia ratio. Sed tamen velim scribas ad me, primum placeatne tibi aliquid ad illum, deinde, si placebit, hocne potissimum.

Quid? Servilia iamne venit? Brutus ecquid agit et quando? De Caesare quid auditur? Ego ad Nonas, quem ad modum dixi. Tu cum Pisone, si quid poteris.

XVII, XVIII CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Scr. in Arpinati III K. Quint. a. 709

V Kal. exspectabam Roma aliquid novi. Imperassem igitur aliquid tuis. Nunc eadem illa, quid Brutus cogitet, aut, si aliquid egit, ecquid a Caesare. Sed quid ista, quae minus curo? Attica nostra quid agat, scire cupio. Etsi tuae litterae (sed iam nimis veteres sunt) recte sperare iubent, tamen exspecto recens aliquid.

Vides, propinquitas quid habeat. Nos vero conficiamus hortos. Conloqui videbamur, in Tusculano cum essem; tanta erat crebritas litterarum. Sed id quidem iam erit. Ego interea admonitu tuo perfeci sane argutulos libros ad Varronem, sed tamen exspecto, quid ad ea, quae scripsi ad te, primum qui intellexeris eum desiderare a me, cum ipse homo πολυγραφώτατος numquam me lacessisset; deinde quem ζηλοτυπεῖν nisi forte Brutum, quem si non ζηλοτυπεῖ,^[112] multo Hortensium minus aut eos, qui de re

137views. However, I should like you to write whether you approve of dedicating anything to him, and, if you do, whether you approve of this particular book.

What about Servilia? Has she come? Has Brutus done anything, and when? What news of Caesar? I shall arrive on the 7th of July, as I said. Make some arrangement with Piso, if you can.

XVII, XVIII CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

Arpinum, June 29, B.C. 45

I was expecting some news from Rome on the 27th. Then I should have given some orders to your men. Now I have only the same old questions. What is Brutus thinking of doing, or, if he has done anything, has any comment come from Caesar? But why do I ask about these things, when I care very little about them? I do want to know how our dear Attica is getting on. Though your letter (but that is quite out of date now) bids me be hopeful, still I am anxious for fresh news.

You see the advantage of being near at hand. Certainly let us settle about the gardens. We seemed to be talking to one another, when I was at Tusculum, so frequent was the interchange of letters. But that will be the same again soon. Meantime I have taken your hint and finished off some really quite clever books for Varro. But I am waiting for your answer to my questions: first, how you knew he wanted anything from me, when in spite of his voluminous writings he has never challenged me; and next, who it was of whom he was jealous, unless it may have been Brutus. If he is not jealous of him, he certainly cannot be of Hortensius or the speakers in the De Republica.

138publica loquuntur. Plane hoc mihi explices velim, in primis maneasne in sententia, ut mittam ad eum, quae scripsi, an nihil necesse putes. Sed haec coram.

XIX CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Scr. in Arpinati prid. K. Quint. a. 709

Commodum discesserat Hilarus librarius IV Kal., cui dederam litteras ad te, cum venit tabellarius cum tuis litteris pridie datis; in quibus illud mihi gratissimum fuit, quod Attica nostra rogat te, ne tristis sis, quodque tu ἀκίνδυνα esse scribis.

Ligarianam, ut video, praeclare auctoritas tua commendavit. Scripsit enim ad me Balbus et^[113] Oppius mirifice se probare, ob eamque causam ad Caesarem eam se oratiunculam misisse. Hoc igitur idem tu mihi antea scripseras.

In Varrone ista causa me non moveret, ne viderer φιλένδοξος (sic enim constitueram, neminem includere in dialogos eorum, qui viverent); sed, quia scribis et desiderari a Varrone et magni illum aestimare, eos confeci et absolvi, nescio quam bene, sed ita accurate, ut nihil posset supra, Academicam omnem quaestionem libris quattuor. In eis, quae erant contra ἀκαταληψίαν praeclare collecta ab Antiocho, Varroni dedi. Ad ea ipse respondeo; tu es tertius in sermone nostro. Si Cottam et Varronem fecissem inter se disputantes, ut a te proximis litteris admoneor,

139I should like you to make this quite clear to me, especially whether you abide by your opinion that I should send him what I have written, or whether you think it is unnecessary. But of this when we meet.

XIX CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

Arpinum, June 30, B.C. 45

The copyist Hilarus had just left on the 28th, and I had given him a letter to you, when your messenger came with your letter of the day before. What I was most glad to see in it was the sentence "Our dear Attica begs you not to be anxious" and your own statement that there is no danger.

I see your influence has given my speech for Ligarius a good start. For Balbus has written to me with Oppius, saying that he is extraordinarily pleased with it; and for that reason he has sent the little thing to Caesar. So that is what you wrote to me some time ago.

In Varro's case I should not be disturbed about appearing to be tuft-hunting—for my principle has always been not to insert any living characters in my dialogues; but it was because you say Varro wants it, and appreciates the compliment, that I have finished off the work and have comprised the whole of the Academic philosophy—how well I cannot say, but with all possible care—in four books. All the fine array of arguments against the uncertainty of apperceptions collected by Antiochus I have given to Varro; I answer him myself, and you are the third speaker in our conversation. If I had made Cotta and Varro carry on the argument between them, as you suggest in your last letter, I

140meum κωφὸν πρόσωπον esset. Hoc in antiquis personis suaviter fit, ut et Heraclides in multis et nos in VI "de re publica" libris fecimus. Sunt etiam "de oratore" nostri tres mihi vehementer probati. In eis quoque eae personae sunt, ut mihi tacendum fuerit. Crassus enim loquitur, Antonius, Catulus senex, C. Iulius, frater Catuli, Cotta, Sulpicius. Puero me hic sermo inducitur, ut nullae esse possent partes meae. Quae autem his temporibus scripsi, Ἀριστοτέλειον morem habent, in quo sermo ita inducitur ceterorum, ut penes ipsum sit principatus. Ita confeci quinque libros περὶ τελῶν, ut Epicurea L. Torquato, Stoica M. Catoni, περιπατητικὰ M. Pisoni darem. Ἀζηλοτύπητον id fore putaram, quod omnes illi decesserant. Haec "Academica," ut scis, cum Catulo, Lucullo, Hortensio contuleram. Sane in personas non cadebant; erant enim λογικώτερα quam ut illi de iis somniasse umquam viderentur. Itaque, ut legi tuas de Varrone, tamquam ἕρμαιον arripui. Aptius esse nihil potuit ad id philosophiae genus, quo ille maxime mihi delectari videtur, easque partes, ut non sim consecutus, ut superior mea causa videatur. Sunt enim vehementer πιθανὰ Antiochia; quae diligenter a me expressa acumen habent Antiochi, nitorem orationis nostrum, si modo is est aliquis in nobis. Sed tu, dandosne putes hos libros Varroni, etiam atque etiam videbis. Mihi quaedam occurrunt; sed ea coram.

141should have been a mere lay figure. That suits admirably when the characters are persons of olden times; and that is what Heraclides often did in his works; and I myself did so in my six books De Republica. It is the same, too, in my three books De Oratore, of which I think very highly; in them, too, the characters were such that I could properly keep silent. For the speakers are Crassus, Antonius, old Catulus, his brother C. Julius, Cotta and Sulpicius; and the conversation is supposed to take place when I was a boy, so that I could have no part in it. But in a modern work, I follow Aristotle's practice: the conversation of the others is so put forward as to leave him the principal part. I arranged the five books De Finibus so as to give the Epicurean parts to L. Torquatus, the Stoic to M. Cato, and the Peripatetic to M. Piso. I thought that could not make anybody jealous, as they were all dead. This present work, the Academica, as you know, I had shared between Catulus, Lucullus and Hortensius. I must admit that the work did not suit the characters; for it was far too philosophical for them to have ever dreamt of such things. So, when I read your note about Varro, I jumped at it as a godsend. Nothing could have been more appropriate for expounding the system of philosophy in which he seems to be specially interested, and for introducing a part which prevents me from seeming to give my own cause the superiority. For the views of Antiochus are very persuasive, and I have put them carefully with all Antiochus' acuteness and my own polished style, if I possess one. But do you consider carefully, whether you think I ought to dedicate the books to Varro. Some objections occur to me; but of that when we meet.

142

XX CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Scr. in Arpinati VI aut V Non. Quint. a. 709

A Caesare litteras accepi consolatorias datas pridie Kal. Maias Hispali. De urbe augenda quid sit promulgatum, non intellexi. Id scire sane velim. Torquato nostra officia grata esse facile patior eaque augere non desinam. Ad Ligarianam de uxore Tuberonis et privigna neque possum iam addere (est enim pervulgata) neque Tuberonem volo offendere; mirifice est enim φιλαίτιος. Theatrum quidem sane bellum habuisti. Ego, etsi hoc loco facillime sustentor, tamen te videre cupio. Itaque, ut constitui, adero. Fratrem credo a te esse conventum. Scire igitur studeo, quid egeris.

De fama nihil sane laboro; etsi scripseram ad te tunc stulte "nihil melius"; curandum enim non est. Atque hoc "in omni vita sua quemque a recta conscientia traversum unguem non oportet discedere" viden quam φιλοσόφως? An tu nos frustra existimas haec in manibus habere? Δεδῆχθαι te nollem, quod nihil erat. Redeo enim rursus eodem. Quicquamne me putas curare in toto,^[114] nisi ut ei ne desim? Id ago scilicet, ut iudicia videar tenere. "Μὴ γὰρ αὐτοῖς—." Vellem tam domestica ferre possem quam ista contemnere.

143

XX CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

Arpinum, July 2 or 3, B.C. 45

I have received a letter of consolation from Caesar, posted on the last of April at Hispalis. I did not understand what the proposals for improving the city are; and I should much like to know. I am not displeased that Torquatus is satisfied with my attentions, and I shall not cease to increase them. To the speech for Ligarius I cannot add anything now about Tubero's^[115] wife and step-daughter, since the speech is widely circulated, and I do not wish to offend Tubero; for he is most touchy. You certainly had a good audience. Though I am happy enough here, I am longing to see you; so I shall come as arranged. I think you have met my brother; so I am anxious to know what happened.

About my reputation I don't care a straw; though I did once write to you foolishly that there was nothing better; for it is not worth bothering about. And see what deep philosophy there is in this other sentiment of mine, "In all one's life one ought not to stray a nail's breadth from the straight path of conscience." Do you think I am engaged in philosophical treatises for nothing? I should be sorry for you to distress yourself about a mere nothing. Now I come back to my point. Do you suppose I care for anything in the whole matter, except that I should not be untrue to it.^[116] I am striving, it seems then, to maintain my position in the law courts. God forbid! Would I could bear my private sorrow as easily as I despise them. But do

144Putas autem me voluisse aliquid, quod perfectum non sit? Non licet scilicet sententiam suam, sed tamen, quae tum acta sunt, non possum non probare, et tamen non curare pulchre possum, sicuti facio. Sed nimium multa de nugis.

XXI CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Scr. Asturae IV K. Sext. a. 709

Ad Hirtium dederam epistulam sane grandem, quam scripseram proxime in Tusculano. Huic, quam tu mihi misisti, rescribam alias. Nunc alia malo. Quid possum de Torquato, nisi aliquid a Dolabella? Quod simul ac, continuo scietis. Exspectabam hodie aut summum eras ab eo tabellarios; qui simul ac venerint, mittentur ad te. A Quinto exspecto. Proficiscens enim e Tusculano VIII Kal., ut scis, misi ad eum tabellarios.

Nunc, ad rem ut redeam, "inhibere" illud tuum, quod valde mihi adriserat, vehementer displicet. Est enim verbum totum nauticum. Quamquam id quidem sciebam, sed arbitrabar sustineri remos, cum inhibere essent remiges iussi. Id non esse eius modi didici heri, cum ad villam nostram navis appelleretur. Non enim sustinent, sed alio modo remigant. Id ab ἐποχῇ remotissumum est. Quare facies, ut ita sit in libro, quem ad modum fuit. Dices hoc idem Varroni, si

145you suppose there was some aspiration which was left unfulfilled? Of course one should not praise one's own principles, but I cannot help praising my past life, and yet I can well enough feel indifferent about it, as indeed I do. But that is enough and more than enough about such a trifle.

XXI CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

Astura, July 29, B.C. 45

I have sent a very bulky letter to Hirtius, which I wrote lately at Tusculum. This letter which you have sent, I will answer later. Just now I prefer other things. What can I do for Torquatus, unless I hear from Dolabella? As soon as I hear, you shall know at once. I am expecting messengers from him to-day or to-morrow at the latest; and, as soon as they come, they shall be sent on to you. I am expecting to hear from Quintus. For when I was starting from Tusculum on the 25th, as you know, I sent messengers to him.

To return to business, the word inhibere suggested by you, which at first took my fancy very much, I strongly disapprove of now. For it is exclusively a nautical word. That, however, I knew before; but I thought rowers rested on their oars, when told to inhibere. Yesterday, when a ship put in by my house, I learned that was not so. They don't rest on their oars, they back water. That is very different to the Greek ἐποχή. So change the word back to what it was in the book^[117]; and tell Varro to do

146forte mutavit. Nec est melius quicquam quam ut Lucilius:

"Sustineas currum ut bonus saepe agitator equosque."

Semperque Carneades προβολὴν pugilis et retentionem aurigae similem facit ἐποχῇ. Inhibitio autem remigum motum habet, et vehementiorem quidem, remigationis navem convertentis ad puppim. Vides, quanto hoc diligentius curem quam aut de rumore aut de Pollione. De Pansa etiam, si quid certius (credo enim palam factum esse), de Critonio, si quid est, sed certe^[118] de Metello et Balbino.

XXIa CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Scr. in Arpinati prid K. aut K. Quint. a. 709

Dic mihi, placetne tibi primum edere iniussu meo? Hoc ne Hermodorus quidem faciebat, is qui Platonis libros solitus est divulgare, ex quo "λόγοισιν Ἑρμόδωρος." Quid? illud rectumne existimas cuiquam ante quam^[119]. Bruto, cui te auctore προσφωνῶ? Scripsit enim Balbus ad me se a te quintum "de finibus" librum descripsisse; in quo non sane multa mutavi, sed tamen quaedam. Tu autem commode feceris, si reliquos continueris, ne et ἀδιόρθωτα habeat Balbus et ἕωλα Brutus. Sed haec hactenus, ne videar περὶ μικρὰ σπουδάζειν. Etsi nunc quidem maxima mihi sunt haec; quid est enim aliud?

147the same, if he has altered it. One can't improve on Lucilius: "Pull up chariot and horses as a good driver oft does." And Carneades always compares the philosopher's suspension of judgment (ἐποχή) to the guard of a boxer and the pulling up of a charioteer. But the inhibitio of rowers implies motion, and indeed the rather violent motion of rowing to back the boat. You see how much more attention I pay to this than either to rumour or to Pollio. Let me know too about Pansa, if anything definite is known, and I suppose it has come out, about Critonius, if there is any news, and anyhow about Metellus and Balbinus.

XXIa CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

Arpinum June 30 or July 1, B.C. 45

Come now, do you really think you ought to publish without my orders? Even Hermodorus never did such a thing, though he used to circulate Plato's books, and that gave rise to the line "our Hermodorus deals in dialogues."^[120] Do you really think you were justified in sending to anyone before you sent to Brutus, to whom at your advice I dedicated the work. For Balbus has written to me that you let him have a copy of the fifth book of the De Finibus, in which I have made a few alterations, though not many. However, I shall be obliged if you will keep back the others, so that Balbus may not get unrevised copies and Brutus what is stale. But enough of this; I don't want to seem to make a fuss about trifles. Though these are now my important things, for what else have I?

148Varroni quidem quae scripsi te auctore, ita propero mittere, ut iam Romam miserim describenda. Ea si voles, statim habebis. Scripsi enim ad librarios, ut fieret tuis, si tu velles, describendi potestas. Ea vero continebis, quoad ipse te videam; quod diligentissime facere soles, cum a me tibi dictum est. Quo modo antea fugit me tibi dicere? Mirifice Caerellia, studio videlicet philosophiae flagrans, describit a tuis; istos ipsos "de finibus" habet. Ego autem tibi confirmo (possum falli ut homo) a meis eam non habere; numquam enim ab oculis meis afuerunt. Tantum porro aberat, ut binos scriberent; vix singulos confecerunt. Tuorum tamen ego nullum delictum arbitror itemque te volo existimare; a me enim praetermissum est, ut dicerem me eos exire nondum velle. Hui, quam diu de nugis! de re enim nihil habeo quod loquar.

De Dolabella tibi adsentior. Coheredes, ut scribis, in Tusculano. De Caesaris adventu scripsit ad me Balbus non ante Kal. Sextiles. De Attica optime, quod levius ac levius, et quod fert εὐκόλως. Quod autem de illa nostra cogitatione scribis, in qua nihil tibi cedo, ea, quae novi, valde probo, hominem, domum, facultates. Quod caput est, ipsum non novi, sed audio laudabilia, de Scrofa etiam proxime. Accedit, si quid hoc ad rem, εὐγενέστερος est etiam quam pater. Coram igitur et quidem propenso animo ad probandum. Accedit enim, quod patrem, ut scire te puto, plus etiam quam non modo tu, sed quam ipse scit, amo idque et merito et iam diu.

149I am in such a hurry to send what I have written to Varro, as you suggested, that I have sent it already to Rome to be copied. If you like, you shall have it at once. For I wrote to my copyist telling them to give your people leave to copy, if you liked. Please keep it, however, till I see you. You are generally most careful to do so, when I have told you. I was nearly forgetting to say that Caerellia, inspired of course by love of philosophy, is copying from your people^[121]; she has those very books De Finibus. I assure you, so far as it is humanly possible to affirm anything, that she did not get it from mine, for my copy was never out of my sight. So far were my people from making two copies, that they could scarcely make up one. However, I am not finding any fault in your people, and I hope you will not either, for I omitted to say that I did not want the books circulated yet. Dear me, how I do harp on trifles. The fact is I have nothing of importance to say.

I agree about Dolabella. My co-heirs I will meet at Tusculum, as you suggest. As to Caesar's arrival, Balbus has written that he won't be here till the first of August. It is good news that Attica's attack gets slighter and slighter and that she is bearing it cheerfully. As to that idea of ours, about which I am quite as eager as you are, so far as I know anything about the man, I approve of him, his family, and his fortune. What is most important is that, though I do not know him himself, I hear very well of him, even quite recently from Scrofa. If it is of any importance, one may add that he is even better bred than his father. So we will speak of it when we meet, and I am disposed to approve. For in addition, as I think you know, I am with good reason and long have been fonder of his father than either you or he himself is aware.

150

XXII CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Scr. in Arpinati IV Non. Quint. a. 709

De Varrone non sine causa quid tibi placeat tam diligenter exquiro. Occurrunt mihi quaedam. Sed ea coram. Te autem ἀσμεναίτατα intexui, faciamque id crebrius. Proximis enim tuis litteris primum te id non nolle cognovi. De Marcello scripserat ad me Cassius antea, τὰ κατὰ μέρος Servius. O rem acerbam! Ad prima redeo. Scripta nostra nusquam malo esse quam apud te, sed ea tum foras dari, cum utrique nostrum videbitur. Ego et librarios tuos culpa libero, neque te accuso, et tamen aliud quiddam ad te scripseram, Caerelliam quaedam habere, quae nisi a te^[122] habere non potuerit. Balbo quidem intellegebam sat faciendum fuisse, tantum nolebam aut obsoletum Bruto aut Balbo inchoatum dari. Varroni, simul ac te videro, si tibi videbitur, mittam. Quid autem dubitarim, cum videro te, scies.

Attributos quod appellas, valde probo. Te de praedio Oviae exerceri moleste fero. De Bruto nostro perodiosum, sed vita fert. Mulieres autem vix satis humane, quae iniquo animo ferant, cum utraque

151

XXII CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

Arpinum, July 4, B.C. 45

I have my reasons for asking so persistently for your opinion about Varro. Some objections occur to me; but of those when we meet. Your name I introduced with the greatest pleasure and I shall do so more frequently, for I see for the first time from your last letter that you do not disapprove. About Marcellus Cassius had already written to me, and Servius sent some details.^[123] What a sad thing! I return to my former point. There are no hands in which I would rather have my writings than in yours, but I should prefer them not to leave your hands till we have agreed on it. I acquit your copyists of fault and I bring no charge against you; but there was something different that I did mention in a letter, that Caerellia had some things she could only have got from you. In Balbus' case I realize of course that you had to satisfy him; only I am sorry that Brutus should get anything stale or Balbus anything unfinished. I will send to Varro, as soon as I have seen you, if you agree. Why I have hesitated, you shall know, when I do see you.

I strongly approve of your calling in those debts which have been transferred to me. I am sorry you are being bothered about Ovia's estate. About Brutus it is a great nuisance, but such is life. The ladies, however, are not very considerate in being annoyed, though both of them observe the proprieties.^[124]

152officio pareat. Tullium scribam nihil fuit quod appellares; nam tibi mandassem, si fuisset. Nihil enim est apud eum positum nomine voti, sed est quiddam apud illum meum. Id ego in hanc rem statui conferre. Itaque et ego recte tibi dixi, ubi esset, et tibi ille recte negavit. Sed hoc quoque ipsum continuo adoriamur. Lucum hominibus non sane probo, quod est desertior, sed habet εὐλογίαν. Verum hoc quoque, ut censueris, quippe qui omnia. Ego, ut constitui, adero, atque utinam tu quoque eodem die! Sin quid (multa enim), utique postridie. Etenim coheredes: a quibus sine tua opprimi malitia. Est^[125] alteris iam litteris nihil ad me de Attica. Sed id quidem in optima spe pono; illud accuso non te, sed illam, ne salutem quidem. At tu et illi et Piliae plurimam, nec me tamen irasci indicaris. Epistulam Caesaris misi, si minus legisses.

XXIII CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Scr. in Tusculano VI Id. Quint. a. 709

Antemeridianis tuis litteris heri statim rescripsi; nunc respondeo vespertinis. Brutus mallem me arcesseret.

153There was no necessity for you to dun my secretary Tullius; I should have told you, if there had been. For he has nothing of mine towards carrying out my vow.^[126] But he has some of my money, and that I am thinking of devoting to that purpose. So we were both right, I in telling you where it was, and he in denying he had it. But let us get hold of this same money also at once. I do not very much approve of a grove for mortals, as it is not much frequented; but there is something to say for it. However, let that too be as you like, since you decide everything. I shall come to town when I arranged, and I hope to goodness you will be there the same day. But, if anything prevents you, and lots of things may, the next day at any rate. For there are my co-heirs, and without your shrewdness I shall be done for. This is the second letter with no news of Attica. But that I take as a hopeful sign. There is one thing I have a grievance about, not against you, but against her, that she does not even send her regards. But pay my best respects to her and to Pilia, and don't hint that I am angry anyhow. I am sending Caesar's letter, in case you should not have read it.

XXIII CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

Tusculum, July 10, B.C. 45

The morning's letter I answered yesterday at once, now I am answering yours of the evening. I would rather Brutus had asked me to Rome. It

154Et aequius erat, cum illi iter instaret et subitum et longum, et me hercule nunc, cum ita simus adfecti, ut non possimus plane simul vivere (intellegis enim profecto, in quo maxime posita sit συμβίωσις), facile patiebar nos potius Romae una esse quam in Tusculano.

Libri ad Varronem non morabantur, sunt enim detexti, ut vidisti; tantum librariorum menda tolluntur. De quibus libris scis me dubitasse, sed tu videris. Item, quos Bruto mittimus, in manibus habent librarii.

Mea mandata, ut scribis, explica. Quamquam ista retentione omnes ait uti Trebatius; quid tu istos putas? Nosti domum. Quare confice εὐαγώγως. Incredibile est, quam ego ista non curem. Omni tibi adseveratione adfirmo, quod mihi credas velim, mihi maiori offensioni esse quam delectationi possessiunculas meas. Magis enim doleo me non habere, cui tradam, quam gaudeo^[127] habere, qui utar. Atque illud Trebatius se tibi dixisse narrabat; tu autem veritus es fortasse, ne ego invitus audirem. Fuit id quidem humanitatis, sed, mihi crede, iam ista non curo. Quare da te in sermonem et perseca et confice, et ita cum Polla loquere, ut te cum illo Scaeva loqui

155would have been fairer, as he is on the point of a sudden long journey, and upon my soul I should have much preferred that we should meet in Rome rather than in my house at Tusculum, now that the state of our feelings prevents us from living together at all, for of course you understand what constitutes good company.

There is no delay about the books dedicated to Varro. They are finished, as you have seen; there is only the correction of the copyists' mistakes. About those books you know I have had some hesitation, but you must look to it. The copyists have in hand, too, those I am dedicating to Brutus.

Carry out my instructions as you say. However what about that abatement?^[128] Trebatius says everybody is taking advantage of it. What do you suppose my debtors will do? You know the gang.^[129] So settle the matter accommodatingly. You would never believe how little I care about such things. I give you my solemn word for it, and I hope you will believe me, that the little I have causes me more annoyance than pleasure. For I am more grieved at having no one to leave it to than pleased at having enough for my own enjoyment. Trebatius tells me he told you so; but perhaps you feared I should be sorry at the news. That was certainly kind of you; but, believe me, I don't care about such things now. So get you to your conferences, hack away at it and finish the business; and in talking with Polla consider you are talking with that fellow Scaeva,^[130] and

156putes, nec existimes eos, qui non debita consectari soleant, quod debeatur, remissuros. De die tantum videto et id ipsum bono modo.

XXIV CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Scr. in Tusculano V Id. Quint. a. 709

Quid est, quod Hermogenes mihi Clodius Andromenem sibi dixisse se Ciceronem vidisse Corcyrae? Ego enim audita tibi putaram. Nil igitur ne ei quidem litterarum? An non vidit? Facies ergo, ut sciam.

Quid tibi ego de Varrone rescribam? Quattuor διφθέραι sunt in tua potestate. Quod egeris, id probabo. Nec tamen "αἰδέομαι Τρῶας." Quid enim? Sed, ipsi quam res illa probaretur, magis verebar. Sed, quoniam tu suscipis, in alteram aurem.

De retentione rescripsi ad tuas accurate scriptas litteras. Conficies igitur, et quidem sine ulla dubitatione aut retrectatione. Hoc fieri et oportet et opus est.

XXV CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Scr. in Tusculano IV Id. Quint. a. 709

De Andromene, ut scribis, ita putaram. Scisses enim mihique dixisses. Tu tamen ita mihi de Bruto scribis, ut de te nihil. Quando autem illum putas? Nam ego Romam pridie Idus. Bruto ita volui scribere

157don't imagine that those who are in the habit of taking what is not owing to them, will abate anything that is. Only be careful that they pay up to time and allow some latitude there too.

XXIV CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

Tusculum, July 11, B.C. 45

What am I to make of this? Hermogenes Clodius tells me that Andromenes said he saw my son at Corcyra. For I supposed you had heard of it. Then didn't he give any letter even to him? Or perhaps he didn't see him. You must let me know, please.

What answer am I to give you about Varro? You have the four parchment rolls: and whatever you do I shall approve. It is not that "I fear the Trojans."^[131] Why should I? But I am more afraid how he may regard it. However, as you undertake the matter, I shall sleep in peace.^[132]

About the abatement I have answered your careful letter. You must get the matter over, and that too without any hesitation or refusal. That ought to be and must be done.

XXV CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

Tusculum, July 12, B.C. 45

About Andromenes I thought exactly what you say, for you would have known and told me. However, you have written such a lot about Brutus that you say nothing of yourself. But when do you think he is coming? For I shall come to Rome on the 14th. What I meant to say in my letter to

158(sed, quoniam tu te legisse scribis, fui fortasse ἀσαφέστερος), me ex tuis litteris intellexisse nolle eum me quasi prosequendi sui causa Romam nunc venire. Sed, quoniam iam adest meus adventus, fac, quaeso, ne quid eum Idus impediant, quo minus suo commodo in Tusculano sit. Nec enim ad tabulam eum desideraturus eram (in tali enim negotio cur tu unus non satis es?), sed ad testamentum volebam, quod iam malo alio die, ne ob eam causam Romam venisse videar. Scripsi igitur ad Brutum iam illud, quod putassem, Idibus nihil opus esse. Velim ergo totum hoc ita gubernes, ut ne minima quidem re ulla Bruti commodum impediamus.

Sed quid est tandem, quod perhorrescas, quia tuo periculo iubeam libros dari Varroni? Etiam nunc si dubitas, fac, ut sciamus. Nihil est enim illis elegantius. Volo Varronem, praesertim cum ille desideret; sed est, ut scis,

Iliad, xi. 654

"δεινὸς ἀνήρ· τάχα κεν καὶ ἀναίτιον αἰτιόῳτο."

Ita mihi saepe occurrit vultus eius querentis fortasse vel hoc, meas partis in iis libris copiosius defensas esse quam suas, quod me hercule non esse intelleges, si quando in Epirum veneris. Nam nunc Alexionis epistulis cedimus. Sed tamen ego non despero probatum iri Varroni, et id, quoniam impensam fecimus in macrocolla, facile patior teneri. Sed, etiam atque etiam dico, tuo periculo fiet. Quare, si addubitas, ad Brutum transeamus; est enim is quoque Antiochius.

159Brutus was that I had gathered from your note that he did not wish me to come to Rome now just to pay my respects to him—but, as you say you have read the letter, perhaps I was not quite clear. However, as I am just on the point of coming, please see that my presence on the 15th does not prevent his coming to Tusculum at his convenience. For I shall not want him at the auction—surely in such a business you alone will be enough: but I do want him when I make my will. That I would rather postpone for another day now, so as not to seem to have come to Rome expressly for that purpose. So I have written to Brutus now that I shall not want him, as I had thought, on the 15th. I should like you to look after all this and see that we don't inconvenience Brutus in the least.

But what on earth is the reason why you are so frightened at my bidding you send the books to Varro on your own responsibility? Even now, if you have any doubts, let me know. Nothing could be more finished than they are. I want Varro, especially as he desires it: but, as you know, he is "a fearsome man; the blameless he would blame." I often picture him to myself complaining of this perhaps, that my side in the books is more fully defended than his own, though I assure you, if ever you come to Epirus, I will convince you it is not. For at present I have to give way to Alexio's^[133] letters. However, I don't despair of winning Varro's approval; and, as I have gone to the expense of a large paper copy, I should like to stick to my plan. But I repeat again, it must be on your responsibility. So, if you have doubts, let us change to Brutus: he is also a

160O Academiam volaticam et sui similem! modo huc, modo illuc. Sed, quaeso, epistula mea ad Varronem valdene tibi placuit? Male mi sit, si umquam quicquam tam enitar. Ergo ne Tironi quidem dictavi, qui totas περιοχὰς persequi solet, sed Spintharo syllabatim.

XXVI CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Scr. in Tusculano prid. Id. Mai. a. 709

De Vergili parte valde probo. Sic ages igitur. Et quidem id erit primum, proximum Clodiae. Quodsi neutrum, metuo, ne turbem et inruam in Drusum. Intemperans sum in eius rei cupiditate, quam nosti. Itaque revolvor identidem in Tusculanum. Quidvis enim potius, quam ut non hac aestate absolvatur.

Ego, ut tempus est nostrum, locum habeo nullum, ubi facilius esse possim quam Asturae. Sed, quia, qui mecum sunt, credo, quod maestitiam meam non ferunt, domum properant, etsi poteram remanere, tamen, ut scripsi tibi, proficiscar hinc, ne relictus videar. Quo autem? Lanuvio conor equidem in Tusculanum. Sed faciam te statim certiorem. Tu litteras conficies. Equidem credibile non est quantum scribam, quin etiam noctibus. Nihil enim somni. Heri etiam effeci epistulam ad Caesarem; tibi enim placebat. Quam non fuit malum scribi, si forte opus

161follower of Antiochus. O that fickle Academy, always the same, now one thing, now another.^[134] But pray tell me, were you very pleased with my letter to Varro. May I be hanged if I ever take so much trouble with anything again. So I did not even dictate it to Tiro, who can follow whole sentences as dictated, but syllable by syllable to Spintharus.

XXVI CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

Tusculum, May 14, B.C. 45

About Vergilius'^[135] share I approve; so arrange it like that. And indeed it will be my first choice, next to Clodia's. If neither, I fear I shall run amuck and make a dash for Drusus. As you know, I have lost control of myself in my desire for this. So I keep coming back to the idea of my place at Tusculum. For anything is better than not getting it finished this summer.

Under the present circumstances I am as comfortable at Astura as I could be anywhere. But as those who are with me are in a hurry to go home, I suppose because they cannot put up with my melancholy, though I might remain, I shall leave here, as I told you, so as not to seem deserted. But where am I to go? From Lanuvium I am trying to bring myself to go to Tusculum. But I will let you know soon. Please write the letters. You wouldn't believe how much writing I get done by night as well as day, for I cannot sleep. Yesterday I even composed a letter to Caesar, as you desired. There was no harm in writing it in case you thought it necessary: as

162esse putares; ut quidem nunc est, nihil sane est necesse mittere. Sed id quidem, ut tibi videbitur. Mittam tamen ad te exemplum fortasse Lanuvio, nisi forte Romam. Sed eras scies.

XXVII CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Scr. in Tusculano VIII K. Iun. a. 709

De epistula ad Caesarem nobis vero semper rectissime placuit, ut isti ante legerent. Aliter enim fuissemus et in hos inofficiosi, et in nosmet ipsos, si illum offensuri fuimus, paene periculosi. Isti autem ingenue; mihique gratum, quod, quid sentirent, non reticuerunt, illud vero vel optime, quod ita multa mutari volunt, ut mihi de integro scribendi causa non sit. Quamquam de Parthico bello quid spectare debui, nisi quod illum velle arbitrabar? Quod enim aliud argumentum epistulae nostrae nisi κολακεία fuit? An, si ea, quae optima putarem, suadere voluissem, oratio mihi defuisset? Totis igitur litteris nihil opus est. Ubi enim ἐπίτευγμα magnum nullum fieri possit, ἀπότευγμα vel non magnum molestum futurum sit, quid opus est παρακινδυνεύειν? praesertim cum illud occurrat, illum, cum antea nihil scripserim, existimaturum me nisi toto bello confecto nihil scripturum fuisse. Atque etiam vereor, ne putet me hoc quasi Catonis μείλιγμα esse voluisse. Quid quaeris? valde me paenitebat, nec mihi in hac quidem re quicquam magis ut vellem accidere potuit, quam quod σπουδὴ nostra non est probata. Incidissimus etiam in illos, in eis in cognatum tuum.

163things are, there is certainly no need to send it. But let that be as you like. However, I will send you a copy, perhaps from Lanuvium, unless I happen to come to Rome. But you shall know to-morrow.

XXVII CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

Tusculum, May 25, B.C. 45

As for the letter to Caesar, I was always ready to let your friends read it first. If I had not been, I should not have done my duty by them, and should very nearly have imperilled myself, if I were likely to offend him. But they have acted frankly, and I am thankful to them for not concealing their feelings; but the best thing of all is that they want to make so many alterations that there is no sense in my writing it all over again. However, what view ought I to have taken of the Parthian war except what I thought he wanted? Indeed what other purpose had my letter save to kowtow to him? Do you suppose I should have been at a loss for words, if I had wanted to give him the advice which I really thought best? So the whole letter is unnecessary. For, when I cannot make a coup, and a fiasco, however slight, would be unpleasant, why should I run unnecessary risk? Especially as it occurs to me that, as I have not written before, he would think I should not have written until the whole war were over. Besides I am afraid he may think it is to sugar the pill of my Cato. In fact I am very sorry I wrote it, and nothing could suit my wishes better than that they do disapprove of my zeal. I should have fallen foul of^[136] Caesar's party, and among them your relative.

164Sed redeo ad hortos. Plane illuc te ire nisi tuo magno commodo nolo; nihil enim urget. Quicquid erit, operam in Faberio ponamus. De die tamen auctionis, si quid scies. Eum, qui e Cumano venerat, quod et plane valere Atticam nuntiabat et litteras se habere aiebat, statim ad te misi.

XXVIII CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Scr. in Tusculano VII K. Iun. a. 709

Hortos quoniam hodie eras inspecturus, quid visum tibi sit, eras scilicet. De Faberio autem, cum venerit. De epistula ad Ceasaremiurato, mihi crede, non possum; nec me turpitudo deterret, etsi maxime debebat. Quam enim turpis est adsentatio, cum vivere ipsum turpe sit nobis! Sed, ut coepi, non me hoc turpe deterret. Ac vellem quidem (essem enim, qui esse debebam), sed in mentem nihil venit. Nam, quae sunt ad Alexandrum hominum eloquentium et doctorum suasiones, vides, quibus in rebus versentur. Adulescentem incensum cupiditate verissimae gloriae, cupientem sibi aliquid consilii dari, quod ad laudem sempiternam valeret, cohortantur ad decus. Non deest oratio; ego quid possum? Tamen nescio quid e quercu exsculpseram, quod videretur simile simulacri. In eo quia non nulla erant paulo meliora quam ea, quae fiunt et facta sunt, reprehenduntur; quod me minime paenitet. Si enim pervenissent istae litterae, mihi crede, nos paeniteret. Quid? tu non

165But to return to the gardens. I don't in the least want you to go there, unless it is quite convenient to you: for there is no hurry. Whatever happens let us direct our efforts towards Faberius. However send me the date of the auction, if you know it. I have sent this man, who came from Cumae, straight on to you, as he said Attica was quite well and he had letters.

XXVIII CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

Tusculum, May 26, B.C. 45

As you are going to look at the garden to-day, I shall of course hear from you to-morrow what you think of it; and about Faberius, when he has come. About the letter to Caesar, I give you my word of honour I cannot; it is not the shame of the thing that prevents me, though that is just what ought. Ah, how shameful is flattery, when life alone is a disgrace! But, as I was beginning to say, it is not the shame of it that prevents me—I only wish it were, for then I should be the man I ought to be—but I cannot think of anything to write. Just consider the subjects of the letters of advice addressed to Alexander by men of eloquence and learning. Here was a youth fired by a desire for the truest glory and desiring to have some advice given him on the subject of eternal fame, and they exhort him to follow honour. There is plenty to say on that: but what can I say? However, from hard material I had rough hewn something that seemed to me to take shape. Because there were a few touches in it a little better than the actual facts past or present, fault is found with them; and I don't regret it a bit. For, if the letter had reached its destination, believe me, I should have regretted it. Why, don't you

166vides ipsum illum Aristoteli discipulum summo ingenio, summa modestia, posteaquam rex appellatus sit, superbum, crudelem, immoderatum fuisse? Quid? tu hunc de pompa Quirini contubernalem his nostris moderatis epistulis laetaturum putas? Ille vero potius non scripta desideret quam scripta non probet. Postremo ut volet. Abiit illud, quod tum me stimulabat, cum tibi dabam πρόβλημα Ἀρχιμήδειον. Multo mehercule magis nunc opto casum illum, quem tum timebam, vel quem libebit.

Nisi quid te aliud impediet, mi optato veneris. Nicias a Dolabella magno opere arcessitus (legi enim litteras), etsi invito me, tamen eodem me auctore, profectus est.

Hoc manu mea. Cum quasi alias res quaererem de philologis e Nicia, incidimus in Talnam. Ille de ingenio nihil nimis, modestum et frugi. Sed hoc mihi non placuit. Se scire aiebat ab eo nuper petitam Cornificiam, Q. filiam, vetulam sane et multarum nuptiarum; non esse probatum mulieribus, quod ita reperirent, rem non maiorem DCCC. Hoc putavi te scire oportere.

XXIX CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Scr. in Tusculano VI K Iun. a. 709

De hortis ex tuis litteris cognovi et Chrysippo. In villa, cuius insulsitatem bene noram, video nihil

167see that even that pupil of Aristotle, in spite of his high ability and his high character, became proud, cruel, and ungovernable, after he got the title of king? How do you suppose this puppet messmate of Quirinus^[137] will like my moderate letters? Let him rather look for what I do not write than disapprove of what I have written. In short let it be as he pleases. What was spurring me on when I put that insoluble problem^[138] before you has all gone now. Upon my word now I should far rather welcome the misfortune I feared then or any other.

If there is nothing to prevent you, come to me and welcome. Nicias at Dolabella's urgent request (for I read the letter) has gone, against my will though not against my advice.

The rest I have written myself. When I was discussing men of learning with Nicias, we chanced to speak of Talna. He had not much to say for his intelligence, though he gave him a good and steady character. But there was one thing that seemed to me unsatisfactory. He said he knew he had lately sought in marriage Cornificia, Quintus' daughter, though quite an old woman and married more than once before; but the ladies would not agree as they found he was not worth more than 7,000 guineas.^[139] I thought you ought to know this.

XXIX CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

Tusculum, May 27, B.C. 45

I have heard all about the gardens from your letter and from Chrysippus. I was well aware of the bad taste shown in the house, and I see there

168aut pauca mutata; balnearia tamen laudat maiora, de minoribus ait hiberna effici posse. Tecta igitur ambulatiuncula addenda est; quam ut tantam faciamus, quantam in Tusculano fecimus, prope dimidio minoris constabit isto loco. Ad id autem, quod volumus, ἀφίδρυμα nihil aptius videtur quam lucus, quem ego noram; sed celebritatem nullam tum habebat, nunc audio maximam. Nihil est, quod ego malim. In hoc τὸν τῦφόν μου πρὸς θεῶν τροποφόρησον. Reliquum est, si Faberius nobis nomen illud explicat, noli quaerere, quanti; Othonem vincas volo. Nec tamen insaniturum illum puto; nosse enim mihi hominem videor. Ita male autem audio ipsum esse tractatum, ut mihi ille emptor non esse videatur. Quid enim? pateretur? Sed quid argumentor? Si Faberianum explicas, emamus vel magno; si minus, ne parvo quidem possumus. Clodiam igitur. A qua ipsa ob eam causam sperare videor, quod et multo minoris sunt, et Dolabellae nomen tam expeditum videtur, ut etiam repraesentatione confidam. De hortis satis. Cras aut te aut causam; quam quidem puto^[140] futuram Faberianam. Sed, si poteris.

Ciceronis epistulam tibi remisi. O te ferreum, qui illius periculis non moveris! Me quoque accusat. Eam tibi epistulam misi semissem.^[141] Nam illam alteram

169has been little or no alteration; however, he praises the larger bath and thinks the smaller could be made into a winter snuggery. So a covered passage would have to be added, and, if I made one the same size as that at my place at Tusculum, the cost would be about half as much in that district. However, for the erection we want to make nothing could be more suitable than the grove, which I used to know well; then it was not at all frequented, now I hear it is very much so. There is nothing I should prefer. In this, humour my whim, in heaven's name. For the rest, if Faberius pays that debt, don't bother about the cost; I want you to outbid Otho: and I don't think he will bid wildly, for I fancy I know the man. Besides I hear he has had such bad luck that I doubt if he will buy. For would he put up with it, if he could help it?^[142] But what is the good of talking? If you get the money from Faberius, let us buy even at a high price; if not, we cannot even at a low. So then we must fall back on Clodia. In her case I see more grounds for hope, as her property is worth much less, and Dolabella's debt seems so safe that I feel confident of being able to pay in ready money. Enough about the gardens. To-morrow I shall either see you or hear the reason why not. I expect that will be the business with Faberius. But come, if you can.

I am sending young Quintus' letter. How hard-hearted of you not to tremble at his hair-breadth escapes. He complains about me too. I have sent you half the letter. The other half about his

170de rebus gestis eodem exemplo puto. In Cumanum hodie misi tabellarium. Ei dedi tuas ad Vestorium, quas Pharnaci dederas.

XXX CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Scr. in Tusculano V K. Iun. post ep. XXXI a. 709

Commodum ad te miseram Demean, cum Eros ad me venit. Sed in eius epistula nihil erat novi nisi auctionem biduum. Ab ea igitur, ut scribis, et velim confecto negotio Faberiano; quem quidem negat Eros hodie, cras mane putat. A te colendus est; istae autem κολακεῖαι non longe absunt a scelere. Te, ut spero, perendie.

Mi, sicunde potes, erues, qui decem legati Mummio fuerint. Polybius non nominat. Ego memini Albinum consularem et Sp. Mummium; videor audisse ex Hortensio Tuditanum. Sed in Libonis annali XIIII annis post praetor est factus Tuditanus quam consul Mummius. Non sane quadrat. Volo aliquem Olympiae aut ubi visum πολιτικὸν σύλλογον more Dicaearchi, familiaris tui.

XXXI CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Scr. in Tusculano eodem die quo ep. XXX paulo ante a. 709

V Kal. mane accepi a Demea litteras pridie datas, ex quibus aut hodie aut eras exspectare te deberem. Sed, ut opinor, idem ego, qui exspecto tuum adventum, morabor te. Non enim puto tam expeditum Faberianum negotium futurum, etiamsi est futurum,

171adventures I think you have in duplicate. I have sent a messenger to-day to Cumae. I have given him your letter to Vestorius, which you had given to Pharnaces.

XXX CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

Tusculum, May 28, B.C. 45

I had just sent Demeas to you, when Eros arrived. But in his letter there was no news except that the auction lasts two days. So you will come after it, as you say, and I hope the business with Faberius will be settled. Eros thinks he will not settle up to-day, but will to-morrow morning. You must be polite to him; though such kowtowing is almost criminal. I hope you will come the day after to-morrow.

Dig out for me from somewhere, if you can, the names of Mummius' ten legates. Polybius does not give them. I remember Albinus the ex-consul and Sp. Mummius; and I think Hortensius told me Tuditanus. But in Libo's annals Tuditanus was praetor fourteen years after Mummius' consulship. That does not square at all. I am thinking of writing a kind of political conference, held at Olympia or wherever you like, like that of your friend Dicaearchus.

XXXI CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

Tusculum, May 28, B.C. 45

On the 28th in the morning Demeas delivered a letter dated the day before, from which I ought to expect you either to-day or to-morrow. But, I suppose, I who am looking forward to your coming, shall be the very person who will delay it. For I don't expect the business with Faberius will be so far settled, even if it is to be settled, that it will not

172ut non habeat aliquid morae. Cum poteris igitur. Quoniam etiamnum abes, Dicaearchi, quos scribis, libros sane velim mi mittas, addas etiam κατάβασεως.

De epistula ad Caesarem κέκρικα; atqui^[143] id ipsum, quod isti aiunt illum scribere, se nisi constitutis rebus non iturum in Parthos, idem ego suadebam in illa epistula. Utrum liberet, facere posse auctore me. Hoc enim ille exspectat videlicet neque est facturus quicquam nisi de meo consilio. Obsecro, abiciamus ista et semiliberi saltem simus; quod adsequemur et tacendo et latendo.

Sed adgredere Othonem, ut scribis. Confice, mi Attice, istam rem. Nihil enim aliud reperio, ubi et in foro non sim et tecum esse possim. Quanti autem, hoc mihi venit in mentem. C. Albanius proximus est vicinus. Is CIↃ iugerum de M. Pilio emit, ut mea memoria est, HS CXV. Omnia scilicet nunc minoris. Sed accedit cupiditas, in qua praeter Othonem non puto nos ullum adversarium habituros. Sed eum ipsum tu poteris movere, facilius etiam, si Canum haberes. O gulam insulsam! Pudet me patris. Rescribes, si quid voles.

173cause some delay. So come when you can. Since you are still away, I should like you to send me the books of Dicaearchus, which you mention, with the Descent.^[144]

As for the letter to Caesar I have made up my mind; and yet precisely what they say he says in his letter, that he will not go against the Parthians until affairs are arranged here, is what I advised in my letter. I told him he could do whichever he chose with my full leave. For of course he wants that and won't do anything without my advice. For heaven's sake let us give up flattery and be at least half-free; and that we can manage by keeping quiet and out of sight.

But approach Otho, as you say, and finish that business, my dear Atticus. For I don't see any other way of keeping away from the forum and yet being with you. As to the price, this has just occurred to me. The nearest neighbour is C. Albanius. He bought some 600 acres^[145] of M. Pilius, so far as I can recollect for £110,000.^[146] Of course everything has gone down in value now. But on the other side counts our eagerness to purchase, though I don't suppose we shall have anyone bidding against us except Otho. Him however you can influence personally, and could still more easily, if you had Canus with you. What senseless gluttony!^[147] Shame on his father! Answer, if you want to say anything.

174

XXXII CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Scr. in Tusculano IV K. Iun. a. 709

Alteram a te epistulam cum hodie accepissem, nolui te una mea contentum. Tu vero age, quod scribis, de Faberio. In eo enim totum est positum id, quod cogitamus; quae cogitatio si non incidisset, mihi crede, istuc ut cetera non laborarem. Quam ob rem, ut facis (istuc enim addi nihil potest), urge, insta, perfice.

Dicaearchi περὶ ψυχῆς utrosque velim mittas et καταβάσεως. Τριπολιτικὸν non invenio et epistulam eius, quam ad Aristoxenum misit. Tres eos libros maxime nunc vellem; apti essent ad id, quod cogito. Torquatus Romae est. Misi, ut tibi daretur. Catulum et Lucullum, ut opinor, antea. His libris nova prohoemia sunt addita, quibus eorum uterque laudatur. Eas litteras volo habeas, et sunt quaedam alia. Et, quod ad te de decem legatis scripsi, parum intellexisti, credo, quia διὰ σημείων scripseram. De C. Tuditano enim quaerebam, quem ex Hortensio audieram fuisse in decem. Eum video in Libonis praetorem P. Popilio, P. Rupilio coss. Annis XIIII ante, quam praetor factus est, legatus esse potuisset, nisi admodum sero quaestor esset factus? quod non arbitror. Video

175

XXXII CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

Tusculum, May 29, B.C. 45

As I have received two letters from you to-day, I did not think it right that you should content yourself with only one of mine. Pray do as you say about Faberius. For on that depends entirely what I am thinking of. And, if that idea had never occurred to me, believe me I should not bother about that any more than anything else. So continue your energy—for you cannot add to it—and push on and finish the matter.

Please send me Dicaearchus' two books About the Soul and the Descent. I can't find the Mixed Constitution^[148] and the letter he sent to Aristoxenus. I should much like to have those three books now; they would bear on what I am planning. Torquatus^[149] is in Rome. I have sent orders for it to be given to you. Catulus and Lucullus I believe you have already. I have added new prefaces to the books, in which each of them is mentioned with honour. Those compositions I should like you to have, and there are some others too. What I said about the ten legates, you did not fully understand, I suppose because I wrote it in shorthand.^[150] I was asking about C. Tuditanus, who Hortensius told me was one of them. I see in Libo that he was praetor in the consulship of P. Popilius and P. Rupilius. Could he have been legate fourteen years before he was praetor, unless he was very late in getting the quaestorship? I don't think that was the case; for

176enim curules magistratus eum legitimis annis perfacile cepisse. Postumium autem, cuius statuam in Isthmo meminisse te dicis, nesciebam fuisse. Is autem est, qui cos. cum L. Lucullo fuit; quem tu mihi addidisti sane ad illum σύλλογον personam idoneam. Videbis igitur, si poteris, ceteros, ut possimus πομπεῦσαι καὶ τοῖς προσώποις.

XXXIII CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Scr. in Tusculano III Non. Iun. a. 709

O neglegentiam miram! Semelne putas mihi dixisse Balbum et Faberium professionem relatam? qui etiam eorum iussu miserim, qui profiteretur. Ita enim oportere dicebant. Professus est Philotimus libertus. Nosti, credo, librarium. Sed scribes et quidem confectum. Ad Faberium, ut tibi placet, litteras misi, cum Balbo autem puto te aliquid fecisse hodie^[151] in Capitolio. In Vergilio mihi nulla est δυσωπία. Nec enim eius causa sane debeo, et, si emero, quid erit, quod postulet? Sed videbis, ne is tum sit in Africa ut Caelius.

De nomine tu videbis cum Cispio; sed, si Plancus destinat, tum habet res difficultatem. Te ad me venire uterque nostrum cupit; sed ista res nullo modo relinquenda est. Othonem quod speras posse

177I see he won the curule offices quite easily in the proper years. But I did not know that Postumius, whose statue you say you remember in the Isthmus, was one of them. He was the man who was consul with L. Lucullus; and it is a very suitable person you have added to my conference. So please look up the others too, if you can, that I may make a show with my dramatis personæ, as well as my subject.

XXXIII CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

Tusculum, June 3, B.C. 45

What extraordinary carelessness! Do you think it was only once that I have been told by Balbus and Faberius that the return^[152] had been made? Why it was at their suggestion that I sent a man to make it, for they said I ought to do so. It was my freedman Philotimus who made the return; you know him, I think, a copyist. But you must write and let me know it is finished. I have sent a letter as you advise to Faberius. With Balbus I think you have made some arrangement in the Capitol to-day. About Vergilius I have no scruples; for there is no reason why I should have in his case; and, if I buy, what claim will he have? But see that he may not be in Africa then like Caelius.^[153]

The debt you must look into with Cispius; but, if Plancus intends to bid, there will be difficulties. That you should come to me would suit us both, but that business cannot possibly be thrown up. It is

178vinci, sane bene narras. De aestimatione, ut scribis, cum agere coeperimus; etsi nihil scripsit nisi de modo agri. Cum Pisone, si quid poterit. Dicaearchi librum accepi et καταβάσεως exspecto.

... negotium dederis, reperiet ex eo libro, in quo sunt senatus consulta Cn. Cornelio, L. Mummio coss. De Tuditano autem quod putas, εὔλογον est tum illum, quoniam fuit ad Corinthum (non enim temere dixit Hortensius), aut quaestorem aut tribunum mil. fuisse, idque potius credo. Tu de^[154] Antiocho scire poteris videlicet^[155] etiam, quo anno quaestor aut tribunus mil. fuerit; si neutrum, saltem,^[156] in praefectis an in contubernalibus fuerit, modo fuerit in eo bello.