CICERO'S LETTERS TO ATTICUS BOOK XV (continued 2)
Eric Otto Winstedt translation
I have arranged my journeys so that I shall be at Puteoli on the 7th of July; for, though I am in a great hurry, I mean to take every care humanly possible in my voyage. Please relieve M. Aelius of his anxiety. Tell him I thought that on a few feet at the far end of the land there might be some sort of claims, and those only underground. Also that I have not the slightest desire for it, and that I don't value water at that price.[292] But, as you suggested, do it as mildly as possible, rather to relieve him of anxiety than to suggest that I am in the least annoyed. Again, about that debt of Tullius: speak to Cascellius frankly. It is a small matter, but I am glad you attended to it. There was too much trickery about it: and, if he had cheated me at all, which he very nearly did if you had not been too sharp for him, I should have been very much annoyed. So, whatever happens, I would rather the matter were broken off. Remember that an eighth share of the houses of Tullius near the temple of Strenia is due to Caerellia, and see that it is conveyed to her at the highest price bid at the auction. I think that was some 3,000 guineas.[293]
If there is any news, and, even if you foresee anything you think likely to happen, I should like you to write to me as often as possible. To Varro
362Velim Varroni, quem ad modum tibi mandavi, memineris excusare tarditatem litterarum mearum. Mundus iste cum M. Ennio quid egerit de testamento (curiosus enim), facias me velim certiorem. Ex Arpinati VI Non.
XXVII CICERO ATTICO SAL.
Scr. in Arpinati V Non. Quint. a. 710
Gaudeo id te mihi suadere, quod ego mea sponte pridie feceram. Nam, cum ad te VI Nonas darem, eidem tabellario dedi etiam ad Sestium scriptas πάνυ φιλοστόργως. Ille autem, quod Puteolos persequitur, humane, quod queritur, iniuste. Non enim ego tam illum expectare, dum de Cosano rediret, debui, quam ille aut non ire, antequam me vidisset, aut citius reverti. Sciebat enim me celeriter velle proficisci seseque ad me in Tusculanum scripserat esse venturum. Te, ut a me discesseris, lacrimasse moleste ferebam. Quod si me praesente fecisses, consilium totius itineris fortasse mutassem. Sed illud praeclare, quod te consolata est spes brevi tempore congrediendi; quae quidem exspectatio me maxime sustentat. Meae tibi litterae non derunt. De Bruto scribam ad te omnia. Librum tibi celeriter mittam "de gloria." Excudam aliquid Ἡρακλείδειον, quod lateat in thesauris tuis. De Planco memini. Attica iure queritur. Quod me de Bacchi,[294] de statuarum coronis certiorem fecisti, valde gratum; nec quicquam posthac non modo tantum, sed ne tantulum quidem praeterieris.
363remember to plead my excuses for my slowness in writing, as I told you. What your friend Mundus has done with M. Ennius about the will, please let me know, for I am inquisitive. Arpinum, July 2.
XXVII CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
Arpinum, July 3, B.C. 44
I am glad you recommend me to do what I did of my own accord yesterday. For to the same messenger, to whom I gave the letter I sent you on the 2nd, I also gave another for Sestius, written in very friendly terms. It is very good of him to follow me to Puteoli, but he has no grounds for his complaint. For it was not my business to wait for his return from Cosa, so much as it was his not to go until he had seen me, or to return more quickly. He knew I wanted to start in a hurry, and he told me he would come to me at Tusculum. I am grieved that you wept when you left me. If you had done so in my presence, I might have changed all my plans about going. But there is one good thing, that you were consoled by the thought of meeting me again soon; and that, indeed, is the hope that buoys me up. I will not stint you of letters, and will give you full news about Brutus. I will send you my book On Glory soon. I will hammer out something in the style of Heracleides to be stored up in your treasure-house. I remember about Plancus. Attica has good reason for grumbling. I am much obliged to you for telling me about the garlands for Bacchus and the statues. Please don't omit any detail of the same importance, or even of the smallest importance in the future. I
364Et de Herode et Mettio meminero et de omnibus, quae te velle suspicabor modo. O turpem sororis tuae filium! Cum haec scriberem, adventabat αὐτῇ βουλύσει cenantibus nobis.
XXVIII CICERO ATTICO SAL.
Scr. in Arpinati V Non. Quint. a. 710
Ego, ut ad te pridie scripseram, Nonis constitueram venire in Puteolanum. Ibi igitur cotidie tuas litteras exspectabo et maxime de ludis; de quibus etiam ad Brutum tibi scribendum est. Cuius epistulae, quam interpretari ipse vix poteram, exemplum pridie tibi miseram. Atticae meae velim me ita excuses, ut omnem culpam in te transferas, et ei tamen confirmes me immutatum amorem meum mecum abstulisse.
XXIX CICERO ATTICO SAL.
Scr. in Formiano III Non. Quint. a. 710
Bruti ad te epistulam misi. Di boni, quanta ἀμηχανία! Cognosces, cum legeris. De celebratione ludorum Bruti tibi adsentior. Ad M. Aelium nullus tu quidem domum, sed sicubi inciderit. De Tulliano semisse M. Axianum adhibebis, ut scribis. Quod cum Cosiano egisti, optime. Quod non solum mea, verum etiam tua eadem expedis, gratum. Legationem probari meam gaudeo. Quod promittis, di faxint! Quid enim mihi meis iucundius? Sed istam, quam tu
365won't forget about Herodes or Mettius, or anything that I have the least suspicion you would like. What disgraceful conduct of your sister's son! Here he is coming as the shades of night are falling, just as I am writing this at the dinner-table.
XXVIII CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
Arpinum, July 3, B.C. 44
As I told you in my letter yesterday, I have arranged to be at Puteoli on the 7th. So I shall look for a daily letter from you there, especially about the games. You ought to write to Brutus too about them. I sent you a copy yesterday of a letter of his, of which I can hardly make anything myself. Please make my excuses to Attica by taking the blame on yourself and assuring her that I depart with undiminished affection for her.
XXIX CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
Formiae, July 5, B.C. 44
I am sending you Brutus' letter. Heavens, what a helpless condition he is in! You will understand when you have read it. I agree about the celebration of his games. Don't go to Aelius' house on any account, but speak to him if you happen to meet him. Take M. Axianus' advice about the half of Tullius' debt, as you suggest. What you have done with Cosianus is excellent. Thanks for clearing up my affairs and your own at the same time. I am glad you approve of my appointment. God grant your promises come true. For what could suit me and mine better? But I am afraid of the proviso
366excipis, metuo. Brutum cum convenero, perscribam omnia. De Planco et Decimo sane velim. Sextum scutum abicere nolebam. De Mundo, si quid scies. Rescripsi ad omnia tua; nunc nostra accipe.
Quintus filius usque Puteolos (mirus civis, ut tu Favonium Asinium dicas) et quidem duas ob causas, et ut mecum et σπείσασθαι vult cum Bruto et Cassio. Sed tu quid ais? Scio enim te familiarem esse Othonum. Ait hic sibi Iuliam ferre; constitutum enim esse discidium. Quaesivit ex me pater, qualis esset fama. Dixi nihil sane me audisse (nesciebam enim, cur quaereret) nisi de ore et patre. "Sed quorsus?" inquam. At ille filium velle. Tum ego, etsi ἐβδελυττόμην, tamen negavi putare me illa esse vera. Σκοπὸς est enim huic nostro nihil praebere, illa autem οὐ παρὰ τοῦτον. Ego tamen suspicor hunc, ut solet, alucinari. Sed velim quaeras (facile autem potes) et me certiorem.
Obsecro te, quid est hoc? Signata iam epistula Formiani, qui apud me cenabant, Plancum se aiebant hunc Buthrotium pridie, quam hoc scribebam, id est III Non., vidisse demissum, sine phaleris; servulos autem dicere eum et agripetas eiectos a Buthrotiis. Macte! Sed, amabo te, perscribe mihi totum negotium.
367you make about Attica's ill-health. When I meet Brutus I will tell you all about him. I hope you are right about Plancus and Decimus. I am sorry if Sextus is throwing down his shield. Give me news of Mundus if you have any. I have answered all your points: now for my own news.
Young Quintus is coming with me as far as Puteoli—what a noble citizen! you might call him a Favonius Asinius.[295] He has two reasons: he wants to be with me and to make peace with Brutus and Cassius. But what have you to say to this? For I know you are intimate with the Othones. He says that Julia proposed it herself, for a divorce has been arranged. His father has asked me what sort of reputation she has. Not knowing why he asked, I said I had never heard anything about her except about her looks and her father. "But why?" I asked: and he said his son wanted her. Then, though I was disgusted, I said I did not believe in those reports. My brother's point is not to offer him any allowance, but she says it is no business of his. I suspect, however, he is indulging in fairy tales as usual. Still I should like you to make enquiries, which will be no trouble to you, and let me know.
What, pray, is this? When I had already sealed this letter, some Formians, who were dining with me, said they had seen Plancus[296]—the one from Buthrotus—the day before I wrote this, that is, on the 5th, with downcast mien and unapparelled steed;[297] and that his boys said he and the land-grabbers had been ejected by the Buthrotians. Well done they! But pray let me know all the circumstances.
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