376Oppio quidem utique, quem tibi amicissimum cognovi. Verum, ut voles.
Tu, quoniam scribis hiematurum te in Epiro, feceris mihi gratum, si ante eo veneris, quam mihi in Italiam te auctore veniendum est. Litteras ad me quam saepissime; si de rebus minus necessariis, aliquem nanctus; sin autem erit quid maius, domo mittito.
Ἡρακλείδειον, si Brundisium salvi, adoriemur. "De gloria" misi tibi. Custodies igitur, ut soles, sed notentur eclogarii, quos Salvius bonos auditores nactus in convivio dumtaxat legat. Mihi valde placent, mallem tibi. Etiam atque etiam vale.
Tu vero sapienter (nunc demum enim rescribo iis litteris, quas mihi misisti convento Antonio Tiburi) sapienter igitur, quod manus dedisti, quodque etiam ultro gratias egisti. Certe enim, ut scribis, deseremur ocius a re publica quam a re familiari. Quod vero scribis te cotidie magis delectare "O Tite, si quid," auges mihi scribendi alacritatem. Quod Erotem non sine munusculo exspectare te dicis, gaudeo non fefellisse eam rem opinionem tuam; sed tamen idem σύνταγμα misi ad te retractatius, et quidem ἀρχέτυπον ipsum crebris locis inculcatum et refectum. Hunc tu tralatum in macrocollum lege arcano convivis tuis,
may appear superfluous to them—to Oppius at any rate, as I know he is a great admirer of yours. But just as you please.
As you say you are going to spend the winter in Epirus, I shall take it kindly if you will come before the time at which you advise me to return to Italy. Send me letters as often as possible; if on matters of little importance, by any messenger you can find; but if on important affairs, send some one of your own.
I will attempt a work in Heracleides' style, if I get safe to Brundisium. I am sending you my De Gloria. Please keep it as usual, but have select passages marked for Salvius to read when he has an appropriate party to dinner. I am very pleased with them, and I hope you will be too. Farewell, and yet again farewell.
At last I am answering the letter you sent me after meeting Antony at Tibur. Well, then, you were wise in giving in and even going so far as to thank him. For certainly, as you say, we shall be robbed of our constitution before we are robbed of our private property. So you take more and more delight in my treatise on Old Age daily. That increases my energy in writing. You say you expect Eros not to come to you empty-handed. I am glad you have not been disappointed in the event; but at the same time I am sending you the same composition more carefully revised, indeed the original copy, with plenty of additions between the lines and corrections. Have it copied on large paper and read it privately to your guests; but, if you love me, do it
378sed, si me amas, hilaris et bene acceptis, ne in me stomachum erumpant, cum sint tibi irati.
De Cicerone velim ita sit, ut audimus. De Xenone coram cognoscam; quamquam nihil ab eo arbitror neque indiligenter neque inliberaliter. De Herode faciam, ut mandas, et ea, quae scribis, ex Saufeio et e Xenone cognoscam. De Quinto filio gaudeo tibi meas litteras prius a tabellario meo quam ab ipso redditas; quamquam te nihil fefellisset. Verum tamen —. Sed exspecto, quid ille tecum, quid tu vicissim, nec dubito, quin suo more uterque. Sed eas litteras Curium mihi spero redditurum. Qui quidem etsi per se est amabilis a meque diligitur, tamen accedet magnus cumulus commendationis tuae.
Litteris tuis satis responsum est; nunc audi, quod, etsi intellego scribi necesse non esse, scribo tamen. Multa me movent in discessu, in primis mehercule quod diiungor a te. Movet etiam navigationis labor alienus non ab aetate solum nostra, verum etiam a dignitate tempusque discessus subabsurdum. Relinquimus enim pacem, ut ad bellum revertamur, quodque temporis in praediolis nostris et belle aedificatis et satis amoenis consumi potuit, in peregrinatione consumimus. Consolantur haec: aut proderimus aliquid Ciceroni, aut quantum profici possit, iudicabimus. Deinde tu iam, ut spero, et ut promittis, aderis. Quod quidem si acciderit, omnia nobis erunt meliora. Maxime autem me angit ratio reliquorum meorum. Quae quamquam explicata
when they are in a good temper and have had a good dinner, for I don't want them to vent on me the anger they feel towards you.
In my son's case I hope things may be as we hear. About Xeno I shall know when I see him, though I don't suppose he is neglecting his duty or acting meanly. I will do as you say about Herodes, and will find out what you mention from Saufeius and Xeno. As for young Quintus, I am glad my letter was delivered by my messenger sooner than the one he took himself, though you would not have been taken in anyhow. However—but I am anxious to hear what he said to you and what you answered, though I have no doubt you both behaved characteristically. I hope Curius will deliver that letter to me. Though he is pleasant enough and I like him myself, still your recommendation will add the crowning grace.
I have answered your letter sufficiently; now hear what I am going to say, though I know there is no necessity for me to say it. In regard to my journey I am distressed about many things, the chief being that I am separated from you. Then again there is the fatigue of the voyage, a thing unsuitable not only to my age but to my rank too, and the time of my departure is rather ridiculous. For I am leaving peace to return to war, and wasting in travelling time that might be spent in my country houses, which are comfortably built and pleasantly situated. My consolations are these. I shall either benefit my son or see how much he can be benefited. Then again, as I hope and as you promise, you will soon be coming too; and if that happens it will make me far happier. But the thing that worries me most is the arranging of my balances; for, though things
380sunt, tamen, quod et Dolabellae nomen in iis est et in attributione mihi nomina ignota, conturbor, nec me ulla res magis angit ex omnibus. Itaque non mihi videor errasse, quod ad Balbum scripsi apertius, ut, si quid tale accidisset, ut non concurrerent nomina, subveniret, meque tibi etiam mandasse, ut, si quid eius modi accidisset, cum eo communicares. Quod facies, si tibi videbitur, eoque magis, si proficisceris in Epirum.
Haec ego conscendens e Pompeiano tribus actuariolis decemscalmis. Brutus erat in Neside etiam nunc, Neapoli Cassius. Ecquid amas Deiotarum et non amas Hieram? Qui, ut Blesamius venit ad me, cum ei praescriptum esset, ne quid sine Sexti nostri sententia ageret, neque ad illum neque ad quemquam nostrum rettulit. Atticam nostram cupio absentem suaviari. Ita mi dulcis salus visa est per te missa ab illa. Referes igitur ei plurimam itemque Piliae dicas velim.
Ita ut heri tibi narravi vel fortasse hodie (Quintus enim altero die se aiebat), in Nesida VIII Idus. Ibi Brutus. Quam ille doluit de NONIS IULIIS! mirifice est conturbatus. Itaque sese scripturum aiebat, ut venationem eam, quae postridie ludos Apollinares futura est, proscriberent in III IDUS QUINCTILES. Libo
have been put straight, I am anxious when I see Dolabella's name among them, and drafts on people that I do not know among my assets: and that makes me more uneasy than anything else. So I don't think I was wrong in applying to Balbus quite openly to assist me, if such a thing should happen as my debts not coming in properly, and telling him that I had commissioned you to communicate with him in any such event. Do so, if you think fit, especially if you are starting for Epirus.
This I have written just as I was embarking from Pompeii with three ten-oared pinnaces. Brutus is still in Nesis, Cassius at Naples. Can you like Deiotarus and not like Hieras?[308] When Blesamius came to me Hieras was commissioned not to do anything without Sextus Peducaeus' advice, but he never consulted him or any of our friends. I should like to kiss Attica, far off as she is: I was so pleased with the good wishes she sent me through you. So please give her my best thanks, and the same to Pilia.
308. Hieras and Blesamius were agents of Deiotarus in bribing Antony to restore Armenia to him, and apparently were now disowned by him after he had succeeded in getting it back.
As I told you yesterday or perhaps to-day—for Quintus said he would take two days going—I went to Nesis on the 8th: and there was Brutus. How annoyed he was about the "7th of July."[309] It quite upset him. So he said he would send orders for them to advertise the beast-hunt, which is to take place on the day after the games to Apollo, as on the "13th of Quinctilis." Libo came in, and he
309. Cf. Att. XVI. 1.
382intervenit. Is Philonem, Pompei libertum, et Hilarum, suum libertum, venisse a Sexto cum litteris ad consules, "sive quo alio nomine sunt." Earum exemplum nobis legit, si quid videretur. Pauca παρὰ λέξιν, ceteroqui et satis graviter et non contumaciter. Tantum addi placuit, quod erat "COSS." solum, ut esset "PRAETT., TRIBB. PL., SENATVI," ne illi non proferrent eas, quae ad ipsos missae essent. Sextum autem nuntiant cum una solum legione fuisse Karthagine, eique eo ipso die, quo oppidum Baream cepisset, nuntiatum esse de Caesare, capto oppido miram laetitiam commutationemque animorum concursumque undique; sed illum ad sex legiones, quas in ulteriore reliquisset, revertisse. Ad ipsum autem Libonem scripsit nihil esse, nisi ad larem suum liceret. Summa postulatorum, ut omnes exercitus dimittantur, qui ubique sint. Haec fere de Sexto.
De Buthrotiis undique quaerens nihil reperiebam. Alii concisos agripetas, alii Plancum acceptis nummis relictis illis aufugisse. Itaque non video sciturum me, quid eius sit, ni statim aliquid litterarum.
Iter illud Brundisium, de quo dubitabam, sublatum videtur. Legiones enim adventare dicuntur. Haec autem navigatio habet quasdam suspiciones periculi. Itaque constituebam uti ὁμοπλοίᾳ. Paratiorem enim offendi Brutum, quam audiebam. Nam et ipse et Domitius bona plane habet dicrota, suntque navigia praeterea luculenta Sesti, Buciliani, ceterorum.
told us that Philo, a freedman of Pompey, and Hilarus, one of his own, had come from Sextus with a letter for the consuls, "or whatever they call them." He read us a copy to see what we thought of it. There were a few odd expressions, but in other respects it was sufficiently dignified and not aggressive. We only thought it better to make an addition of "Praetors, Tribunes of the People, and Senate" to the simple address to the "Consuls," for fear they should not publish a letter sent to them. They say that Sextus has been at Carthage with only one legion, and that he received the news about Caesar on the very day that he took the town of Barea. After the capture there were great rejoicings and a change of sentiment, and people flocked to him from every side, but he returned to the six legions he had left in lower Spain. He has written to Libo himself saying it is all nothing to him if he cannot get home. The upshot of his demands is, that all the armies everywhere should be disbanded. That is all about Sextus.
I have been making enquiries in every direction about the Buthrotians, and discover nothing. Some say the land-grabbers were cut to pieces, others that Plancus pocketed the money and fled, leaving them in the lurch. So I don't see how I can find out what there is in it, unless I get a letter at once.
The route to Brundisium, about which I was hesitating, seems to be out of the question. They say the troops are arriving there. But the voyage from here has some suspicion of danger, so I have made up my mind to sail in company with Brutus. I found him better prepared than I had heard he was. For both he and Domitius have quite good two-banked galleys, and there are also some good ships belonging
384Nam Cassi classem, quae plane bella est, non numero ultra fretum. Illud est mihi submolestum, quod parum Brutus properare videtur. Primum confectorum ludorum nuntios exspectat; deinde, quantum intellego, tarde est navigaturus consistens in locis pluribus. Tamen arbitror esse commodius tarde navigare quam omnino non navigare; et, si, cum processerimus, exploratiora videbuntur, etesiis utemur.
Tuas iam litteras Brutus exspectabat. Cui quidem ego non novum attuleram de Tereo Acci. Ille Brutum putabat. Sed tamen rumoris nescio quid adflaverat commissione Graecorum frequentiam non fuisse; quod quidem me minime fefellit; scis enim, quid ego de Graecis ludis existimem.
Nunc audi, quod pluris est quam omnia. Quintus fuit mecum dies complures, et, si ego cuperem, ille vel plures fuisset; sed, quam diu fuit, incredibile est, quam me in omni genere delectarit, in eoque maxime, in quo minime satis faciebat. Sic enim commutatus est totus et scriptis meis quibusdam, quae in manibus habebam, et adsiduitate orationis et praeceptis, ut tali animo in rem publicam, quali nos volumus, futurus sit. Hoc cum mihi non modo confirmasset, sed
to Sestus, Bucilianus, and others. For I don't count on Cassius' fleet, which is quite a fine one, beyond the straits of Sicily. There is one point that annoys me a little, Brutus seems in no hurry. First he is waiting for news of the completion of his games; then, so far as I can understand, he is going to sail slowly, stopping at several places. Still I think it will be better to sail slowly than not to sail at all; and if, when we have got some distance, things seem clearer, we shall take advantage of the Etesian winds.
Brutus is expecting a letter from you. The news I brought him about Accius' Tereus was no news. He thought it was the Brutus.[310] There had, however, been some breath of rumour that at the opening of the Greek games the audience was small, at which, indeed, I was not at all surprised; for you know what I think of Greek games.
310. Cf. Att. XVI. 2. Not being present Brutus had supposed it was the play called Brutus, whereas it was the Tereus.
Now hear the most important point of all. Quintus has been with me several days, and, if I had desired, he would have stayed longer; but, so far as his visit went, you would not believe how pleased I was with him in every way, and especially in that in which I used most to disapprove of him. For he is so totally changed, partly by some works of mine, which I have in hand, and partly by my continual advice and exhortation, that he will in the future be as loyal as we could wish to the constitution. After he had not only asseverated this, but convinced me
386etiam persuasisset, egit mecum accurate multis verbis, tibi ut sponderem se dignum et te et nobis futurum; neque se postulare, ut statim crederes, sed, cum ipse perspexisses, tum ut se amares. Quodnisi fidem mihi fecisset, iudicassemque hoc, quod dico, firmum fore, non fecissem id, quod dicturus sum. Duxi enim mecum adulescentem ad Brutum. Sic ei probatum est, quod ad te scribo, ut ipse crediderit, me sponsorem accipere noluerit, eumque laudans amicissime mentionem tui fecerit, complexus osculatusque dimiserit. Quam ob rem, etsi magis est, quod gratuler tibi, quam quod te rogem, tamen etiam rogo, ut, si quae minus antea propter infirmitatem aetatis constanter ab eo fieri videbantur, ea iudices illum abiecisse, mihique credas multum allaturam, vel plurimum potius, ad illius iudicium confirmandum auctoritatem tuam.
Bruto cum saepe iniecissem de ὁμοπλοίᾳ, non perinde, atque ego putaram, arripere visus est. Existimabam μετεωρότερον esse, et hercule erat et maxime de ludis. At mihi, cum ad villam redissem, Cn. Lucceius, qui multum utitur Bruto, narravit illum valde morari, non tergiversantem, sed exspectantem, si qui forte casus. Itaque dubito, an Venusiam tendam et ibi exspectem de legionibus. Si aberunt, ut quidam arbitrantur, Hydruntem, si neutrum erit ἀσφαλές, eodem revertar. Iocari me putas? Moriar, si quisquam me tenet praeter te. Etenim circumspice, sed antequam erubesco. O dies in auspiciis Lepidi
of it, he was very pressing for me to go bail to you that he will come up to your and our expectations for the future; and he did not ask you to believe this at once, but that you should restore your affection to him, when you had seen it for yourself. If he had not convinced me of it, and I did not think that what I am saying is trustworthy, I should not have done what I am going to tell you. I took the young man with me to Brutus, and he was so convinced of what I mention that he believed it on his own account, refusing to hold me sponsor for Quintus. He praised him and mentioned you in the most friendly way, and dismissed him with an embrace and a kiss. So, although there is more reason for congratulating you than asking favours of you, still I do ask you, if you have regarded his actions up to now as showing some of the flightiness of youth, to believe that he has got rid of that, and to trust me that your influence will contribute much, or rather everything, towards making his decision permanent.
I have frequently thrown out a hint to Brutus about sailing with him, but he does not seem to jump at it as I thought he would. He seemed to me rather distrait, and indeed he was, especially about the games. But when I got back home, Lucceius, who is very intimate with him, said he was hesitating a good deal, not because he has changed his mind, but in the hope that something may turn up. So I am wondering whether to make for Venusia and there await news of the troops. If they are not there, as some think, I shall go to Hydrus; if neither road is safe, I will come back here. Do you think I am joking? Upon my life you are the only person who keeps me here. Just look round you, but do it before I blush.[311] Lepidus' choice of his day
311. Possibly there is some corruption in the text here, as the remark seems senseless.
388lepide descriptos et apte ad consilium reditus nostri! Magna ῥοπὴ ad proficiscendum in tuis litteris. Atque utinam te illic! Sed ut conducere putabis.
Nepotis epistulam exspecto. Cupidus ille meorum? qui ea, quibus maxime γαυριῶ, legenda non putet. Et ais "μετ' ἀμύμονα"! Tu vero "ἀμύμων," ille quidem "ἄμβροτος." Mearum epistularum nulla est συναγωγή; sed habet Tiro instar septuaginta; et quidem sunt a te quaedam sumendae. Eas ego oportet perspiciam, corrigam. Tum denique edentur.
Ego adhuc (perveni enim Vibonem ad Siccam) magis commode quam strenue navigavi; remis enim magnam partem, prodromi nulli. Illud satis opportune, duo sinus fuerunt, quos tramitti oporteret, Paestanus et Vibonensis. Utrumque pedibus aequis tramisimus. Veni igitur ad Siccam octavo die e Pompeiano, cum unum diem Veliae constitissem. Ubi quidem fui sane libenter apud Talnam nostrum, nec potui accipi, illo absente praesertim, liberalius. VIIII Kal. igitur ad Siccam. Ibi tamquam domi meae scilicet. Itaque obduxi posterum diem. Sed putabam,
of inauguration is as happy as his name, and fits excellently with my plan for returning. Your letter supplies a strong incentive for going. I only wish you were there: but that must be as you think best for yourself.
I am expecting a letter from Nepos. Does he really want my books, when he thinks the subjects I am keenest on not worth reading. You call him an Achilles to your Ajax.[312] No, you are the Achilles and he is one of the immortals. There is no collection of my letters, but Tiro has about seventy, and some can be got from you. Those I ought to see and correct, and then they may be published.
312. Cf. Odyssey XI. 169, where Ajax is said to rank next after "the blameless son of Peleus" (μετ' ἀμύμονα Πηλείωνα).
I have got as far as Sicca's house at Vibo, and at present I have taken it easy and not exerted myself. We have rowed most of the way, as there have been none of the usual north winds.[313] That was rather lucky, as there were two bays to cross, that of Paestum and that of Vibo. We crossed both with the wind behind us.[314] So I got to Sicca's place eight days after leaving Pompeii, having stopped one day at Velia. There I stayed at Talna's house very enjoyably, and I could not have been more liberally entertained, especially as he was away. So I got to Sicca on the 24th, and here I am quite at home. So I have stayed a day longer than I meant. But I think, when I get to
313. North-north-east winds, called "fore-runners," because they usually prevailed for eight days before the rising of the Dog-star.
314. The pedes were ropes attached to the sail to set it to the wind. Both would be let out to an equal length when sailing before the wind.
390cum Regium venissem, fore ut illic "δολιχὸν πλόον ὁρμαίνοντες" cogitaremus, corbitane Patras an actuariolis ad Leucopetras Tarentinorum atque inde Corcyram, et, si oneraria, statimne freto an Syracusis. Hac super re scribam ad te Regio.
Mehercule, mi Attice, saepe mecum:
Cur ego tecum non sum? cur ocellos Italiae, villulas meas, non video? Sed id satis superque, tecum me non esse, quid fugientem? periculumne? At id nunc quidem, nisi fallor, nullum est. Ad ipsum enim revocat me auctoritas tua; scribis enim in caelum ferri profectionem meam, sed ita, si ante K. Ianuar. redeam; quod quidem certe enitar. Malo enim vel cum timore domi esse quam sine timore Athenis tuis. Sed tamen perspice, quo ista vergant, mihique aut scribe, aut, quod multo malim, adfer ipse. Haec hactenus.
Illud velim in bonam partem accipias me agere tecum, quod tibi maiori curae sciam esse quam ipsi mihi. Nomina mea, per deos, expedi, exsolve. Bella reliqua reliqui; sed opus est diligentia, coheredibus pro Cluviano Kal. Sextil. persolutum ut sit. Cum Publilio quo modo agendum sit, videbis. Non debet urgere, quoniam iure non utimur. Sed tamen ei quoque satis fieri plane volo. Terentiae vero quid ego dicam? Etiam ante diem, si potes. Quin, si, ut spero, celeriter in Epirum, hoc, quod satisdato debeo,
Regium, there, being "on a far voyage bent," I shall have to consider whether to proceed by a merchant vessel to Patrae or by packet-boats to Tarentine Leucopetra, and thence to Corcyra; and, if by a merchant ship, whether direct from the Sicilian strait or from Syracuse. On this point I will write to you from Regium.
Upon my word, Atticus, I often say to myself: "Why, what avails thee all thy journey here?"[315] Why am not I with you? Why may I not see my country houses, the jewels of Italy? But that alone is enough and more than enough, that I am not with you. And what am I fleeing from? Danger? Nay, unless I am mistaken, there is no danger now. For it is precisely at the hour of danger that you bid me come back. For you say my departure is praised to the skies, provided I return by the end of the year; and that I will certainly strive to do. For I had rather be at home in fear and trembling, than in your loved Athens without a fear. However, keep your eye on the trend of events, and write to me, or what I should much prefer, bring the news yourself. Enough of this.
315. A verse from an unknown author, quoted in a fuller form in Att. XV. 11.
Please take my next request in good part. I know you devote more care to it than I do myself. For mercy's sake keep my accounts clear and pay my debts. I have left a handsome balance; but it requires care to see to the payment of my fellow-heirs for the Cluvian property on the 1st of August. You will see how to manage about Publilius. He ought not to be pressing, as I am not insisting upon my legal rights. Still I should much like him also to be satisfied. As to Terentia, what am I to say? Pay her even before the proper date, if you can. But if, as I hope, you are coming soon to Epirus, pray make
392peto a te ut ante provideas planeque expedias et solutum relinquas. Sed de his satis, metuoque, ne tu nimium putes.
Nunc neglegentiam meam cognosce. "De gloria" librum ad te misi. At in eo prohoemium idem est quod in Academico tertio. Id evenit ob eam rem, quod habeo volumen prohoemiorum. Ex eo eligere soleo, cum aliquod σύγγραμμα institui. Itaque iam in Tusculano, qui non meminissem me abusum isto prohoemio, conieci id in eum librum, quem tibi misi. Cum autem in navi legerem Academicos, adgnovi erratum meum. Itaque statim novum prohoemium exaravi et tibi misi. Tu illud desecabis, hoc adglutinabis. Piliae salutem dices et Atticae, deliciis atque amoribus meis.
VIII Idus Sextil. cum a Leucopetra profectus (inde enim tramittebam) stadia circiter CCC processissem, reiectus sum austro vehementi ad eandem Leucopetram. Ibi cum ventum exspectarem (erat enim villa Valeri nostri, ut familiariter essem et libenter), Regini quidam illustres homines eo venerunt Roma sane recentes, in iis Bruti nostri hospes, qui Brutum Neapoli reliquisset. Haec adferebant, edictum Bruti et Cassi, et fore frequentem senatum Kalendis, a Bruto et Cassio litteras missas ad consulares et praetorios,
arrangements first for any bills I have put my name to, and put affairs straight and leave them paid. But of this enough, and I fear you may think too much.
Now I must confess my carelessness. I sent you the work On Glory. But the preface to it is the same as that to the third book of the Academics. That is due to my having a volume of prefaces, from which I select one when I have begun a composition. So, when I was at Tusculum, forgetting I had used that preface, I put it into the book I sent you. But when I was reading the Academics on the boat I noticed my mistake. So I dashed off a new preface at once, and have sent it to you. Please cut the other off and glue this on. Pay my respects to Pilia and to my pet and darling Attica.
When I had started from Leucopetra—for that was where I began my crossing—on the sixth of August and gone some forty miles, I was driven back to Leucopetra again by a strong south wind. While I was waiting there for the wind—our friend Valerius has a house there, so I was at home and enjoying myself—there came some men of mark of Regium, fresh from Rome, among them a guest of our friend Brutus, who said he had left Brutus at Naples. They brought an edict of Brutus and Cassius and news that there would be a full meeting of the House on the first of the month and that a letter had been sent by Brutus and Cassius to the ex-consuls
394ut adessent, rogare. Summam spem nuntiabant fore ut Antonius cederet, res conveniret, nostri Romam redirent. Addebant etiam me desiderari, subaccusari.
Quae cum audissem, sine ulla dubitatione abieci consilium profectionis, quo mehercule ne antea quidem delectabar. Lectis vero tuis litteris admiratus equidem sum te tam vehementer sententiam commutasse, sed non sine causa arbitrabar. Etsi, quamvis non fueris suasor et impulsor profectionis meae, adprobator certe fuisti, dum modo Kal. Ian. Romae essem. Ita fiebat, ut, dum minus periculi videretur, abessem, in flammam ipsam venirem. Sed haec, etiamsi non prudenter, tamen ἀνεμέσητα sunt, primum quod de mea sententia acta sunt, deinde, etiamsi te auctore, quid debet, qui consilium dat, praestare praeter fidem? Illud admirari satis non potui, quod scripsisti his verbis: "Bene igitur tu, qui εὐθανασίαν, bene! relinque patriam." An ego relinquebam aut tibi tum relinquere videbar? Tu id non modo non inhibebas, verum etiam adprobabas. Graviora, quae restant. "Velim σχόλιον aliquod elimes ad me oportuisse te istuc facere." Itane, mi Attice? defensione eget meum factum, praesertim apud te, qui id mirabiliter adprobasti? Ego vero istum ἀπολογισμὸν συντάξομαι, sed ad eorum aliquem, quibus invitis et
and ex-praetors asking them to be present. They said there were great hopes that Antony might yield, some agreement be arrived at, and our friends allowed to return to Rome; and they added that I was missed and people were inclined to blame me.
When I heard that, I had no hesitation about giving up my idea of going away, which to be sure I had never fancied even before that: and when I read your letter, I was certainly surprised that you had so utterly changed your opinion; but there seemed to me to be good reason for it. However, though it was not you who persuaded and urged me to go, you certainly approved of my going, if I got back by the end of the year. That would have meant, that, when there was little danger, I should have been away, and should return when it was in full blaze. But that, although it was not a counsel of prudence, I have no right to resent, first because it happened by my own wish, and secondly, even if you had advised me, an adviser need not guarantee anything but his sincerity. What did astonish me beyond measure was that you should use the words: "A fine thing for you, who talk of a noble death, a fine thing, i' faith. Go, desert your country." Was I deserting it, or did you at the time think I was deserting it? You not only raised no finger against it, you even approved of it. The rest is even more severe: "I wish you would write me an explanatory note showing that it was your duty to do it?" So, my dear Atticus? Does my action need defending, especially to you, who expressed strong approval? Yes, I will write a defence, but for some of those who opposed my going and spoke against it.
396dissuadentibus profectus sum. Etsi quid iam opus est σχολίῳ? si perseverassem, opus fuisset. "At hoc ipsum non constanter." Nemo doctus umquam (multa autem de hoc genere scripta sunt) mutationem consilii inconstantiam dixit esse. Deinceps igitur haec: "Nam, si a Phaedro nostro esses, expedita excusatio esset; nunc quid respondemus?" Ergo id erat meum factum, quod Catoni probare non possem? flagitii scilicet plenum et dedecoris. Utinam a primo ita tibi esset visum! tu mihi, sicut esse soles, fuisses Cato. Extremum illud vel molestissimum: "Nam Brutus noster silet," hoc est: non audet hominem id aetatis monere. Aliud nihil habeo, quod ex iis a te verbis significari putem, et hercule ita est. Nam, XVI Kal. Sept. cum venissem Veliam, Brutus audivit; erat enim cum suis navibus apud Heletem fluvium citra Veliam mil. pass. III. Pedibus ad me statim. Dei immortales, quam valde ille reditu vel potius reversione mea laetatus effudit illa omnia, quae tacuerat! ut recordarer illud tuum "Nam Brutus noster silet." Maxime autem dolebat me Kal. Sext. in senatu non fuisse. Pisonem ferebat in caelum; se autem laetari, quod effugissem duas maximas vituperationes, unam, quam itinere faciendo me intellegebam suscipere, desperationis ac relictionis rei publicae (flentes mecum vulgo querebantur, quibus de meo celeri reditu non probabam), alteram, de qua Brutus, et qui una erant (multi autem erant), laetabantur,
Though what need is there of an explanatory note? If I had gone on, there would have been. "But coming back is not consistent." No philosopher ever called a change of plan inconsistency, though there has been a good deal written on the point. So you add: "If you were a follower of our friend Phaedrus,[316] one would have a defence ready: but, as it is, what answer can one give?" So my deed was one Cato would not approve of, was it? Of course then it was criminal and disgraceful. Would to heaven you had thought so at first; you should have been my Cato, as you usually are. Your last cut is the most unkind of all: "For our friend Brutus holds his peace," that is to say, he does not dare remonstrate with a man of my age. I see no other meaning that I can attach to your words, and no doubt that is it. For on the 17th, when I reached Velia, Brutus heard of it—he was with his boats on the river Heles about three miles from Velia; and he came at once on foot to see me. Great heavens, how he let out all his pent-up silence in joy at my return or rather my turning back. I could not help thinking of your "Our friend Brutus holds his peace." But what he regretted most was that I was not in the House on the first of August. Piso he lauded to the skies: and he expressed his delight that I had escaped two grounds for reproach. One of these was that of despairing and abandoning the country—and that I knew I might incur in undertaking the voyage; for many had complained to me with tears in their eyes, and I could not convince them of my speedy return. The other point that rejoiced Brutus and those who were with him—and there
316. An Epicurean philosopher at Athens; cf. Ad Fam. XIII. 1.
398quod eam vituperationem effugissem, me existimari ad Olympia. Hoc vero nihil turpius quovis rei publicae tempore, sed hoc ἀναπολόγητον. Ego vero austro gratias miras, qui me a tanta infamia averterit.
Reversionis has speciosas causas habes, iustas illas quidem et magnas; sed nulla iustior, quam quod tu idem aliis litteris: "Provide, si cui quid debetur, ut sit, unde par pari respondeatur. Mirifica enim δυσχρηστία est propter metum armorum." In freto medio hanc epistulam legi, ut, quid possem providere, in mentem mihi non veniret, nisi ut praesens me ipse defenderem. Sed haec hactenus; reliqua coram.
Antoni edictum legi a Bruto et horum contra scriptum praeclare; sed, quid ista edicta valeant aut quo spectent, plane non video. Nec ego nunc, ut Brutus censebat, istuc ad rem publicam capessendam venio. Quid enim fieri potest? Num quis Pisoni est adsensus? num rediit ipse postridie? Sed abesse hanc aetatem longe a sepulcro negant oportere.
Sed, obsecro te, quid est, quod audivi de Bruto? Piliam πειράζεσθαι παραλύσει te scripsisse aiebat Valde sum commotus. Etsi idem te scribere sperare melius. Ita plane velim, et ei dicas plurimam salutem et suavissimae Atticae. Haec scripsi navigans, cum prope Pompeianum accederem, XIIII Kal.
were a lot of them—was that I had escaped the reproach of being thought to be going to the Olympian games. Nothing could be more disgraceful than that in any political circumstances, but at the present time it would be inexcusable. I of course felt very grateful to the south wind, which had saved me from such infamy.
There you have the ostensible reasons for my return; and they are good and sufficient reasons too; but none of them is better than one you mention in your letter: "If you owe anything to anyone, take measures to provide yourself with the means to pay each his due. For the money market is wonderfully tight owing to fear of war." I was in the middle of the straits when I read this letter, and I could not think of any way of taking measures, unless I came to look after it myself. But enough of this; more when we meet.
I got a sight of Antony's edict from Brutus, and of our friends' magnificent answer; but I don't quite see the use or the object of these edicts. Nor have I come as Brutus thought, to take part in the management of affairs. For what can be done? Did anybody agree with Piso? Did he himself come back the next day? But, as the saying goes, a man of my time of life ought not to go far from his grave.
But for mercy's sake what is this that I hear from Brutus! He says you told him Pilia had had an attack of paralysis. I am very much disturbed about it, though he tells me you say you hope she is better. I sincerely hope she is; give her and darling Attica my best regards. This I have written on ship-board, as I was getting near to Pompeii, Aug. 19.
Cum sciam, quo die venturus sim, faciam, ut scias. Impedimenta exspectanda sunt, quae Anagnia veniunt, et familia aegra est. Kal. vesperi litterae mihi ab Octaviano. Magna molitur. Veteranos, qui sunt Casilini et Calatiae, perduxit ad suam sententiam. Nec mirum, quingenos denarios dat. Cogitat reliquas colonias obire. Plane hoc spectat, ut se duce bellum geratur cum Antonio. Itaque video paucis diebus nos in armis fore. Quem autem sequamur? Vide nomen, vide aetatem. Atque a me postulat, primum ut clam conloquatur mecum vel Capuae vel non longe a Capua. Puerile hoc quidem, si id putat clam fieri posse. Docui per litteras id nec opus esse nec fieri posse. Misit ad me Caecinam quendam Volaterranum familiarem suum; qui haec pertulit, Antonium cum legione Alaudarum ad urbem pergere, pecunias municipiis imperare, legionem sub signis ducere. Consultabat, utrum Romam cum CIↃ CIↃ CIↃ veteranorum proficisceretur an Capuam teneret et Antonium venientem excluderet, an iret ad tres legiones Macedonicas, quae iter secundum mare Superum faciunt; quas sperat suas esse. Eae congiarium ab Antonio accipere noluerunt, ut hic quidem narrat, et ei convicium grave fecerunt contionantemque reliquerunt. Quid quaeris? ducem se profitetur
When I know what day I shall arrive, I will let you know. I must wait for my heavy baggage, which is coming from Anagnia, and there is illness in my household. On the evening of the 1st I got a letter from Octavian. He is setting about a heavy task. He has brought over the veterans, who are at Casilinum and Calatia, to his views; and no wonder, when he is giving them £20[317] apiece. He thinks of visiting the other colonies. Obviously his idea is a war with Antony under his leadership. So I see that before long we shall be in arms. But whom are we to follow? Look at his name, and at his age. And his first request of me is that I should meet him secretly at Capua or somewhere near Capua. That is quite childish, if he thinks it can be done secretly. I have told him by letter that there is no necessity for it and no possibility of it. He sent me one Caecina of Volaterra, an intimate friend of his, who brought this news, that Antony is making for Rome with the legion Alauda, raising a forced contribution from towns, and marching with his soldiers under colours. He asked my advice about setting out for Rome with 3,000 veterans or holding Capua and intercepting Antony's advance, or going to the three Macedonian legions, which are making for the northern Adriatic. Those he hopes are on his side; they refused to take Antony's bounty, or so he says, heaped insults on him and left him still haranguing. Of course, he offers himself as our leader, and thinks we ought not to fail
317. 500 denarii.
402nec nos sibi putat deesse oportere. Equidem suasi, ut Romam pergeret. Videtur enim mihi et plebeculam urbanam, et, si fidem fecerit, etiam bonos viros secum habiturus. O Brute, ubi es? quantam εὐκαιρίαν amittis! Non equidem hoc divinavi, sed aliquid tale putavi fore. Nunc tuum consilium exquiro. Romamne venio an hic maneo an Arpinum (ἀσφάλειαν habet is locus) fugiam? Romam, ne desideremur, si quid actum videbitur. Hoc igitur explica. Numquam in maiore ἀπορίᾳ fui.
Binae uno die mihi litterae ab Octaviano, nunc quidem, ut Romam statim veniam; velle se rem agere per senatum. Cui ego non posse senatum ante K. Ianuar., quod quidem ita credo. Ille autem addit "consilio tuo." Quid multa? ille urget, ego autem σκήπτομαι. Non confido aetati, ignoro, quo animo. Nil sine Pansa tuo volo. Vereor, ne valeat Antonius, nec a mari discedere libet, et metuo, ne quae ἀριστεία me absente. Varroni quidem displicet consilium pueri, mihi non. Si firmas copias habet, Brutum habere potest, et rem gerit palam. Centuriat Capuae, dinumerat. Iam iamque video bellum. Ad haec rescribe. Tabellarium meum Kalend. Roma profectum sine tuis litteris miror.
him. I advised that he should make for Rome. For it seems to me he ought to have the city rabble, and, if he succeeds in inspiring them with confidence, even the loyalists on his side. O Brutus, where are you? What a golden opportunity you are missing! I never foresaw this, but I thought something of the kind would happen. Now, I want your advice. Shall I come to Rome, or stay here, or flee to Arpinum, which would be a harbour of refuge? Rome I think, for fear I be missed, if people think a blow has been struck. Read me this riddle. I never was in a greater quandary.
Two letters on one day from Octavian, now asking me to come to Rome at once, as he wishes to act through the Senate. I told him I did not think the Senate could meet before January, and I really believe that is so. But he adds "with your advice." In short he is pressing, while I am temporizing. I do not trust his age: I do not know his disposition. I do not want to do anything without your friend Pansa's advice. I am afraid Antony may succeed, and I don't like going away from the sea, and I fear some great deed may be done in my absence. Varro, for his part, dislikes the boy's plan; I do not. If he can trust his army, he can have Brutus, and he is playing his game openly. He is dividing his men into companies at Capua, and paying over their bounty money. I see war close upon us. Please answer this letter. I am surprised my messenger left Rome on the 1st without a letter from you.