Letter 110

I had already sealed the letter, which I fancy you must have just read, written in my own handwriting and containing a full account of events, when suddenly your letter was delivered to me on September 20th by a letter carrier of Apelles, who had done a journey express from Rome in forty-seven days. Ah, what a long way it is! It makes me sure that you awaited Pompey’s return from Ariminum, and have now set out for Epirus, and I fear from your tone, that you may be in as great straits in Epirus as I am here. I have written to my wife’s steward not to dun Messalla for the money due from Atilius. I am delighted you have heard reports of my official progress, and I shall be still more delighted if you hear of my other good deeds. I am glad that you are pleased with your little daughter. I have never seen her, but I love her and I am sure she is lovable. Good-bye, again good-bye. Talking of Patro and your friends of his school, I am glad you liked my efforts about the ruins in Melita. It is a sign of great affection on your part, to rejoice in the defeat of a man who opposed the uncle of your sister’s son. You have put it into my head to rejoice too. It had not occurred to me. You need not believe me, if you like: but really

obsignaram iam epistulam eam, quam puto te modo perlegisse scriptam mea manu in qua omnia continentur, cum subito Apellae tabellarius a. d. xi Kal. Octobris septimo quadragesimo die Roma celeriter (hui tam longe!) mihi tuas litteras reddidit. ex quibus non dubito quin tu Pompeium exspectaris dum Arimino rediret et iam in Epirum profectus sis, magisque vereor, ut scribis, ne in Epiro sollicitus sis non minus quam nos hic sumus. de Atiliano nomine scripsi ad Philotimum ne appellaret Messallam. [2] itineris nostri famam ad te pervenisse laetor magisque laetabor si reliqua cognoris. filiolam tuam tibi +iam Romae+ iucundam esse gaudeo, eamque quam numquam vidi tamen et amo et amabilem esse certo scio. etiam atque etiam vale. [3] de Patrone et tuis condiscipulis quae de parietinis in Melita laboravi ea tibi grata esse gaudeo. quod scribis libente te repulsam tulisse eum qui cum sororis tuae fili patruo certarit, magni amoris signum. itaque me etiam admonuisti ut gauderem; nam mihi in mentem non venerat. 'non credo' inquis. Vt libet; sed plane gaudeo, quoniam to nemesan interest tou phthonein.