Letter 118

While in my province I show Appius every honour, suddenly I find myself father-in-law of Dolabella his accuser. You invoke heaven’s benison. So say I, and you I know are sincere. Believe me, it was the last thing I had expected. Indeed I had even sent trusty agents to Terentia and Tullia about the suit of Ti. Nero, who had made proposals to me: but they arrived in town only when the betrothal was over. However I hope the better course has been taken. I understand that my women folk are highly pleased with the young man’s obliging and courteous temper. As for the rest, don’t pick holes in him. Good gracious! Do you approve of corn doles to Athens? My own books to be sure do not forbid such a dole, for it was not a largesse to fellow-citizens, but a graceful present in return for hospitality. Still do you encourage me in the matter of the porch for the Academy, when Appius has abandoned his design of a porch at Eleusis? I am sure you are sorry about the news of Hortensius. Personally I am distracted: for it had been my intention to live on intimate terms with him. I have put Caelius in charge of my province. “A mere boy” you will object, “and perhaps silly, and lacking in dignity and self-control.” I agree; but there was no alternative. The letter I got from you some time ago, in which you said you suspended judgement as to what I ought to do about my substitute, caused me a pang; for I understood the grounds Puero tradere? fratri autem? Illud non utile nobis. Nam praeter fratrem nemo erat, quem sine contumelia quaestori, nobili praesertim, anteferrem. Tamen, dum impendere Parthi videbantur, statueram fratrem relinquere aut etiam rei publicae causa contra senatus consultum ipse remanere. Qui posteaquam incredibili felicitate discesserunt, sublata dubitatio est. Videbam sermones: “Hui, fratrem reliquit! Num est hoc non plus annum obtinere provinciam? Quid, quod senatus eos voluit praeesse provinciis, qui non praefuissent? At hic triennium!” Ergo haec ad populum. Quid, quae tecum? Numquam essem sine cura, si quid iracundius aut contumeliosius aut neglegentius, quae fert vita hominum. Quid, si quid filius puer et puer bene sibi fidens? qui esset dolor? quem pater non dimittebat teque id censere moleste ferebat. At nunc Caelius non dico equidem “quod egerit—,” sed tamen multo minus laboro. Adde illud. Pompeius, eo robore vir, iis radicibus, Q. Cassium sine sorte delegit, Caesar Antonium; ego sorte datum offenderem, ut etiam inquireret in eum, quem reliquissem? Hoc melius, et huius rei plura exempla, senectuti quidem nostrae profecto aptius. of your hesitation and felt them myself. Could I hand it over to a boy? But ought I to hand it over to my brother? The latter is prejudicial to my own interests. My brother was the only man it would not be an insult to prefer to the quaestor, especially as that officer was of noble birth. Still, while the Parthians seemed threatening, I determined to leave my brother in charge, or even to run counter to the decree of the Senate and for the sake of the Republic remain here myself. Their marvellously opportune retirement removed my doubts. I foresaw the world’s comment. “So he has left his brother in charge! Is this holding a province for one year only? And what about the decree of the Senate that ex-governors should not be eligible? Why, his brother was governor for three years.” These are the arguments for the public; but for you I have private reasons. I should have been in constant anxiety as to some exhibition of temper or overbearingness or negligence; for such things will happen. Perhaps his son, a mere headstrong lad, would have given me cause for distress: his father would not send him away, and was annoyed with you for saying that he ought. As for Caelius, I cannot say that I am unconcerned about his past behaviour: but still I am far less concerned. Then there is another point. Pompey (and think of his power and position) chose Q. Cassius without regard to the lot, and Caesar too chose Antony. I could not affront Caelius who had been given to me by lot, and so make him a spy on the actions of my successor. No; my present course is better, accords well with precedent and is well suited to my time of life. But, At te apud eum, di boni, quanta in gratia posui. Eique legi litteras non tuas, sed librarii tui. Amicorum litterae me ad triumphum vocant, rem a nobis, ut ego arbitror, propter hanc παλιγγενεσίαν nostram non neglegendam. Quare tu quoque, mi Attice, incipe id cupere, quo nos minus inepti videamur.

Ego dum in provincia omnibus rebus Appium orno, subito sum factus accusatoris eius socer. 'id quidem' inquis 'di approbent!' ita velim teque ita cupere certo scio. sed crede mihi, nihil minus putaram ego qui de Ti. Nerone qui mecum egerat certos homines ad mulieres miseram, qui Romam venerunt factis sponsalibus. sed hoc spero melius; mulieres quidem valde intellego delectari obsequio et comitate adulescentis. cetera noli exakanthizein. [2] sed heus tu! purous eis demon Athenis? placet hoc tibi? etsi non impediebant mei certe libri. non enim ista largitio fuit in civis sed in hospites liberalitas. me tamen de Academiae propuloi iubes cogitare, cum iam Appius de Eleusine non cogitet? de Hortensio te certo scio dolere; equidem excrucior; decreram enim cum eo valde familiariter vivere. [3] nos provinciae praefecimus Coelium. 'puerum' inquies 'et fortasse fatuum et non gravem et non continentem!' adsentior; fieri non potuit aliter. nam quas multo ante tuas acceperam litteras in quibus epechein te scripseras quid esset mihi faciendum de relinquendo, eae me pungebant; videbam enim quae tibi essent epoches causae, et erant eaedem mihi. puero tradere? fratri autem? illud non utile nobis. nam praeter fratrem nemo erat quem sine contumelia quaestori, nobili praesertim, anteferrem. tamen, dum impendere Parthi videbantur, statueram fratrem relinquere aut etiam rei publicae causa contra senatus consultum ipse remanere. qui postea quam incredibili felicitate discesserunt sublata dubitatio est. videbam sermones, 'Hui, fratrem reliquit! num est hoc non plus annum obtinere provinciam? quid quod senatus eos voluit praeesse provinciis qui non praefuissent? at hic triennium!' ergo haec ad populum. [4] quid quae tecum? numquam essem sine cura, si quid iracundius contumeliosius aut neglegentius, quae fert vita hominum. quid si quid filius puer et puer bene sibi fidens? qui esset dolor? quem pater non dimittebat teque id censere moleste ferebat. at nunc Coelius non dico equidem quod egerit—,' sed tamen multo minus laboro. adde illud. Pompeius, eo robore vir, iis radicibus, Q. Cassium sine sorte delegit, Caesar Antonium; ego sorte datum offenderem, ut etiam inquireret in eum quem reliquissem? hoc melius, et huius rei plura exempla, senectuti quidem nostrae profecto aptius. at te apud eum, di boni, quanta in gratia posui! eique legi litteras non tuas sed librari tui. amicorum litterae me ad triumphum vocant, rem a nobis, ut ego arbitror, propter hanc palingenesian nostram non neglegendam. qua re tu quoque, mi Attice, incipe id cupere quo nos minus inepti videamur.