Letter 217
What were the reasons, how bitter, how grave and unforeseen, which
swayed me and compelled me to act by a kind of impulse rather than
by reflection, I cannot bring myself to write without great agony of
mind. So weighty were they that they have brought about what you see.
Accordingly I do not know what to tell you about my affairs nor what
to ask of you. You can see for yourself the sum and substance of the
matter.
For my part I have gathered from your letters--both that which you
wrote in conjunction with others and the one you wrote in your own
name--what I saw myself too, that you are somewhat disconcerted by
my sudden move, and are looking for some new means of protecting
me. I don't quite see how I can do as you suggest and come nearer
to Rome, travelling through towns at night. For I have not suitable
stopping-places to spend all the days in; nor, for the point you are
aiming at, does it much matter whether I am seen in towns or on the
road. However I will consider how this plan, as well as others, can
most conveniently be carried out.
I am so fearfully upset both in mind and body that I have not been able
to write many letters; I have only answered those who have written to
me. I should like you to write in my name to Basilus and to anyone else
you like, even to Servilius, and say whatever you think fit. From this
letter you will quite understand that the reason why I have not written
to you at all for such a long time, is that I
intellegis rem mihi desse, de qua scribam, non voluntatem.
Quod de Vatinio quaeris, neque illius neque cuiusquam mihi praeterea
officium desset, si reperire possent, qua in re me iuvarent. Quintus
aversissimo a me animo Patris fuit. Eodem Corcyra filius venit. Inde
profectos eos una cum ceteris arbitror.
Latin / Greek Original
[1] quid sit gestum novi quaeris. ex Isidoro scire poteris. reliqua non videntur esse difficiliora. tu id velim quod scis me maxime velle cures, ut scribis et facis. me conficit sollicitudo ex qua etiam summa infirmitas corporis. qua levata ero una cum eo qui negotium gerit estque in spe magna. Brutus amicus; in causa versatur acriter. hactenus fuit quod caute a me scribi posset. vale. de pensione altera, oro te, omni cura considera quid faciendum sit, ut scripsi iis litteris quas Pollex tulit.