Letter 23

First, some good news, I think. Valerius has been acquitted, with Hortensius defending him. The verdict is thought to have been granted as a favor to Aulus's son; and I suspect Epicrates was behaving improperly, as you write. Indeed, I did not like the look of his military boots and white-chalked leg-wrappings. We shall know the truth when you arrive. As for your criticism of the narrowness of my windows, know that you are criticizing the Education of Cyrus. For when I made the same complaint, Cyrus said that garden views through broad windows are not as pleasant. For let the point of vision be A, the object seen B and C, and the rays D and E — you see the rest. For if we saw by the impact of images upon the eye, the images would be terribly cramped in narrow openings. As it is, the emission of rays works beautifully. If you find fault with anything else, you will not find me silent, unless it is something that can be corrected without expense. Now I come to the month of January and to my political position and plan of action, in which, following Socratic method, I shall argue both sides, but in the end, as those philosophers used to do, state my own preference. The matter truly requires great deliberation. For either I must resist the agrarian law vigorously, which involves a certain struggle but one full of glory; or I must keep quiet, which amounts to retiring to Solonium or Antium; or I must actually support it, which they say Caesar expects of me so confidently that he has no doubt of it. For Cornelius visited me — I mean Balbus, Caesar's intimate friend. He assured me that Caesar would follow my advice and Pompey's in all matters, and would work to bring Crassus together with Pompey. Here then are the considerations: the closest alliance with Pompey, and if I choose, with Caesar as well; reconciliation with my enemies; peace with the masses; tranquility in my old age. But I am moved by that peroration of mine in the third book: "Meanwhile the paths which from your earliest youth you sought, and which as consul you pursued with courage and with spirit — these hold fast, and increase your fame and the praises of good men." Since Calliope herself prescribed these words to me in that book, in which much is written in the aristocratic spirit, I think there should be no hesitation — that we should always hold to the principle: "one omen is best — to fight for one's fatherland." But let us save these matters for our walks during the Compitalia. Remember to come the day before the festival. I shall have the bath heated. Terentia invites Pomponia too; we shall include your mother. Bring me Theophrastus's On Ambition from our brother Quintus's library.

First a trifle please for good news. Valerius has been acquitted, with Hortensius as his advocate. The verdict is generally thought to be a concession to Aulus’ son; and I expect Iphicrates has been up to some tricks, as you suggest. I didn’t like the look of his military boots and puttees. We shall know what it was, when you arrive. In finding fault with the narrowness of my windows, let me tell you, you are finding fault with the Education of Cyrus: for, when I made the same remark to Cyrus, he said that the view of gardens was not so pleasant, if the windows were broad. For, let _a_ be the point of vision, and _b, c_ the object, and _d, e_ the rays,—you see what follows. If our sight resulted from the impact of images, the images would be horribly squeezed in the narrow space: but, as it is, the emission of rays goes on merrily. If you have any other faults to find, you will find me ready with an answer, unless they are such as can be put to rights without expense. Venio nunc ad mensem Ianuarium et ad ὑπόστασιν nostram ac πολιτείαν, in qua Σωκρατικῶς εἰς ἑκάτερον, sed tamen ad extremum, ut illi solebant, τὴν ἀρέσκουσαν. Est res sane magni consilii; nam aut fortiter resistendum est legi agrariae, in quo est quaedam dimicatio, sed plena laudis, aut quiescendum, quod est non dissimile atque ire in Solonium aut Antium, aut etiam adiuvandum, quod a me aiunt Caesarem sic exspectare, ut non dubitet. Nam fuit apud me Cornelius, hunc dico Balbum, Caesaris familiarem. Is adfirmabat illum omnibus in rebus meo et Pompei consilio usurum daturumque operam, ut cum Pompeio Crassum coniungeret. Hic sunt haec, coniunctio mihi summa cum Pompeio, si placet, etiam cum Caesare, reditus in gratiam cum inimicis, pax cum multitudine, senectutis otium. Sed me κατακλεὶς mea illa commovet, quae est in libro tertio: “Interea cursus, quos prima a parte iuventae Quosque adeo consul virtute animoque petisti, Hos retine atque auge famam laudesque bonorum.” Haec mihi cum in eo libro, in quo multa sunt scripta ἀριστοκρατικῶς, Calliope ipsa praescripserit, non opinor esse dubitandum, quin semper nobis videatur εἷς οἰωνὸς ἄριστος ἀμύνεσθαι περὶ πάτρης. Sed haec ambulationibus Compitaliciis reservemus. Tu pridie Compitalia memento. Balineum calfieri iubebo. Et Pomponiam Terentia rogat; matrem Now I come to January and my political attitude; and I shall follow the fashion of the Socratic schools in giving both sides of the question, ending, however, as they do, with the one which I prefer. It really is a point that requires much consideration. For either I have got to resist the agrarian measure strongly, which would mean something of a fight, though I should gain prestige by it; or I must hold my peace, which is equivalent to retiring to Solonium or Antium; or else I must assist the measure, and that is what they say Caesar expects me to do beyond a doubt. For Cornelius paid me a visit—I mean Balbus, Caesar’s great friend. He assured me that Caesar will take my own and Pompey’s opinion on everything, and that he will make an effort to reconcile Pompey and Crassus. On this side of the sheet may be placed an intimate connection with Pompey and, if I like, with Caesar too, reconciliation with my enemies, peace with the populace, and ease in my old age. But my blood is still stirred by the _finale_ I laid down for myself in the 3rd book of my poem: “Meantime the course you chose in youth’s first spring And held to, heart and soul, ’mid civic strife Keep still, with growing fame and good report.” Since Calliope herself dictated those verses to me in a book full of passages in lordly vein, I ought not to have the least hesitation in holding “no omen, better than to right one’s country’s wrongs.” But this point must be reserved for our strolls at the Compitalia. Do you remember the day before the festival. I will order the bath to be heated, and Terentia is going to invite Pomponia. We will make adiungemus. Θεοφράστου περὶ φιλοτιμίας adfer mihi de libris Quinti fratris.

primum, ut opinor, euangelia. Valerius absolutus est Hortensio defendente. id iudicium Auli filio condonatum putabatur; et Epicratem suspicor, ut scribis, lascivum fuisse. etenim mihi caligae eius et fasciae cretatae non placebant. quid sit sciemus cum veneris. [2] fenestrarum angustias quod reprehendis, scito te Kurou paideian reprehendere. nam cum ego idem istuc dicerem, Cyrus aiebat viridariorum diaphaseis latis luminibus non tam esse suavis; etenim esto opsis men he a, to de horomenon b, g, aktines de d kai e. vides enim cetera. nam si kat' eidolon emptoseis videremus, valde laborarent eidola in angustiis. nunc fit lepide illa ekchusis radiorum. cetera si reprehenderis, non feres tacitum, nisi si quid erit eius modi quod sine i sumptu corrigi possit. [3] venio nunc ad mensem Ianuarium et ad hupostasin nostram ac politeian, in qua Sokratikos eis hekateron sed tamen ad extremum, ut illi solebant,ten areskousan. est res sane magni consili; nam aut fortiter resistendum est legi agrariae, in quo est quaedam dimicatio sed plena laudis, aut quiescendum, quod est non dissimile atque ire in Solonium aut Antium, aut etiam adiuvandum, quod a me aiunt Caesarem sic exspectare ut non dubitet. nam fuit apud me Cornelius, hunc dico Balbum, Caesaris familiarem. is adfirmabat illum omnibus in rebus meo et Pompei consilio usurum daturumque operam ut cum Pompeio Crassum coniungeret. [4] hic sunt haec, coniunctio mihi summa cum Pompeio, si placet, etiam cum Caesare, reditus in gratiam cum inimicis, pax cum multitudine, senectutis otium. sed me katakleis mea illa commovet quae est in libro tertio: interea cursus, quos prima a parte iuventae quosque adeo consul virtute animoque petisti, hos retine atque auge famam laudesque bonorum. haec mihi cum in eo libro in quo multa sunt scripta aristokratikos Calliope ipsa praescripserit, non opinor esse dubitandum quin semper nobis videatur heis oionos aristos amunesthai peri patres. sed haec ambulationibus compitaliciis reservemus. tu pridie compitalia memento. Balineum calfieri iubebo. et Pomponiam Terentia rogat; matrem adiungemus. Theophrastou peri philotimias adfer mihi de libris Quinti fratris.