Letter 24

You did me a great favor by sending Serapion's book, from which indeed — if I may say so between ourselves — I scarcely understand a thousandth part. I have ordered that you be paid cash on the spot for it, so that you would not enter it as a gift in your accounts. But since money has been mentioned, please see to it that you settle with Titinius however you can. If he does not stand by what he offered, I would most prefer that the goods badly purchased be returned, if this can be done with Pomponia's consent. If not even that is possible, let the money be returned rather than there be any irritation. I very much want you to settle this before you depart, with your usual affection and diligence. So Clodius, as you say, is off to Tigranes! I could wish it were on terms like those of the Scepsian — but I bear it easily enough. For that time will be more convenient for me to take a free commission, when our brother Quintus has settled into peace, as we hope, and when we know what sort of man that priest of the Bona Dea will turn out to be. In the meantime I shall delight myself with the Muses with a calm spirit — nay, even with a joyful and willing one — and it will never enter my mind to envy Crassus, nor to regret that I have not abandoned my own principles. As for the geography, I shall do my best to satisfy you, but I promise nothing definite. It is a great undertaking; yet, as you direct, I shall see to it that some written work results for you from this sojourn abroad. Whatever you dig up about public affairs, and especially whom you think the future consuls will be, make sure I know. Although I am too curious — for I have resolved to think no more about politics. We have inspected Terentia's woodland estate. What more can I say? Except for a Dodona oak, we lack nothing to make us feel we possess Epirus itself. Around the Kalends we shall be either at Formiae or at Pompeii. If we are not at Formiae, please, if you love us, come to the Pompeianum. It will be a great pleasure for us and hardly out of your way. About the wall, I have instructed Philotimus not to obstruct whatever seems best to you. But I think you should still bring in Vettius. In these times, when the life of every good man is so uncertain, I place great value on one summer's enjoyment of the Palatine exercise ground — yet only so long as I would least wish Pomponia and the boy to live in fear of a collapse.

I am much obliged to you for sending me Serapio’s book, though between you and me I hardly understand a thousandth part of it. I have given orders for you to be paid ready money for it, to prevent your entering it among presentation copies. Since I am mentioning money matters, please settle up with Titinius as best you can. If he won’t stand by his agreement, the best plan, so far as I can see, will be to return the goods for which he made a bad bargain, if Pomponia will consent to that course: if even that won’t work, then give him his money back rather than have a fuss. I should be very glad if you would finish the business before you leave, with your usual kindness and carefulness. So Clodius is going to Tigranes you say! I wish it were on the same terms as that Scepsian. But I don’t envy him. It will be a much more convenient time for me to get a free travelling pass, when my brother Quintus has settled down in peace, as I hope he will, and when I know the intentions of that priest of Bona Dea. Meantime I shall settle down to the enjoyment of the Muses with resignation, indeed animo aequo, immo vero etiam gaudenti ac libenti, neque mihi umquam veniet in mentem Crasso invidere neque paenitere, quod a me ipse non desciverim. De geographia dabo operam ut tibi satis faciam; sed nihil certi polliceor. Magnum opus est, sed tamen, ut iubes, curabo, ut huius peregrinationis aliquod tibi opus exstet. Tu quicquid indagaris de re publica, et maxime quos consules futuros putes, facito ut sciam. Tametsi minus sum curiosus; statui enim nihil iam de re publica cogitare. Terentiae saltum perspeximus. Quid quaeris? praeter quercum Dodonaeam nihil desideramus, quo minus Epirum ipsam possidere videamur. Nos circiter Kal. aut in Formiano erimus aut in Pompeiano. Tu, si in Formiano non erimus, si nos amas, in Pompeianum venito. Id et nobis erit periucundum et tibi non sane devium. De muro imperavi Philotimo ne impediret, quo minus id fieret, quod tibi videretur. Tu censeo tamen adhibeas Vettium. His temporibus tam dubia vita optimi cuiusque magni aestimo unius aestatis fructum palaestrae Palatinae, sed ita tamen, ut nihil minus velim quam Pomponiam et puerum versari in timore ruinae.

fecisti mihi pergratum quod Serapionis librum ad me misisti; ex quo quidem ego, quod inter nos liceat dicere, millesimam partem vix intellego. pro eo tibi praesentem pecuniam solvi imperavi, ne tu expensum muneribus ferres. at quoniam nummorum mentio facta est, amabo te, cura ut cum Titinio quoquo modo poteris transigas. si in eo quod ostenderat non stat, mihi maxime placet ea quae male empta sunt reddi, si voluntate Pomponiae fieri poterit; si ne id quidem, nummi potius reddantur quam ullus sit scrupulus. valde hoc velim ante quam proficiscare amanter, ut soles, diligenterque conficias. Clodius ergo, ut ais, ad Tigranem! [2] velim +Sirpiae+ condicione; sed facile patior. accommodatius enim nobis est ad liberam legationem tempus illud, cum et Quintus noster iam, ut speramus, in otio consederit et iste sacerdos bonae deae cuius modi futurus sit scierimus. interea quidem cum Musis nos delectabimus animo aequo, immo vero etiam gaudenti ac libenti, neque mihi umquam veniet in mentem Crasso invidere neque paenitere quod a me ipse non desciverim. [3] de geographia dabo operam ut tibi satis faciam; sed nihil certi polliceor. Magnum opus est, sed tamen, ut iubes, curabo ut huius peregrinationis aliquod tibi opus exstet. [4] tu quicquid indagaris de re publica et maxime quos consules futuros putes facito ut sciam. tametsi nimis sum curiosus; statui enim nihil iam de re publica cogitare. Terentiae saltum perspeximus. quid quaeris? praeter quercum Dodonaeam nihil desideramus quo minus Epirum ipsam possidere videamur. [6] nos circiter Kal. aut in Formiano erimus aut in Pompeiano. tu, si in Formiano non erimus, si nos amas, in Pompeianum venito. id et nobis erit periucundum et tibi non sane devium. [7] de muro imperavi Philotimo ne impediret quo minus id fieret quod tibi videretur. tu censeo tamen adhibeas Vettium. his temporibus tam dubia vita optimi cuiusque magni aestimo unius aestatis fructum palaestrae Palatinae, sed ita tamen ut nihil minus velim quam Pomponiam et puerum versari in timore ruinae.