Letter 29

Since Caecilius the quaestor suddenly told me he was sending a slave to Rome, I have written this in haste, so as to draw out from you your wonderful dialogues with Publius — both those you write about and the one you conceal, saying it would be too long to write out your replies in full. As for the one that has not yet taken place, which that ox-eyed lady is going to report to you when she returns from Solonium, please believe me that nothing could be more delightful to me than this. But if the agreements made concerning me are not being kept, I am in heaven — so that our Jerusalem-touring tribune who crossed over to the plebs may learn what a fine return he has made for my very choicest speeches. Expect from them a divine recantation. For as far as I can guess by augury, if that scoundrel remains in favor with these dynasts, he will be able to boast neither about the "cynical ex-consul" nor even about those "Tritons of the fish-ponds." For we cannot be objects of any envy once stripped of our resources and that senatorial power. But if he falls out with them, it will be absurd for him to attack us. Still, let him attack all the same. Believe me, this revolution in the state has turned about rather pleasantly, and with less commotion than I had expected — more quickly, indeed, than it should have. This is Cato's fault, but then again it is due to the villainy of those who disregarded the auspices, who disregarded the Aelian law, the Junian and Licinian, the Caecilian and Didian laws, who poured away all the remedies of the republic, who gave kingdoms and estates to tetrarchs, who gave enormous sums of money to a few men. I can already see where the odium is shifting and where it will settle. You must consider that I have learned nothing either from experience or from Theophrastus, if you do not shortly see those times of ours longed for. For if the power of the senate was unpopular, now that it has been reduced not to the people but to three immoderate men, what do you think will follow? So let them go ahead and make whomever they wish consuls, tribunes of the plebs — let them even clothe Vatinius's goiter in the twice-dyed purple of a priesthood — you will see in short order that not only those who never wavered but even Cato himself, who made the mistake, will be held in great esteem. As for me, if your comrade Publius will allow it, I intend to play the philosopher. If he forces the issue, then at least I shall defend myself, and — as is proper to this art — "I undertake to ward off the man, whenever someone first grows hostile." May my fatherland be gracious. She has received from me, if not more than was owed, certainly more than was demanded. I would rather sail badly with another man steering than steer well for such ungrateful passengers. But these matters will be better discussed in person. Now hear what you ask about. I am thinking of withdrawing from my Formian estate to Antium on the twenty-seventh of April. From Antium I wish to set out for my Tusculan estate on the seventh of May. But when I return from Formiae — I wish to be there until the thirtieth of April — I will let you know at once. Terentia sends you her greetings, and little Cicero sends his regards to Titus the Athenian.

Caecilius the quaestor having suddenly told me that he was sending a man to Rome, I write this note in haste to extract from you all your wonderful dialogues with Publius, those you mention in your note, and the one you keep dark, saying that your answers were too long to write; and besides the one which has not yet been held, but which that Juno is going to report to you, when she returns from Solonium. Pray believe me when I say there is nothing that would please me more. If the compact about de me pacta sunt, ea non servantur, in caelo sum, ut sciat hic nosier Hierosolymarius traductor ad plebem, quam bonam meis putissimis orationibus gratiam rettulerit. Quarum exspecta divinam παλινῳδίαν. Etenim, quantum coniectura auguramur, si erit nebulo iste cum his dynastis in gratia, non modo de cynico consulari, sed ne de istis quidem piscinarum Tritonibus poterit se iactare. Non enim poterimus ulla esse invidia spoliati opibus et illa senatoria potentia. Sin autem ab iis dissentiet, erit absurdum in nos invehi. Verum tamen invehatur. Festive, mihi crede, et minore sonitu, quam putaram. orbis hic in re publica est conversus; citius omnino, quam potuit, idque culpa Catonis, sed rursus improbitate istorum, qui auspicia, qui Aeliam legem. qui Iuniam et Liciniam, qui Caeciliam et Didiam neglexerunt, qui omnia remedia rei publicae effuderunt, qui regna quasi praedia tetrarchis, qui immanes pecunias paucis dederunt. Video iam, quo invidia transeat et ubi sit habitatura. Nihil me existimaris neque usu neque a Theophrasto didicisse, nisi brevi tempore desiderari nostra illa tempora videris. Etenim, si fuit invidiosa senatus potentia, cum ed non ad populum, sed ad tres homines immoderatos redacta sit, quid iam censes fore? Proinde isti licet faciant, quos me is not kept, I am in the seventh heaven with delight at thinking how that Jerusalemite plebeian-monger will learn what a pretty return he has made for all my choicest panegyrics: and you may expect recantation of eclipsing brilliancy; for, so far as I can see, if that good-for-nothing is in favour with our sovereigns, he will have to give up crowing over the “ex-consul with a cynic’s tongue” and those “Tritons of the fish-ponds” together: for there will be nothing to envy me for, when I have been robbed of my power and my influence in the Senate. If on the other hand he quarrels with them, then any attack on me would be absurd. However let him attack, if he likes. Upon my word the wheel of State has turned round gaily and with less noise than I had expected: more quickly to be sure than it might have done. That is Cato’s fault, but it is still more through the villainy of those who have disregarded auspices and the Aelian law, the Iunian and Licinian law and the Caecilian and Didian law, who have thrown out of the window all the physic for the State, who have given kingdoms to tetrarchs as though they were farms and immense sums of money to one or two people. I can see already which way jealousy is tending and where it will come home to roost. Count me too big a dunce to have learned anything by experience or from Theophrastus, if you do not see very shortly men mourning for the days of my government. For if the power of the Senate was unpopular, you can imagine what things will be like now, when the power has been transferred not to the people, but to three unbridled men. So let them make anyone they like consuls and tribunes, volent, consules, tribunos pl., denique etiam Vatini strumam sacerdotii διβάφῳ vestiant, videbis brevi tempore magnos non modo eos, qui nihil titubarunt, sed etiam illum ipsum, qui peccavit, Catonem. Nam nos quidem, si per istum tuum sodalem Publium licebit, σοφιστεύειν cogitamus, si ille cogit, tum dumtaxat nos defendere, et, quod est proprium artis huius, ἐπαγγέλλομαι ἄνδρ’ ἀπαμύνεσθαι, ὅτε τις πρότερος χαλεπήνῃ. Patria propitia sit. Habet a nobis, etiamsi non plus, quam debitum est; plus certe, quam postulatum est. Male vehi malo alio gubernante quam tam ingratis vectoribus bene gubernare. Sed haec coram commodius. Nunc audi, quod quaeris. Antium me ex Formiano recipere cogito a. d. V Nonas Maias; Antio volo Nonis Maiis proficisci in Tusculanum. Sed, cum e Formiano rediero (ibi esse usque ad pr. K. Maias volo), faciam statim te certiorem. Terentia tibi salutem, καὶ Κικέρων ὁ μικρὸς ἀσπάζεται Τίτον Ἀθηναῖον.

subito cum mihi dixisset Caecilius quaestor puerum se Romam mittere, haec scripsi raptim, ut tuos <elicerem> mirificos cum Publio dialogos, cum eos de quibus scribis, tum illum quem abdis et ais longum esse quae ad ea responderis perscribere; illum vero qui nondum habitus est, quem illa boopis, cum e Solonio redierit, ad te est relatura, sic velim putes, nihil hoc posse mihi esse iucundius. si vero quae de me pacta sunt ea non servantur, in caelo sum, ut sciat hic noster Hierosolymarius traductor ad plebem quam bonam meis putissimis orationibus gratiam rettulerit. quarum exspecta divinam palinoidian. etenim quantum coniectura auguramur, si erit nebulo iste cum his dynastis in gratia, non modo de cynico consulari sed ne de istis quidem piscinarum Tritonibus poterit se iactare. non enim poterimus ulla esse invidia spoliati opibus et illa senatoria potentia. sin autem ab iis dissentiet, erit absurdum in nos invehi. verum tamen invehatur. Festive, mihi crede, et minore sonitu quam putaram, orbis hic in re publica est conversus citius omnino quam potuit; +id culpa Catonis, sed rursus improbitate istorum qui auspicia, qui Aeliam legem, qui Iuniam et Liciniam, qui Caeciliam et Didiam neglexerunt, qui omnia remedia rei publicae effuderunt, qui regna qui praedia tetrarchis, qui immanis pecunias paucis dederunt. [2] video iam quo invidia transeat et ubi sit habitatura. nihil me existimaris neque usu neque a Theophrasto didicisse, nisi brevi tempore desiderari nostra illa tempora videris. etenim si fuit invidiosa senatus potentia, cum ea non ad populum sed ad tris homines immoderatos redacta sit, quid iam censes fore? proinde isti licet faciant quos volent consules, tribunos pl., denique etiam Vatini strumam sacerdoti dibaphoi vestiant, videbis brevi tempore magnos non modo eos qui nihil titubarunt sed etiam illum ipsum qui peccavit Catonem. [3] nam nos quidem, si per istum tuum a sodalem Publium licebit, sophisteuein cogitamus, si ille +cogitat tantum+, dumtaxat nos defendere, et, quod est proprium artis huius, epangellomai andr' apamunesthai hote tis proteros chalepenei patria propitia sit. habet a nobis, etiam si non plus quam debitum est, plus certe quam postulatum est. male vehi malo alio gubernante quam tam ingratis vectoribus bene gubernare. [4] sed haec coram commodius. nunc audi quod quaeris. Antium me ex Formiano recipere cogito a. d. v Nonas Maias; Antio volo Nonis Maus proficisci in Tusculanum. sed cum e Formiano rediero (ibi esse usque ad pr. K. Maias volo), faciam statim te certiorem. Terentia tibi salutem, kai Kikeron ho mikros aspazetai Titon ton Athenaion.