Letter 32

So they deny that Publius has been made a plebeian? This is truly tyranny and cannot be endured in any way. Let Publius send people to me to witness my seal; I will swear that our friend Gnaeus, Balbus's colleague, told me at Antium that he had been present at the taking of the auspices. O your two delightful letters delivered to me at the same time! What good news I can give you in return, I do not know; but I frankly confess that I am in your debt. But see the coincidence. I had just emerged from the road to Antium onto the Appian Way at the Three Taverns, on the very day of the Cerealia, when my friend Curio, coming from Rome, ran into me. Right there at that very spot a slave from you arrived with letters. He asked me whether I had heard any news. I said no. "Publius," he said, "is seeking the tribunate of the plebs." "What do you say?" "And he is the bitterest enemy of Caesar, and means to rescind all those measures of his." "What about Caesar?" I asked. "He denies that he proposed anything concerning that man's adoption." Then he poured out his own hatred, and that of Memmius and Metellus Nepos. I embraced the young man and sent him on his way, hurrying to your letters. Where are those who say "the living voice"? How much more I saw from your letter than from his conversation about what was happening — about the daily rumination, about the designs of Publius, about the war-trumpets of the ox-eyed one, about the standard-bearer Athenio, about the letter sent to Gnaeus, about the talk of Theophanes and Memmius! And then what anticipation you have given me of that outrageous dinner party! I am ravenously hungry with curiosity, but nevertheless I easily bear your not writing me about that symposium; I prefer to hear it in person. As for your urging me to write something, the material is certainly growing, as you say, but the whole matter is still in flux — like new wine at harvest time. If it settles, what I write will be more refined. And even if you cannot get it from me immediately, you will still have it first and alone for some time. You are right to admire Dicaearchus; he is a splendid man and a far better citizen than those "unjust-archs" of ours. I wrote this letter at the tenth hour on the Cerealia, as soon as I had read yours, but I intended to give it, as I supposed, the next day to whoever first came my way. Terentia was delighted by your letter; she sends you warm greetings. And Cicero the philosopher salutes Titus the statesman.

So they deny that Publius has been made a plebeian, do they? This is certainly sheer tyranny and not to be borne. Let Publius send some one to witness my affidavit. I will take my oath that my friend Gnaeus, Balbus’ colleague, told me at Antium that he had himself assisted at taking the auspices. Fancy two such delightful letters of yours being delivered at one and the same time! I don’t know how to pay you back for your good news, though I candidly confess my debt. Here’s a coincidence. I had just taken the turn off the road to Antium on to the Appian Way at the Three Taverns on the very day of the Cerealia, when my friend Curio met me, fresh from Rome: and at the very same moment your man with a letter. Curio inquired whether I hadn’t heard the news. “No,” said I. “Publius is standing for the tribuneship,” says he. “You don’t say so!” “And he is at deadly enmity with Caesar,” he replies, “and wants to annul all those laws of his.” “And what is Caesar doing?” I inquired. “He is denying that he ever proposed Clodius’ adoption.” Then he emptied the vials of his own wrath and that of Memmius and Metellus Nepos. I embraced the youth and said good-bye, being in a hurry to get to your letters. What a lot of nonsense is talked about “viva vox”? Why, I learned a dozen times as much about affairs from your letter as from his talk—the daily chit-chat, the designs of Publius, Juno’s war-cries, how Athenio is raising the standard, his letter Theophanis Memmique sermone; quantam porro mihi exspectationem dedisti convivii istius ἀσελγοῦς! Sum in curiositate ὀξύπεινος, sed tamen facile patior te id ad me συμπόσιον non scribere; praesentem audire malo. Quod me, ut scribam aliquid, hortaris, crescit mihi quidem materies, ut dicis, sed tota res etiam nunc fluctuat, κατ’ ὀπώρην τρύξ. Quae si desederit, magis erunt iam liquata, quae scribam. Quae si statim a me ferre non potueris, primus habebis tamen et aliquamdiu solus. Dicaearchum recte amas; luculentus homo est et civis haud paulo melior quam isti nostri ἀδικαίαρχοι; Litteras scripsi hora decima Cerialibus, statim ut tuas legeram, sed eas eram daturus, ut putaram, postridie ei, qui mihi primus obviam venisset. Terentia delectata est tuis litteris; impertit tibi multam salutem, καὶ Κικέρων ὁ φιλόσοφος τὸν πολιτικὸν Τίτον ἀσπάζεται.

negent illi Publium plebeium factum esse? hoc vero regnum est et ferri nullo pacto potest. emittat ad me Publius qui obsignent; iurabo Gnaeum nostrum, conlegam Balbi, Anti mihi narrasse se in auspicio fuisse. O suavis epistulas tuas uno tempore mihi datas duas! quibus euangelia quae reddam nescio; deberi quidem plane fateor. sed vide sunkurema. [2] emerseram commodum ex Antiati in Appiam ad tris tabernas ipsis Cerialibus, cum in me incurrit Roma veniens Curio meus. ibidem ilico puer abs te cum epistulis. ille ex me, nihilne audissem novi. ego negare. 'Publius' inquit 'tribunatum pl. petit.' 'quid ais?' 'et inimicissimus quidem Caesaris, et ut omnia' inquit 'ista rescindat.' 'quid Caesar?' inquam 'negat se quicquam de illius adoptione tulisse.' deinde suum, Memmi, Metelli Nepotis exprompsit odium. complexus iuvenem dimisi properans ad epistulas. Vbi sunt qui aiunt zoses phones? quanto magis vidi ex tuis litteris quam ex illius sermone quid ageretur, de ruminatione cotidiana, de cogitatione Publi, de lituis boopidos, de signifero Athenione, de litteris missis ad Gnaeum, de Theophanis Memmique sermone; quantam porro mihi exspectationem dedisti convivi istius aselgous! sum in curiositate oxupeinos, sed tamen facile patior te id ad me sumposion non scribere; praesentem audire malo. [3] quod me ut scribam aliquid hortaris, crescit mihi quidem materies, ut dicis, sed tota res etiam nunc fluctuat, kat' oporen trux. quae si desederit, magis erunt liquata quae scribam. quae si statim a me ferre non potueris, primus habebis tamen et aliquamdiu solus. [4] Dicaearchum recte amas; luculentus homo est et civis haud paulo melior quam isti nostri adikaiarchoi. Litteras scripsi hora decima Cerialibus statim ut tuas legeram, sed eas eram daturus, ut putaram, postridie ei qui mihi primus obviam venisset. Terentia delectata est tuis litteris; impertit tibi multam salutem, kai Kikeron ho philosophos ton politikon Titon aspazetai.