Letter 343

"When from thee, Agamemnon, the message reached my ears," not "that I should come" (though I should have done that too, if it had not been for Torquatus), "straightway" I gave up what I had begun, threw down what I had in hand and made a rough sketch of what you ordered. I should like you to find out from rationes nostras sumptuarias. Turpe est enim nobis illum, qualiscumque est, hoc primo anno egere. Post moderabimur diligentius. Idem Pollex remittendus est, ut ille cernat. Plane Puteolos non fuit eundum, cum ob ea, quae ad te scripsi, tum quod Caesar adest. Dolabella scribit se ad me postridie Idus. O magistrum molestum! Yesterday evening I had a letter from Lepidus at Antium. That is where he is, for he has the house I sold. He implores me to be in the Senate on the 1st, saying that both he and Caesar would take it as a great favour. I don't think it is of any importance; for Oppius would probably have said something to you, as Balbus is ill. However I would rather come for nothing, if necessary, than have my absence noticed. I should regret it afterwards. So to-day I go to Antium, to-morrow home by midday. I should like you and Pilia to come to dinner on the last of the month, if you are not engaged. I hope you have settled with Publilius. I shall rush back to Tusculum on the 1st; for I prefer all the transactions with them to take place in my absence. I am sending my brother's letter to you: it is not a very kind answer to mine, but I think it should satisfy you. You will see for yourself.

fuit apud me Lamia post discessum tuum epistulamque ad me attulit missam sibi a Caesare. quae quamquam ante data erat quam illae Diocharinae, tamen plane declarabat illum ante ludos Romanos esse venturum. in qua extrema scriptum erat ut ad ludos omnia pararet neve committeret ut frustra ipse properasset. prorsus ex his litteris non videbatur esse dubium quin ante eam diem venturus esset, itemque Balbo cum eam epistulam legisset videri Lamia dicebat. dies feriarum mihi additos video sed quam multos fac, si me amas, sciam. de Baebio poteris et de altero vicino Egnatio. [2] quod me hortaris ut eos dies consumam in philosophia explicanda, currentem tu quidem; sed cum Dolabella vivendum esse istis diebus vides. quod nisi me Torquati causa teneret satis erat dierum ut Puteolos excurrere possem et ad tempus redire. [3] Lamia quidem a Balbo, ut videbatur, audiverat multos nummos domi esse numeratos quos oporteret quam primum dividi, magnum pondus argenti; auctionem XIII M. TVLLI CICERONIS praeter praedia primo quoque tempore fieri oportere. scribas ad me velim quid tibi placeat. equidem si ex omnibus esset eligendum, nec diligentiorem nec officiosiorem nec me hercule nostri studiosiorem facile delegissem Vestorio, ad quem accuratissimas litteras dedi; quod idem te fecisse arbitror. mihi quidem hoc satis videtur. tu quid dicis? unum enim pungit ne neglegentiores esse videamur. exspectabo igitur tuas litteras.