Letter 379

On the 22nd I received two letters from you at Arpinum, in which you answered two of mine. One was dated the 18th, the other the 21st. So I will answer the earlier first. Pray hasten to Tusculum, as you say: I think I shall get there on the 27th. You say we must obey the victors. I, for one, will not: there are many courses I should prefer to that. For Nam illa quae recordaris Lentulo et Marcello consulibus acta in aede Apollinis, nec causa eadem est nec simile tempus, praesertim cum Marcellum scribas aliosque discedere. Erit igitur nobis coram odorandum, et constituendum, tutone Romae esse possimus. Novi conventus habitatores sane movent; in magnis enim versamur angustiis. Sed sunt ista parvi; quin vel maiora contemnimus. Calvae testamentum cognovi, hominis turpis ac sordidi. Tabula Demonici quod tibi curae est, gratum. De malo scripsi iam pridem ad Dolabellam accuratissime, modo redditae litterae sint. Eius causa et cupio et debeo. Venio ad propiorem. Cognovi de Alexione, quae desiderabam. Hirtius est tuus. Antonio, quoniam est, volo peius esse. De Quinto filio, ut scribis, ἅλις. De patre coram agemus. Brutum omni re, qua possum, cupio iuvare. Cuius de oratiuncula idem te quod me sentire video. Sed parum intellego, quid me velis scribere quasi a Bruto habita oratione, cum ille ediderit. Qui tandem convenit? an sic ut in tyrannum iure optimo caesum? Multa dicentur, multa scribentur a nobis, sed alio modo et tempore. De sella Caesaris bene tribuni; praeclaros etiam XIV ordines! Brutum apud me fuisse gaudeo, modo et libenter fuerit et sat diu. the case is not the same, nor is the occasion the same, as in the proceedings which you recall to my memory as taking place in the temple of Apollo in the consulship of Lentulus and Marcellus: especially as you say Marcellus and others are leaving Rome. So when we meet we must scent out the facts and settle whether we can be safe at Rome. The inhabitants of the new community trouble me a good deal, for I am in considerable difficulties. But these are small matters: I am treating even more important things than this with contempt. I know Calva's will. How disgracefully mean! I am grateful to you for attending to Demonicus' sale. About ... I wrote to Dolabella long ago very fully, if only my letter was delivered. In his interests I am keen and devoted. I come to your more recent letter. I have learned all I want about Alexio. Hirtius is devoted to you. With Antonius I wish things were going even worse than they are. About young Quintus, as you say, _assez_. About his father we will speak when we meet. I want to assist Brutus in every way that is possible. I see you have the same opinion of his harangue as I have. But I don't quite understand why you want me to write a speech attributing it to Brutus, when he has published his own. How could that be proper? Should I write as though against a tyrant justly executed? I shall have much to say and much to write, but in another way and at another time. Well done the tribunes about Caesar's chair, and well done the famous fourteen rows of equites! I am glad Brutus stayed at my house, and I only hope he enjoyed himself and stayed a long time.

xv Kal. e Sinuessano proficiscens cum dedissem ad te litteras devertissemque acutius in Vescino accepi a tabellario tuas litteras; in quibus nimis multa de Buthroto. non enim tibi ea res maiori curae aut est aut erit quam mihi. sic enim decet te mea curare, tua me. quam ob rem id quidem sic susceptum est mihi ut nihil sim habiturus antiquius. [2] L. Antonium contionatum esse cognovi tuis litteris et aliis sordide; sed id quale fuerit nescio; nihil enim scripti. de Menedemo probe. Quintus certe ea dictitat quae scribis. consilium meum a te probari quod ea non scribam quae tu a me postularis facile patior, multoque magis id probabis, si orationem eam de qua hodie ad te scripsi legeris. quae de legionibus scribis, ea vera sunt. sed non satis hoc mihi videris tibi persuasisse qui de Buthrotiis nostris per senatum speres confici posse quod puto. tantum enim video, non videmur esse victuri, sed, ut iam nos hoc fallat, de Buthroto te non fallet. [3] de Octavi contione idem sentio quod tu, ludorumque eius apparatus et Matius ac Postumus mihi procuratores non placent; Saserna conlega dignus. sed isti omnes, quem ad modum sentis, non minus otium timent quam nos arma. Balbum levari invidia per nos velim, sed ne ipse quidem id fieri posse confidit. itaque alia cogitat. [4] quod prima disputatio Tusculana te confirmat sane gaudeo; neque enim ullum est perfugium aut melius aut paratius. Flamma quod bene loquitur non moleste fero. Tyndaritanorum causa, de qua causa laborat, quae sit ignoro. hos tamen . . . . Pente/loipon movere ista videntur in primis erogatio pecuniae. de Alexione doleo, sed quoniam inciderat in tam gravem morbum, bene actum cum illo arbitror. quos tamen secundos heredes scire velim et diem testamenti.