Letter 409

On the 7th of Quinctilis I arrived at Puteoli, and I am writing this on the following day as I am crossing to Brutus at Nesis. The day I arrived Eros brought me your letter as I was dining. Is it really so? The 9th of _July_? Heaven confound them! But I could go on cursing all day. Could they have insulted Brutus worse than with their _July_? So I must fall back on my old cry, "How long, O Lord?" I have never seen anything like that. But what, pray, is this I hear about the land-grabbers being cut to pieces at Buthrotum? And why has Plancus been on the run, as they tell me he has, day and night? I am very eager to know what it means. I am glad my departure is approved; I must see whether my staying may be approved too. That the people of Dyme, now they have been expelled from their land, should take to piracy is no wonder. There may be some safeguard in having Brutus as a fellow-passenger, but I think his vessels are small. I shall know soon and will tell you to-morrow. I think the report about Ventidius is a false alarm. It is held pretty certain that Sextus is laying down his arms; and, if that is so, it looks as though we should be reduced to slavery without even a civil war. What civili video serviendum. Quid ergo? ad Kal. Ian. in Pansa spes? Λῆρος πολὺς in vino et in somno istorum. De ¯CCX¯ optime. Ciceronis rationes explicentur. Ovius enim recens. Is multa, quae vellem, in iis ne hoc quidem malum HS ¯LXXII¯ satis esse, adfatim prorsus, sed Xenonem perexigue et γλίσχρως praebere. Quo plus permutasti quam ad fructum insularum, id ille annus habeat, in quem itineris sumptus accessit. Hinc ex Kal. Apr. ad HS ¯LXXX¯ accommodetur. Nunc enim insulae tantum. Videndum enim est quid, cum Romae erit. Non enim puto socrum illam ferendam. Pindaro de Cumano negaram. Nunc, cuius rei causa tabellarium miserim, accipe. Quintus filius mihi pollicetur se Catonem. Egit autem et pater et filius, ut tibi sponderem, sed ita, ut tum crederes, cum ipse cognosses. Huic ego litteras ipsius arbitratu dabo. Eae te ne moverint. Has scripsi in eam partem, ne me motum putares. Di faxint, ut faciat ea, quae promittit! Commune enim gaudium. Sed ego—nihil dico amplius. Is hinc VII Idus. Ait enim attributionem in Idus, se autem urgeri acriter. Tu ex meis litteris, quo modo respondeas, moderabere. Plura, cum et Brutum videro et Erotem remittam. Atticae meae excusationem accipio eamque amo plurimum; cui et Piliae salutem. hope have we, then? In Pansa, when he enters office? There is nothing but midsummer madness in their drunken dreams. About the £2,000: well done! Put my son's affairs straight. For Ovius has just come, and brings much satisfactory news; among other things, what is no bad hearing, that £700 is enough, quite enough, but that Xeno treats him very sparingly and niggardly. The excess over the rental of the town houses that your bill of exchange cost, may be reckoned to the year, in which there was the additional expense of the journey. From the 1st of April on let him have up to £800, for that is the rent of the city property now. Some sort of provision must be made for him when he comes to Rome. For I don't think he could endure that woman as a mother-in-law. I refused Pindarus' offer for the villa at Cumae. Now let me tell you why I have sent a messenger. Young Quintus is promising to be as prim as a puritan: and both he and his father have begged me to go bail to you for him, but on the condition that you only believe it when you see it. I shall give him a letter according to his fancy, but don't take any notice of it. I am writing now to prevent you from thinking that I do. God grant he keeps his promise. It would be a satisfaction to everybody. But I—I won't say any more. He is leaving on the 9th. For he says there is some money to be paid over on the 15th, but that he is very hard pressed. You will judge from my letter how to answer. More when I have seen Brutus and am sending Eros back. I accept dear Attica's apology and send her my best love. Give my regards to her and Pilia.

Nonis Quintilibus veni in Puteolanum. postridie iens ad Brutum in Nesidem haec scripsi. sed eo die quo veneram cenanti Eros tuas litteras. itane? NONIS IVLIIS? di hercule istis! sed stomachari totum diem licet. quicquamne turpius quam Bruto IVLIIS? redeo ad meum igitur ' e)/t' e)w=men ;' nihil vidi. [2] sed quid est, quaeso, quod agripetas Buthroti concisos audio? quid autem Plancus tam cursim (ita enim inaudiebam) diem et noctem? sane cupio scire quid sit. [3] meam profectionem laudari gaudeo. videndum est ut mansio laudetur. Dymaeos agro pulsos mare infestum habere nil mirum. )En o(moploi/a? Bruti videtur aliquid praesidi esse, sed, opinor, minuta navigia. sed iam sciam et ad te cras. [4] de Ventidio paniko\n puto. de Sexto pro certo habebatur ad arma. quod si verum est, sine bello civili video serviendum. quid ergo? <ad> Kal. Ian. in Pansa spes? Lh=roj polu\j in vino et in somno istorum. [5] de c_c_x_ optime. Ciceronis rationes explicentur. Ovius enim recens. is multa quae vellem, in iis ne hoc quidem malum in mandatis si habunde HS L_X_X_I_I_ satis esse, adfatim prorsus, sed Xenonem perexigue et gli/sxrwj praebere [id est minutatim]. quod plus permutasti quam ad fructum insularum, id ille annus habeat in quem itineris sumptus accessit. hinc ex Kal. Apr. ad HS L_x_x_x_ accommodetur. nunc enim insulae tantum. videndum enim est quid, cum Romae erit. non enim puto socrum illam ferendam. Pindaro de Cumano negaram. [6] nunc cuius rei causa tabellarium miserim accipe. Quintus filius mihi pollicetur se Catonem. egit autem et pater et filius ut tibi sponderem sed ita ut tum crederes cum ipse cognosses. huic ego litteras ipsius arbitratu dabo. eae te ne moverint. has scripsi in eam partem ne me motum putares. di faxint ut faciat ea quae promittit! commune enim gaudium. sed ego--nihil dico amplius. is hinc vii Idus. ait enim attributionem in Idus, se autem urgeri acriter. tu ex meis litteris quo modo respondeas moderabere. plura, cum et Brutum videro et Erotem remittam. Atticae meae excusationem accipio eamque amo plurimum; cui et Piliae salutem.