Letter 421

What a strange coincidence! On the 9th I got up before daybreak to go on from Sinuessa, and before dawn I had reached the Tirenian bridge at Menturnae, where the road for Arpinum branches off, when I met a messenger, who found me "on a far journey bent." I at once enquired: "Pray, is there anything from Atticus?" I could not read as yet, for I had dismissed the link-bearers and it was not yet light enough. But, when it got light, I began to read the first of your two letters, having already written one to you. Your note was a model of elegance. Upon my life I am not saying more than I mean. I never read a kinder. So I will come, when you call me, provided you will assist me. But at first sight I thought nothing could be more _mal à propos_ than such an answer to a letter in which I had asked for your advice. Then there is your other letter, in which you advise me to go "by windy Mimas towards the Psyrian isle," that is keeping the Appian way on the left side. So I have stayed the day at Aquinum. It was rather a wearisome journey and the road was bad. This letter I am sending the next morning as I am leaving. ... and indeed Eros' letter made me dismiss him most unwillingly. Tiro will explain it to you. Pray see what can be done. Besides let me know whether propius accedere (malo enim esse in Tusculano aut uspiam in suburbano), an etiam longius discedendum putes, crebro ad me velim scribas. Erit autem cotidie, cui des. Quod praeterea consulis, quid tibi censeam faciundum, difficile est, cum absim. Verum tamen, si pares aeque inter se, quiescendum, sin, latius manabit et quidem ad nos, deinde communiter. I am expecting your advice eagerly. I fear I may be absent, when honour demands my presence; yet I dare not come rashly. About Antony's march I hear now rather a different tale from what I wrote. So I wish you would unravel the whole mystery and send me certain news. For the rest what can I say? I have a burning passion for history—for your suggestion has had a wonderful effect upon me—but it is not easy to begin or to carry it out without your assistance. So we will discuss it when we meet. At the present moment I wish you would tell me in what year C. Fannius, son of Marcus, was tribune. I think I have been told it was in the censorship of Africanus and Mummius. So that is what I want to know. Please send me clear and certain details of all the changes in the constitution. Arpinum, Nov. 11.

O casum mirificum! v Idus cum ante lucem de Sinuessano surrexissem venissemque diluculo ad pontem Tirenum qui est Menturnis, in quo flexus est ad iter Arpinas, obviam mihi fit tabellarius, qui me offendit ' dolixo\n plo/on o(rmai/nonta .' at ego statim 'cedo' inquam 'si quid ab Attico.' nondum legere poteramus; nam et lumina dimiseramus nec satis lucebat. Cum autem luceret, ante scripta epistula ex duabus tuis prior mihi legi coepta est. illa omnium quidem elegantissima. ne sim salvus si aliter scribo ac sentio. nihil legi humanius. itaque veniam quo vocas, modo adiutore te. sed nihil tam a)prosdio/nuson mihi primo videbatur quam ad eas litteras quibus ego a te consilium petieram te mihi ista rescribere. [2] ecce tibi altera qua hortaris ' par' h)nemo/enta Mi/manta, nh/sou e)pi\ Yuri/hj ,' Appiam scilicet ' e)p' a)riste/r' e)/xonta .' itaque eo die mansi Aquini. longulum sane iter et via mala. Inde postridie mane proficiscens has litteras dedi. [3] * * * et quidem, ut a me dimitterem invitissimus fecerunt Erotis litterae. rem tibi Tiro narrabit. tu quid faciendum sit videbis. praeterea possimne propius accedere (malo enim esse in Tusculano aut uspiam in suburbano) an etiam longius discedendum putes crebro ad me velim scribas. erit autem cotidie cui des. [4] quod praeterea consulis, quid tibi censeam faciundum difficile est cum absim. verum tamen si pares aeque inter se, quiescendum, sin, latius manabit et quidem ad nos; deinde communiter.