Letter 422

I have nothing whatever to write about. For, when I was at Puteoli, there was something fresh about Octavian every day, and plenty of false reports about Antony. However, I had three letters from you on the fifth, and I strongly agree with what you said, that if Octavian has much success, the tyrant's proposals will receive stronger confirmation than they did in the temple of Tellus, and that will be against the interests of Brutus. But if, on the other hand, he is conquered, you see Antony will be intolerable; so you don't know which you want. What a rascal Sestius' messenger is! He said he would be in Rome the day after he left Puteoli! You advise me to move slowly, and I agree, though once I thought differently. I am not influenced by Philippus or Marcellus; for their position is different, or, if it is not, it looks as though it were. But that youth, though he has plenty of spirit, has little influence. However, see whether it would not be better for me to be at Tusculum, if I should do right in being there. I would rather be there; for I should get all the news. Or had I better be here when Antony comes? But, as one thing suggests another, I know that what the Greeks call καθῆκον (duty), we call _officium_. But why should you doubt whether the word fits appropriately in political affairs? Don't we say the officium, imperatoris officium"? Praeclare convenit; aut da melius. Male narras de Nepotis filio. Valde mehercule moveor et moleste fero. Nescieram omnino esse istum puerum. Caninium perdidi, hominem, quod ad me attinet, non ingratum. Athenodorum nihil est quod hortere. Misit enim satis bellum ὑπόμνημα. Gravedini, quaeso, omni ratione subveni. Avi tui pronepos scribit ad patris mei nepotem se ex Nonis iis, quibus nos magna gessimus; aedem Opis explicaturum idque ad populum. Videbis igitur et scribes. Sexti iudicium exspecto.

avide tuum consilium exspecto. timeo ne absim cum adesse me sit honestius; temere venire non audeo. de Antoni itineribus nescio quid aliter audio atque ut ad te scribebam. omnia igitur velim explices et ad me certa mittas. [2] de reliquo quid tibi ego dicam? ardeo studio historiae (incredibiliter enim me commovet tua cohortatio) quae quidem nec institui nec effici potest sine tua ope. Coram igitur hoc quidem conferemus. in praesentia mihi velim scribas quibus consulibus C. Fannius M. f. tribunus pl. fuerit. videor mihi audisse P. Africano L. Mummio censoribus. id igitur quaero. tu mihi de iis rebus quae novantur omnia certa, clara. iii Idus ex Arpinati.