Letter 45

When I have praised any of your friends in writing to you, I want him to know from you that I did so, just as you know I recently wrote to you about Varro's attentiveness toward me, and you wrote back that this was a source of the greatest pleasure to you. But I would have preferred you had written to him that he was satisfying me—not because he was doing so, but so that he would; for he is wonderfully peculiar in his ways, as you know, "all twists and turns and nothing—." But we hold to that precept, "the ways of those in power—." Yet by Hercules, your other friend Hortalus—with what a generous hand, how openly, how elegantly he lifted our praises to the stars, when he was speaking about Flaccus's praetorship and that affair of the Allobroges! Take it as certain that nothing could have been said with more affection, more honor, or more abundance. I very much want you to write to him that this report was sent to you by me. But why should I say what you should write? For I now believe you are on your way and nearly here, since that is what I urged in my previous letter. I am eagerly awaiting you, desperately missing you, and my own longing is no greater than the situation itself and the times demand. On these matters, what should I write to you except what I have said so often? Nothing is more desperate than the state of public affairs; nothing is more deeply hated than those by whose doing this has come about. We ourselves, as our judgment, hope, and conjecture suggest, are fortified by the firmest goodwill of the people. Therefore fly to us: either you will free us from every trouble or you will share in it. I am briefer for this reason: because, as I hope, we shall soon be able to discuss what we wish face to face. Take care of your health.

When I write to you praising any of your friends, I wish you would let them know I have done so. For example, I mentioned in a letter lately Varro’s kindness to me, and you answered that you were delighted to hear it. But I had much rather you had written to him saying he was doing all I wished—not satis facere, non quo faceret, sed ut faceret; mirabiliter enim moratus est, sicut nosti, ἑλικτὰ καὶ οὐδέν—Sed nos tenemus praeceptum illud τὰς τῶν κρατούντων—. At hercule alter tuus familiaris, Hortalus, quam plena manu, quam ingenue, quam ornate nostras laudes in astra sustulit, cum de Flacci praetura et de illo tempore Allobrogum diceret! Sic habeto, nec amantius nec honorificentius nec copiosius potuisse dici. Ei te hoc scribere a me tibi esse missum sane volo. Sed quid tu scribas? quem iam ego venire atque adesse arbitror; ita enim egi tecum superioribus litteris. Valde te exspecto, valde desidero neque ego magis, quam ipsa res et tempus poscit. His de negotiis quid scribam ad te nisi idem quod saepe? re publica nihil desperatius, iis, quorum opera, nihil maiore odio. Nos, ut opinio et spes et coniectura nostra fert, firmissima benevolentia hominum muniti sumus. Quare advola; aut expedies nos omni molestia aut eris particeps. Ideo sum brevior, quod, ut spero, coram brevi tempore conferre, quae volumus, licebit. Cura, ut valeas. that he was, but to make him do it. For, as you know, he is an odd creature, “all tortuous thoughts and no—”. But I hold to the maxim, “A great man’s follies.” However, your other friend, Hortalus, most certainly lauded me to the skies in the most liberal, open-hearted and elaborate manner, when he was delivering a speech on Flaccus’ praetorship and that incident of the Allobroges. You may take my word for it that he could not have expressed himself in more affectionate and laudatory terms, nor more fully. I should much like you to write and tell him that I sent you word of it. But I hope you won’t have to write, and are now on your way and quite close after the appeals in my former letter. I am eagerly looking out for you, and in sore need of you: and circumstances and the times call for you as much as I do. On these affairs I have nothing new to say: the country is in the most desperate position possible, and nothing could exceed the unpopularity of those who are responsible for it. I myself, as I think, hope and imagine, am safeguarded by the staunchest support. So hasten your coming: you will either relieve all my cares or share them with me. If I am rather brief, it is because I hope that I may soon be able to discuss anything I wish with you face to face. Take care of yourself.

Cum aliquem apud te laudaro tuorum familiarium, volam illum scire ex te me id fecisse, ut nuper me scis scripsisse ad te de Varronis erga me officio, te ad me rescripsisse eam rem summae tibi voluptati esse. sed ego mallem ad illum scripsisses mihi illum satis facere, non quo faceret sed ut faceret; mirabiliter enim moratus est sicut nosti, helikta kai ouden—. sed nos tenemus praeceptum illud tas ton kratounton—. at hercule alter tuus familiaris Hortalus quam plena manu, quam ingenue, quam ornate nostras laudes in astra sustulit, cum de Flacci praetura et de illo tempore Allobrogum diceret! sic habeto nec amantius nec honorificentius nec copiosius potuisse dici. ei te hoc scribere a me tibi esse missum sane volo. [2] sed quid tu scribas? quem iam ego venire atque adesse arbitror; ita enim egi tecum superioribus litteris. valde te exspecto, valde desidero neque ego magis quam ipsa res et tempus poscit. his de negotiis quid scribam ad te nisi idem quod saepe? re publica nihil desperatius, iis quorum opera nihil maiore odio. nos, ut opinio et spes et coniectura nostra fert, firmissima benevolentia hominum muniti sumus. qua re advola; aut expedies nos omni molestia aut eris particeps. ideo sum brevior quod, ut spero, coram brevi tempore conferre quae volumus licebit. cura ut valeas. Cicero