Letter 15.17

You have your couriers in the wrong order; not that I mind, but still, when they leave me they demand letters, and when they come to me they bring none. And they would do this more conveniently if they gave me some time for writing; but they come booted and say their companions are waiting at the gate. So forgive me: this second letter will be short; but expect a full account of everything. Although why should I justify myself to you, when your messengers come to me empty-handed and return to you with letters? Here, to write you something anyway, we have it that Publius Sulla the elder has died: some say by robbers, others by indigestion. The people did not care; it was agreed he had been cremated. Bear this with your customary wisdom, though we have lost a leading figure of the city. Caesar was thought likely to take it hard, fearing his auction might cool off. Mindius Marcellus and Attius the paint-dealer were very glad to have lost a rival buyer. No news from Spain, but there is very great expectation; rather gloomy rumors, but without authority. Our friend Pansa set out in his military cloak on the third day before the Kalends, so that anyone could understand what you have recently begun to doubt: that the morally beautiful is to be chosen for its own sake. For because he relieved many from their miseries and showed himself humane in these troubles, a remarkable goodwill from good men accompanied him. I very much approve of your having stayed at Brundisium so far, and I am glad, and by Hercules I think you will do wisely to take things easy. It will be welcome to us who love you, and I shall be grateful if, when you next send a letter home, you remember me. I shall never knowingly allow anyone to go to you without a letter from me. Farewell.

DXL (Fam. XV, 17) TO C. CASSIUS LONGINUS (AT BRUNDISIUM) ROME (JANUARY) YOU have most unreasonable letter-carriers, though I am not personally angry with them. But, after all, when they are leaving me they demand a letter, when they come to me they bring none. And even as to the former, they would have consulted my convenience better if they had given me some interval for writing; but they come to me with their travelling caps on, declaring that their company is waiting for them at the city gate. Therefore you must pardon me: you shall have here another short note, but expect full details presently. Yet why should I apologize to you, when your men come to me with empty hands and return to you with letters. Here — for after all I will write something to you — we have the death of P. Sulla the elder: according to some from an attack of footpads, according to others from an attack of indigestion. The people don't trouble themselves, for they are assured that he is dead and burnt. Your philosophy will enable you to bear this; though we have lost a well-known “feature of the city.” People think that Caesar will be vexed for fear of his auctions becoming flat. Mindius Marcellus and Attius the paintseller are delighted at having lost a rival bidder. There is no news from Spain, and a very great anxiety for some: the rumours are rather gloomy, but are not authenticated. Our friend Pansa left town in military array on the 29th of December. It is enough to convince anyone of what you have recently begun to doubt, that “the good is desirable for its own sake.” For because he has relieved many of their misfortunes, and has shown humanity in these evil times, he was attended by an extraordinary display of affection on the part of good men. I very much approve of your having stayed on at Brundisium , and I am very glad you have done so, and, by Hercules , I think that you will act wisely if you don't trouble yourself about vain things. Certainly I, who love you, shall be glad if it is so. And pray, next time you are sending a packet home, don't forget me. I will never allow anyone, if I know it, to go to you without a letter from me.

XVII. Scr. Romae (exeunte m. Febr. aut ineunte Mart.) a.u.c. 709. M. CICERO C. CASSIO SAL. Praeposteros habes tabellarios; etsi me quidem non offendunt; sed tamen, cum a me discedunt, flagitant litteras, cum ad me veniunt, nullas afferunt, atque id ipsum facerent commodius, si mihi aliquid spatii ad scribendum darent, sed petasati veniunt, comites ad portam exspectare dicunt. Ergo ignosces: alteras habebis has breves, sed exspecta pãnta perÐ pãntvn ; etsi quid ego me tibi purgo, cum tui ad me inanes veniant, ad te cum epistulis revertantur? Nos hic, ut tamen ad te scribam aliquid, P. Sullam patrem mortuum habebamus: alii a latronibus, alii cruditate dicebant; populus non curabat, combustum enim esse constabat. Hoc tu pro tua sapientia feres aequo animo; quamquam prÒsvpon pÒlevw amisimus. Caesarem putabant moleste laturum verentem, ne hasta refrixisset; Mindius Marcellus et Attius pigmentarius valde gaudebant se adversarium perdidisse. De Hispania novi nihil, sed exspectatio valde magna: rumores tristiores, sed éd°spotoi . Pansa noster paludatus a. d. III K. [Ian.] profectus est, ut quivis intelligere posset id, quod tu nuper dubitare coepisti, tÚ xalÚn di' aÍtÚ aþretÚn esse; nam, quod multos miseriis levavit et quod se in his malis hominem praebuit, mirabilis eum virorum bonorum benevolentia prosecuta est. Tu quod adhuc Brundisii moratus es, valde probo et gaudeo, et mehercule puto te sapienter facturum, si éxenÒspoudow fueris: nobis quidem, qui te amamus, erit gratum et amabo te, cum dabis posthac aliquid domum litterarum, mei memineris; ego numquam quemquam ad te, cum sciam, sine meis litteris ire patiar. Vale.