Letter 7.2

I will take care of your commission diligently. But you are a sharp man: you assigned it to the very person who has the strongest interest in seeing the thing sell for as much as possible. Still, you showed good sense in setting a maximum price, so that I could not buy it for more. If you had left it entirely to me, given my affection for you, I would have struck a bargain with the co-heirs. As it is, since I know your price, I will sooner put in a bidder than let it sell for less. But enough joking. I will handle your business carefully, as I should. I know for certain that you are glad about Bursa, but you congratulate me too modestly. You write as if I might think the joy less great because the man himself was so contemptible. Believe me, I was more delighted by this verdict than by the death of an enemy: first, because I prefer winning by judgment rather than by the sword; second, because I prefer a friend's glory to an enemy's ruin. Above all, I was delighted that so much enthusiasm from good citizens appeared on my behalf against the incredible exertions of a most famous and powerful man. Finally - though perhaps it will hardly seem believable - I hated this man much more than Clodius himself. I had attacked Clodius, but I had defended this creature. Clodius, when the whole state was going to be put at risk in my person, was aiming at something large, and he acted not entirely on his own initiative but with the help of men who could not stand while I stood. This little ape, out of mere empty-headed malice, chose me as his target and persuaded some of my jealous enemies that he would always be their ready weapon against me. So I order you to rejoice heartily: a great thing has been achieved. No citizens were ever braver than those who dared to condemn him against such enormous power, and against the man who had selected them as jurors. They would never have done it if my pain had not been painful to them as well. Here in Rome I am so consumed by the crowd and frequency of trials and by the new laws that I pray every day there will be no intercalary month, so that I may see you as soon as possible.

CLXXXI (Fam. VII, 2) TO M. MARIUS (IN CAMPANIA) ROME (DECEMBER) I will look after your commission carefully. But, sharp man that you are, you have given your commission to the very person above all others whose interest it is that the article should fetch the highest possible price! However, you have been far-sighted in fixing beforehand how far I am to go. But if you had left it to me, I am so much attached to you that I would have made a bargain with the heirs: as it is, since I know your price, I will put up some one to bid rather than let it go for less. But a truce to jesting! I will do your business with all care, as in duty bound. I feel sure you are glad about Bursa, but your congratulations are too half-hearted. For you suppose, as you say in your letter, that, owing to the fellow's meanness, I don't look upon it as a matter of much rejoicing. I would have you believe that I am more pleased with this verdict than with the death of my enemy. For, in the first place, I would rather win by legal process than by the sword; in the second place, by what brings credit to a friend than by what involves his condemnation. And, above all, I was delighted that the support of the loyalists was given to me so decisively against the influence exerted to an incredible degree by a most illustrious and powerful personage. Finally — though, perhaps, you won't think it likely — I bated this man much more than the notorious Clodius himself. For the latter I bad attacked, the former I had defended. The latter, too, though the very existence of the Republic was to be risked in my person, had yet a certain great object in view; nor was it wholly on his own initiative, but with the support of those who could not be safe as long as I was so. But this ape of a fellow, in sheer wantonness, had selected me as an object for his invectives, and had persuaded certain persons who were jealous of me that he would always be a ready instrument for an attack upon me. Wherefore I bid you rejoice with all your heart: a great stroke has been struck. Never were any citizens more courageous than those who ventured to vote for his condemnation, in the teeth of the immense power of the man by whom the jurors had themselves been selected. And this they never would have done had not my grievance been theirs also. Here, in Rome , I am so distracted by the number of trials, the crowded courts, and the new legislation, that I daily offer prayers that there may be no intercalation, so that I may see you as soon as possible.

II. Scr. Romae ineunte anno u.c. 703. M. CICERO S. D. M. MARIO. Mandatum tuum curabo diligenter; sed homo acutus ei mandasti potissimum, cui expediret illud venire quam plurimo; sed in eo vidisti multum, quod praefinisti, quo ne pluris emerem. Quod si mihi permisisses, qui meus amor in te est, confecissem cum coheredibus; nunc, quoniam tuum pretium novi, illicitatorem potius ponam, quam illud minoris veneat. Sed de ioco satis est: tuum negotium agam, sicuti debeo, diligenter. De Bursa te gaudere certo scio; sed nimis verecunde mihi gratularis; putas enim, ut scribis, propter hominis sordes minus me magnam illam laetitiam putare. Credas mihi velim magis me iudicio hoc quam morte inimici laetatum: primum enim iudicio malo quam gladio, deinde gloria potius amici quam calamitate; in primisque me delectavit tantum studium bonorum in me exstitisse contra incredibilem contentionem clarissimi et potentissimi viri; postremo—vix veri simile fortasse videatur—oderam multo peius hunc quam illum ipsum Clodium; illum enim oppugnaram, hunc defenderam, et ille, cum omnis res publica in meo capite discrimen esset habitura, magnum quiddam spectavit, nec sua sponte, sed eorum auxilio, qui me stante stare non poterant, hic simiolus animi cauas me, in quem inveheretur, delegerat persuaseratque nonnullis invidis meis se in me emissarium semper fore. Quamobrem valde iubeo gaudere te: magna res gesta est. Numquam ulli fortiores cives fuerunt, quam qui ausi sunt eum contra tantas opes eius, a quo ipsi lecti iudices erant, condemnare; quod fecissent numquam, nisi iis dolori meus fuisset dolor. Nos hic in multitudine et crebritate iudiciorum et novis legibus ita distinemur, ut quotidie vota faciamus, ne intercaletur, ut quam primum te videre possimus.