Letter 8.2

Yes, I tell you, he was acquitted. The verdict was announced in my presence, and by every order of jurors, unanimously in each order. "Laugh away," you say. By Hercules, no. Nothing ever happened so contrary to expectation or so unworthy in everyone's eyes. Even I, though for friendship's sake I supported him with all my strength and had already prepared myself to grieve with him, was stunned when it happened and felt as if I had been tricked. What do you think others felt? They attacked the jurors with the loudest shouts and showed plainly that this could not be endured. Now that he is left exposed to the Licinian law, he seems to be in even greater danger. Added to this, the day after his acquittal Hortensius came into Curio's theater, I suppose so that we might share his joy. Then came such noise, rumbling, shouting, thunder, and hissing through the rigging. It was noticed all the more because Hortensius had reached old age untouched by hisses. But on that day he received enough for anyone's whole life, enough to make him sorry he had won. I have nothing to write about the republic. Marcellus's attacks have subsided, not from idleness, as it seems to me, but by design. Public judgment about the consular elections is utterly uncertain. As for me, I have fallen in with one noble competitor and one who acts noble: Marcus Octavius, son of Gnaeus, and Gaius Hirrus are standing with me. I mention this because I know that, on account of Hirrus, you will be sharply waiting for news of our election. Still, as soon as you hear that I have been elected, please make the panthers your concern. I commend Sittius's bond to you. I gave the first notebook of city affairs to Lucius Castrinius Paetus, and the second to the bearer of this letter.

CXCV (Fam. VIII, 2) M. CAELIUS RUFUS TO CICERO (ON HIS JOURNEY) ROME, JUNE: Itis certainly true, I tell you, that he has been acquitted — I was in court when the verdict was announced — and that, too, by all three orders, and by a unanimous vote in each order. “Well, that is entirely their concern,” say you. No, by Hercules ! For nothing ever happened so unexpected, or so scandalous in the eyes of everybody. Nay, even I, though I countenanced him with all my might for friendship's sake, and had prepared myself to condole with him, was thunderstruck when it occurred, and thought I must be under some hallucination. What do you suppose, then, was the feeling of others? Why, they attacked the jurors with a storm of disapproving shouts, and made it quite plain that this was more than they could stand. Accordingly, now that he is left to the mercies of the Licinian law, he seems to be in greater danger than ever. Besides this, on the day after the acquittal, Hortensius came into Curio 's theatre — I suppose that we might share in his rejoicing! Whereupon you had “Tumult sore, Wild uproar, Thunder bellowing in the clouds, Tempest hissing through the shrouds.” This was the more noticed from the fact that Hortensius had reached old age without ever having been hissed, but on this occasion 'got it heartily enough to serve anyone for the whole of his life, and to make him sorry he had won his case. Of politics I have nothing to tell you. The active proceedings of Marcellus have died away, not from lack of energy, as it seems to me, but from policy. As to the consular elections, public opinion is quite at a loss. For myself, I have chanced upon one competitor who is noble and one who acts the noble: for M. Octavius , son of Gnaeus, and C. Hirrus are standing with me. I tell you this because I know that it was on account of Hirrus that you were anxiously waiting for news of my election. However, as soon as you learn of my having been returned, I beg you to be taking measures as to the panthers. I recommend Sittius 's bond to your attention. I gave the first batch of notes on the events in the city to L. Castrinius Pietus, the second to the bearer of this letter.

II. Scr. Romae mense Iunio a.u.c. 703. CAELIUS CICERONI SAL. Certe, inquam, absolutus est—me praesente pronuntiatum est—, et quidem ab omnibus ordinibus et singulis in uno quoque ordine sententiis. "Ride modo," inquis. Non mehercules: nihil umquam enim tam praeter opinionem, tam quod videretur omnibus indignum, accidit; quin ego, cum pro amicitia validissime faverem ei et me iam ad dolendum praeparassem, postquam factum est, obstupui et mihi visus sum captus esse. Quid alios putas? clamoribus scilicet maximis iudices corripuerunt et ostenderunt plane esse, quod ferri non posset; itaque relictus legi Liciniae maiore esse periculo videtur. Accessit huc, quod postridie eius absolutionem in theatrum Curionis Hortensius introiit, puto, ut suum gaudium gauderemus. Hic tibi strepitus, fremitus, clamor tonitruum et rudentum sibilus. Hoc magis animadversum est, quod intactus ab sibilo pervenerat Hortensius ad senectutem; sed tum tam bene, ut in totam vitam cuivis satis esset et poeniteret eum iam vicisse. De re publica quod tibi scribam, nihil habeo: Marcelli impetus resederunt, non inertia, sed, ut mihi videbantur, consilio. De comitiis consularibus incertissima est existimatio: ego incidi in competitorem nobilem et nobilem agentem; nam M. Octavius Cn. f. et C. Hirrus mecum petunt. Hoc ideo scripsi, quod scio te acriter propter Hirrum nuntium nostrorum comitiorum exspectaturum. Tu tamen simulac me designatum audieris, ut tibi curae sit, quod ad pantheras attinet, rogo. Syngrapham Sittianam tibi commendo. Commentarium rerum urbanarum primum dedi L. Castrinio Paeto, secundum ei, qui has litteras tibi dedit.