Letter 22: Cicero writes to Quintus in Gaul from Rome in October 54 BC.

Marcus to his brother Quintus, greetings. 1. Let my secretary's hand serve as a token of how busy I am: know that there is no single day on which I do not plead on behalf of some defendant; and so whatever I get done or think through, I generally reserve for the time of my walk. Our affairs stand thus: our domestic matters are just as we wish them. The boys are in good health, they study eagerly, they are taught carefully, and they love both us and one another. The finishing touches on both our houses are in hand; but on your side the country property at Arcanum and Laterium is already brought to completion. Furthermore, regarding the water and the road, I left nothing out in a certain letter, but wrote it all out to you in detail. But that one anxiety distresses me and torments me grievously: that now, over an interval of more than fifty days, nothing from you, nothing from Caesar, nothing from those regions has reached me, not only no letter, but not even a rumor. And now both that sea of yours and the land make me anxious, and I do not cease, as happens when one is in love, to imagine those very things I least wish to. For this reason I do not now in fact ask you to write to me about yourself and about affairs out there -- for you never neglect this when you can -- but I want you to know this: that I have scarcely ever waited for anything as eagerly as, at the moment I am writing this, I am waiting for a letter from you. 2. Now learn what is happening in public affairs. One by one the days appointed for the elections are being struck out by announcements of bad omens [obnuntiationes, the magistrate's declaration of unfavorable auspices], to the great satisfaction of all the loyalists [boni, the conservative "good men"]: so great is the unpopularity in which the consuls are involved, on account of the suspicion that bribes were bargained for from the candidates. The four candidates for the consulship are all defendants: the cases are difficult, but we will strive to see that our friend Messalla comes through safe, which is also bound up with the acquittal of the rest. Publius Sulla has brought Gabinius to trial for electoral corruption [ambitus], with his stepson Memmius signing the indictment as co-prosecutor, along with his cousin Caecilius and his son Sulla; Lucius Torquatus spoke against it, and -- to everyone's delight -- did not prevail. 3. You ask: "What will become of Gabinius?" We shall know about the charge of treason [maiestas, an offense against the majesty of the Roman state] within three days; and in that trial, at any rate, he is being weighed down by the hatred of every class, he is being cut to pieces above all by the witnesses, and he is making use of utterly feeble prosecutors; the panel of jurors is mixed, the presiding examiner Alfius is a man of weight and firmness, and Pompey is vehement in canvassing the jurors. What will happen, I do not know; nevertheless I see no place for him in the state. I keep my disposition moderate toward his ruin, and most mild toward the outcome of events. 4. You have nearly everything on every subject; I will add this one thing: your Cicero -- and ours -- is most enthusiastic about his rhetoric master Paeonius, a man, I think, very well-practiced and good; but you are not unaware that our manner of instruction is a little more learned and more methodical [originally in Greek]. For this reason I, for my part, do not wish Cicero's course and that training of his to be hindered, and the boy himself seems to be drawn to and to delight more in that declamatory style; and since we ourselves were once in that same style, we allow him to go by our own paths -- for we are confident he will arrive at the same point -- yet nevertheless, if we take him off with us somewhere into the country, we will bring him over to this method and practice of ours; for a great reward has been set before us by you, which it shall certainly never be through any fault of ours that we attain it less fully. In what places and with what prospect you intend to winter, I should like you to write to me as carefully as possible.

The writing of an amanuensis must show you the amount of my engagements. I assure you that no day passes without my appearing for the defence of some one. Accordingly, all composition or reflexion I reserve for the hour of my walk. So stands my business: matters at home, however, are everything I could wish. Our boys are well, diligent in their studies, and affectionate to me and each other. The decoration of both of our houses is still in hand: but your rural works at Arcanum and Laterium are now completed. For the rest, as to the water and the road, I went into the case thoroughly, in a certain letter of mine, without omitting anything. But, in truth, the anxiety which is now giving me great uneasiness and pain is that for a period of fifty days I have heard nothing from you or from Caesar—nothing has found its way from those parts, either in the shape of a letter, or even of a rumour. Moreover, both the sea and land out there make me uneasy, and I never cease imagining, as one does when one's affections are deeply involved, all that I least desire. Wherefore I do not, indeed, for the present ask you to write me an account of yourself and your doings, for that you never omit doing when possible, but I wish you to know this—that I have scarcely ever been so anxious for anything as at the moment of writing I am for a letter from you. Now for what is going on in politics. One day after another for the comitia is struck out by notices of bad omens, to the great satisfaction of all the loyalists: so great is the scandal in which the consuls are involved, owing to the suspicion of their having bargained for a bribe from the candidates. The four candidates for the consulship are all arraigned : their cases are difficult of defence, but I shall do my best to secure the safety of our friend Messalla—and that is inseparable from the acquittal of the others. Publius Sulla has accused Gabinius of bribery—his stepson Memmius his cousin Caecilius, and his son Sulla backing the indictment. L. Torquatus put in his claim to the conduct of the prosecution, and, to everybody's satisfaction, failed to establish it. You ask, "What will become of Gabinius?" We shall know in three days' time about the charge of lèse majesté. In that case he is at a disadvantage from the hatred entertained by all classes for him; witnesses against him as damaging as can be: accusers in the highest degree inefficient: the panel of jurors of varied character: the president a man of weight and decision—Alfius: Pompey active in soliciting the jurors on his behalf. What the result will be I don't know; I don't see, however, how he can maintain a position in the state. I shew no rancour in promoting his destruction, and await the result with the utmost good temper. That is nearly all the news. I will add this one item: your boy (who is mine also) is exceedingly devoted to his rhetoric master Paeonius, a man, I think, of great experience in his profession, and of very good character. But you are aware that my method of instruction aims at a somewhat more and philosophical style. Accordingly I, for my part, am unwilling that his course of training should be interrupted, and the boy himself seems to be more drawn to that declamatory style, and to like it better; and as that was the style in which I was myself initiated, let us allow him to follow in my path, for I feel sure it will eventually bring him to the same point; nevertheless, if I take him with me somewhere in the country, I shall guide him to the adoption of my system and practice. For you have held out before me a great reward, which it certainly shall not be my fault if I fail to fully obtain. I hope you will write and tell me most carefully in what district you are going to pass the winter, and what your prospects are.

III. Scr. Romae mense Octobri (a. d. XII. Kal. Nov.?) a.u.c. 700. MARCUS QUINTO FRATRI SALUTEM. 1. Occupationum mearum tibi signum sit librarii manus: diem scito esse nullum, quo die non dicam pro reo; ita, quidquid conficio aut cogito, in ambulationis tempus fere confero. Negotia se nostra sic habent: domestica vero, ut volumus: valent pueri, studiose discunt, diligenter docentur, et nos et inter se amant. Expolitiones utriusque nostrum sunt in manibus: sed tua ad perfectum iam res rustica Arcani et Laterii. Praeterea de aqua, de via nihil praetermisi quadam epistula quin enucleate ad te perscriberem. Sed me illa cura sollicitat angitque vehementer, quod dierum iam amplius quinquaginta intervallo nihil a te, nihil a Caesare, nihil ex istis locis non modo litterarum, sed ne rumoris quidem affluxit; me autem iam et mare istuc et terra sollicitat, neque desino, ut fit in amore, ea, quae minime volo, cogitare. Quare non equidem iam te rogo, ut ad me de te, de rebus istis scribas—numquam enim, cum potes, praetermittis—, sec hoc te scire volo, nihil fere umquam me sic exspectasse, ut, cum haec scribebam, tuas litteras. 2. Nunc cognosce ea, quae sunt in re publica: comitiorum quotidie singuli dies tolluntur obnuntiationibus magna voluntate bonorum omnium: tanta invidia sunt consules propter suspicionem pactorum a candidatis praemiorum. Candidati consulares quattuor omnes rei: causae sunt difficiles, sed enitemur, ut Messala noster salvus sit, quod est etiam cum reliquorum salute coniunctum. Gabinium de ambitu reum fecit P. Sulla subscribente privigno Memmio, fratre Caecilio, Sulla filio; contra dixit L. Torquatus omnibusque libentibus non obtinuit. 3. Quaeris: "quid fiet de Gabinio?" Sciemus de maiestate triduo: quo quidem in iudicio odio premitur omnium generum, maxime testibus caeditur, accusatoribus frigidissimis utitur; consilium varium, quaesitor gravis et firmus Alfius, Pompeius vehemens in iudicibus rogandis. Quid futurum sit, nescio; locum tamen illi in civitate non video. Animum praebeo ad illius perniciem moderatum, ad rerum eventum lenissimum. 4. Habes fere de omnibus rebus; unum illud addam: Cicero tuus nosterque summo studio est Paeonii sui rhetoris, hominis, opinor, valde exercitati et boni; sed nostrum instituendi genus esse paullo eruditius et yetix‰teron non ignoras: quare neque ego impediri Ciceronis iter atque illam disciplinam volo et ipse puer magis illo declamatorio genere duci et delectari videtur, in quo quoniam ipsi quoque fuimus, patimur illum ire nostris itineribus—eodem enim perventurum esse confidimus—, sed tamen, si nobiscum eum rus aliquo eduxerimus, in hanc nostram rationem consuetudinemque inducemus; magna enim nobis a te proposita merces est, quam certe nostra culpa numquam minus assequemur. Quibus in locis et qua spe hiematurus sis, ad me quam diligentissime scribas velim.