Letter 6: Cicero writes to Quintus in Sardinia from Rome in 18 January 56 BC.

MARCUS TO HIS BROTHER QUINTUS, GREETINGS. 1. It was not pressure of business—though I was indeed thoroughly tied up—but a slight inflammation of the eyes that has prompted me to dictate this letter rather than to write it myself, as I usually do when writing to you. And let me begin by making my excuses to you on the very point on which I am accusing you: for up to now no one has asked me whether I wanted anything sent to Sardinia, whereas you, I imagine, often have people inquiring whether you want anything sent to Rome. As to what you wrote to me about the debt of Lentulus and Sestius, I have spoken with Cincius: however the matter stands, it is not at all easy, but Sardinia surely has some special quality suited to the recollection of past memory. For just as the famous Gracchus the augur, after he had come into that province, recalled what had happened to him in violation of the auspices while he was holding the consular elections in the Campus Martius, so you seem to me, at your leisure in Sardinia, to have thought back over the Numisian draft [a financial instrument or contract drawn up by Numisius] and the debts owed to Pomponius. So far I have bought nothing: Culleo's auction has taken place; there was no buyer for the Tusculan estate. 2. If the terms turn out to be really good, perhaps I shall not let it slip. As for your building project, I do not stop pressing Cyrus [an architect or contractor]: I hope he will do his duty; but everything is rather slow because of the prospect of that lunatic's aedileship [the office of aedile, here held by Cicero's enemy Clodius]; for the elections seem likely to be held without delay—they have been proclaimed for the eleventh day before the Kalends of February [22 January]. Still, I do not want you to be anxious: every kind of safeguard will be employed by us. 3. Concerning the king of Alexandria a decree of the senate was passed, declaring that it seemed dangerous to the Republic for him to be restored with a multitude [an armed force]. As for the rest, since there was a dispute in the senate over whether Lentulus or Pompey should restore him, Lentulus seemed to be winning his case. In that affair we satisfied both our obligation toward Lentulus admirably and Pompey's wish splendidly; but through the disparagers of Lentulus the matter was strung out by malicious obstruction: the election days followed, during which the senate could not be convened. What will come of the brigandage of the tribunes I do not divine, yet I suspect that Caninius will carry his bill through by force. In this matter I cannot make out what Pompey wants; what his intimates desire, everyone sees; and indeed the king's creditors are openly furnishing money against Lentulus. Without doubt the commission seems to have been taken away from Lentulus, to my great grief—although he has done many things for which, if it were permissible, we could justly be angry with him. 4. As for you, if you have settled those matters of yours, I should like you to embark as soon as the weather is fair and settled and to come to me; for there are countless things in which I miss you every day, of every kind. Your people and ours are well. The fourteenth day before the Kalends of February [18 January].

It was not from the multiplicity of business, though I am very much engaged, but from a slight inflammation of the eyes that I was induced to dictate this letter, and not, as is my usual habit, write it with my own hand. And, to begin with, I wish to excuse myself to you on the very point on which I accuse you. For no one up to now has asked me "whether I have any commands for Sardinia"—I think you often have people who say, "Have you any commands for Rome?" As to what you have said in your letters to me about the debt of Lentulus and Sestius, I have spoken with Cincius. However the matter stands, it is not the easiest in the world. But surely Sardinia must have some special property for recalling one's memory of the past. For just as the famous Gracchus—as augur—after arriving in that province remembered something that had happened to him, when holding the elections in the Campus Martius, in violation of the auspices, so you appear to me to have recalled at your ease in Sardinia the design of Numisius and the debts due to Pomponius. As yet I have made no purchase. Culleo's auction has taken place: there was no purchaser for his Tusculan property. If very favourable terms were to be offered, I should perhaps not let it slip About your building I do not fail to press Cyrus. I hope he will do his duty But everything goes on somewhat slowly owing to the prospect of that madman's aedileship. For it seems that the legislative assembly will take place without delay it has been fixed for the 20th of January. However I would not have you uneasy. Every precaution shall be taken by me In regard to the Alexandrine king, a decree of the senate was passed declaring it dangerous to the Republic that he should be restored "with a host." The point remaining to be decided in the senate being whether Lentulus or Pompey should restore him, Lentulus seemed on the point of carrying the day. In that matter I did justice to my obligations to Lentulus marvellously well, while at the same time splendidly gratifying Pompey's wishes: but the detractors of Lentulus Contrived to talk the matter out by obstructive speeches. Then followed the comitial days, on which a meeting of the senate was impossible. What the villainy of the tribunes is going to accomplish I cannot guess; I suspect, however, that Caninius will carry his bill by violence. In this business I cannot make Out what Pompey really wishes. What his entourage desire everybody sees. Those who are financing the king are openly advancing sums of money against Lentulus. There seems no doubt that the commission has been taken out of Lentulus's hands, to my very great regret, although he has done many things for which I might, if it were not for superior considerations, be justly angry with him. I hope, if it is consistent with your interests, that you will embark as soon as possible, when the weather is fair and settled, and come to me. For there are countless things, in regard to which I miss you daily in every possible way. Your family and my own are well. 18 January.

II. Scr. Romae XIV. Kal. Febr. a.u.c. 698. MARCUS QUINTO FRATRI SALUTEM. 1. Non occupatione—quamquam eram sane impeditus—, sed parvula lippitudine adductus sum, ut dictarem hanc epistulam et non, ut ad te soleo, ipse scriberem. Et primum me tibi excuso in eo ipso, in quo te accuso; me enim nemo adhuc rogavit, num quid in Sardiniam vellem, te puto saepe habere, qui, num quid Romam velis, quaerant. Quod ad me de Lentuli et Sestii nomine scripsisti, locutus sum cum Cincip: quoquo modo res se habet, non est facillima, sed habet profecto quiddam Sardinia appositum ad recordationem praeteritae memoriae; nam, ut ille Gracchus augur, posteaquam in istam provinciam venit, recordatus est, quid sibi in campo Martio comitia consulum habenti contra auspicia accidisset, sic tu mihi videris in Sardinia de forma Numisiana et de nominibus Pomponianis in otio recogitasse. Ego adhuc emi nihil: Culleonis auctio facta est; Tusculano emptor nemo fuit; 2. si condicio valde bona fuerit, fortasse non omittam. De aedificatione tua Cyrum urgere non cesso: spero eum in officio fore; sed omnia sunt tardiora propter furiosae aedilitatis exspectationem; nam comitia sine mora futura videntur: edicta sunt in a.d. XI. Kal. Febr.. Te tamen sollicitum esse nolo: omne genus a nobis cautionis adhibebitur. 3. De rege Alexandrino factum est senatus consultum, cum multitudine eum reduci periculosum rei publicae videri: reliqua cum esset in senatu contentio, Lentulusne an Pompeius reduceret, obtinere causam Lentulus videbatur. In ea re nos et officio erga Lentulum mirifice et voluntati Pompeii praeclare satisfecimus, sed per obtrectatores Lentuli calumnia extracta res est: consecuti sunt dies comitiales, per quos senatus haberi non poterat. Quid futurum sit latrocinio tribunorum, non divino, sed tamen suspicor per vim rogationem Caninium perlaturum. In ea re Pompeius quid velit, non dispicio: familiares eius quid cupiant, omnes vident; creditores vero regis aperte pecunias suppeditant contra Lentulum. Sine dubio res a Lentulo remota videtur esse, cum magno meo dolore, quamquam multa fecit, quare, si fas esset, iure ei suscensere possemus. 4. Tu, si ista expedisti, velim quam primum bona et certa tempestate conscendas ad meque venias; innumerabiles enim res sunt, in quibus te quotidie in omni genere desiderem. Tui nostrique valent. XIIII. Kal. Februarias.