Letter 1003: I'm deeply grateful to learn that you don't find my letters tasteless, and I consider it a real gift that my...

I am affected with the deepest gratitude that I observe my letters do not seem tasteless to you, and I count it as a weighty gift that this estimation of our epistles exists among you people. For to be praised by a man who is himself praised is a rare harvest of talent. But just as this was a source of joy to me, so I suppose that that other remark was added for the sake of teasing me, namely, that if anything in your verses had grown shabby, the care of my pen [stylus] should file it smooth. Truly I am a fool and a worthless fellow if I do not perceive that my face has been daubed [that I am being mocked]. For what can either be corrected by me, or is permitted in you? You alone in our age have coined the currency of Latin eloquence on the Tullian [Ciceronian] anvil. Whatever was charming among the poets, weighty among the orators, faithful in the annals [histories], learned among the grammarians, you alone have drained off, the rightful heir of the old literature. Do not deceive me with words! I myself know what the proverb is worth: a sow [teaching] Minerva. You are skilled to the highest degree in the epic discipline, and no less learned in sounding the prose trumpet. Do you say so at last? Equally great in oratory and in song, will you falsely pretend that you stand in need of my help? You do not act fairly, nor does false enticement give me pleasure. Meanwhile, if you grant us the use of your ears, I shall tell you what we have been doing in recent days. At Baiae, with all witnesses removed, I was taking my leisure. After a rumor was brought there that the sons of the earth [low-born men] were gathering, we took exceeding care, lest a plebeian company should darken our sober solitude. And first I withdrew to Naples, then, after a short interval, to Beneventum. There, received with the highest courtesy and applause of the citizens, I was celebrated with such great honor that by now I was burdened by their attentions. For zealous attention, which is not repaid, is a heavy load. And although the city is very great, its individual chief men seemed to me greater than the city, most distinguished in letters and admirable in their characters. A great part of them venerates the gods; they wear themselves out vying with one another, spending their private money for the adornment of the community. For after the earth quaked, scarcely anything was left to them, but their broken resources found their spirits unbroken. Each for himself strives after the work of a good citizen; night is joined to day for labor. Whence it was our utmost concern to depart sooner rather than [...]. [Apparatus: Naevius, cited in Cicero, Tusculan Disputations III.31.67; Letters to Friends V.12.7; XV.6. - Variant readings: "Verinus" omitted in V; "sollers" T; "your" (vestros) in V.]

Summa adficior gratia, quod animadverto litteras meas tibi insubidas non videri, et in gravi dono habeo hanc apud vos esse de nostris epistolis censionem. laudari quippe ab laudato viro rara est messis ingenii. verum ut hoc mihi laetitiae fuit, ita illud ludificandi gratia opinor adiectum, si quid in tuis versibus sorduisset, id ut mei i^ 2 stili cura limaret. ne ego sum stultus ac nihili, si os sublitum mihi esse non sentio. quid enim corrigi vel a me potest, vel in te fas est? unus aetate nostra monetam Latiaris eloquii TuIIiana incude finxisti. quidquid in poetis lepidum, apnd oratores grave, in annalibus fidele, inter grammaticos eruditum fuit, solus hausisti, iustus heres veterum litterarum. ne mihi verba dederis! novi ego, quid valeat adagio: sus Minervam. 20 adprime calles epicam disciplinam, non minus pedestrem lituum doctus inflare. ain tandem? orandi aeque magnus et canendi meae te opis indigum mentiare? haud aequum 3 facis, neque me iuvat falsa lactatio. interea si nobis utendas aures datis, dicam, quid diebus superioribus egerimus. Bais remotis arbitris otiabar. eo postquam rumor ad- latus est, terrae filios convenire, oppido cav«mus, ne sobriam solitudinem nostram soda- 25 litas plebeia fuscaret. ac primo Neapolim, dehinc brevi intervallo Beneventum me recepi. ibi summo cultu civium plausuque susceptus tanto honore celebrabar, ut iam 4 gravarer officiis. sedulitas enim, quae non conpensatur, onerosa est. et urbs cum sit maxima, singuli eius optimates visi sunt mihi urbe maiores, SLmmtissimi litterarum morumque mirabiles. deo5 magna pars veneratur; privatam pecuniam pro civitatis 30 omatu certatim fatigant. nam postquam terra movit, nihil paene illis reliqui factum est, sed fractae opes infractos animos reppererunt. pro se quisque operam boni civis adfectat; nox diei iungitur ad laborem. unde nobis summa cura fuit abire ocius quam 13 Naevius ap. Cic. Tuse. mi 31, 67; ad Fam. V 12, 7; XV 6. I Verinns] F, om, V 8 solla T 9 uestros V