Letter 6069: We'd been away from the city only a few days when popular demand called us back for the theatrical games.

We'd been away from the city only a few days when popular demand called us back for the theatrical games. Even now, though, I'm lingering at my suburban estate on the Via Ostiensis [road to Ostia], delaying my return a little so it doesn't look like I was waiting for the applause. If I'd followed your pious advice and left earlier, I would have avoided the dangers that followed and my absence would have carried more dignity. But my one reason for staying was this: I didn't want to look like I'd been driven out, or have my discreet departure mistaken for cowardice. On your Sicilian business, the saintly Comazon has written back -- with my approval. As for your Sicilian property, Nectarius is being difficult, as Euscius's recent letter makes clear. So I ask you: write the man a firm letter and put him in his place, since he's someone who prefers not to be in trouble with you. I've enclosed Euscius's letter so you can judge the man's insolence for yourself. In an earlier letter I asked you to improve the path on the side of my Puteolan villa [at modern Pozzuoli] that leads to the baths, by building a gentler slope. If it hasn't been done yet, I ask again. If it has, write and tell me, so I can be glad. Farewell.

Paucis a patria diebus afuimus, et theatralibus ludis reditum nostrum suffragia civium poposcerunt. nos tamen etiam nunc suburbanum viae Ostiensis incolimus re- cursum tantisper morantes, ne preces expectasse videamur. quo si facere ex senten- tia religionis tuae ante voluissem, et vitassem periculosa, quae post secuta sunt, et expectatio mei plus dignitatis habuisset. sed una fuit huius consilii ratio, ne quibus- lo 2 dam loco pulsus viderer et verecunda discessio verteretur in notam timiditatis. de Siculo negotio vestro sanctus Comazon me quoque adsentiente rescripsit. circa rem uostram Siculam turbidum esse Nectarium, indicio erunt litterae, quas nuper Euscius misit. peto ergo, ut homo rerum nescius, qui cubiculo clausus otium fovet, scripto a vobis coerceatur, ne post de Euscio aliter sentiatis, si validius iusta nostra defenderit. is ipsam hominis nostri epistulam misi, ut temptamenti insolentiam de eius moribus 3 aestimetis, quem certum est a vobis nolle reprehendi. petieram superioribus scriptis, ut Puteolani praetorii mei latus, quo imus ad balneas, dispositione clivi mollioris ornares. si dilata res est, peto rursus, ut facias, si impleta, rescribe, quo gau- deam. vale. 20 Lxvn (Lxvin) .