Cicero Letters to Atticus, Vol. 2 of 3 58

Cicero Letters to Atticus, Vol. 2 of 3 58

with severity. I hope my efforts may succeed. But please some time tear

up the letters in which I criticize him severely, for fear anything

ever come to light. I will tear up yours. Servius Sulpicius I am still

awaiting, nor do I hear anything satisfactory from him. You shall know

whatever happens.

 

 

 

 

XIIa

 

CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

 

 

[Sidenote: _Cumae, May 6_, B.C. _49_]

 

Undoubtedly I must admit I have been mistaken. But is it once only or

on one topic? No, in everything. The more carefully I have thought, the

less wisely have I done. "Let bygones be bygones."[152] In the future

only let us not invite disaster. You bid me provide for my journey.

What can I provide? All the possible accidents are so obvious, that,

if I would shun them, I must sit still in shame and grief: and, if I

disregard them, it is odds that I fall into the hands of villains. But

see how miserable I am. Sometimes it seems preferable that I should

receive some damage however bitter from Caesar's party, that people

may see I am hated by the tyrant. But, if the voyage for which I hoped

were open to me, certainly, as you wish and advise, I should have done

something to justify delay. But I am watched with extraordinary care

and even Curio is suspect. So I must make a bold move or use craft. If

a bold move, I need good weather: but, if craft, should there be any

_faux pas_, you see how disgraced I should be. I am carried away by

circumstances and must not be afraid of a bold course.

 

[152] Iliad xvii, 112, "But what is past though grieved we will let be."

 

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De Caelio saepe mecum agito nec, si quid habuero tale, dimittam.

Hispanias spero firmas esse. Massiliensium factum cum ipsum per se

luculentum est, tum mihi argumento est recte esse in Hispaniis. Minus

enim auderent, si aliter esset, et scirent; nam et vicini et diligentes

sunt. Odium autem recte animadvertis significatum in theatro. Legiones

etiam has, quas in Italia assumpsit, alienissimas esse video. Sed

tamen nihil inimicius quam sibi ipse. Illud recte times, ne ruat. Si

desperarit, certe ruet. Quo magis efficiendum aliquid est, fortuna

velim meliore, animo Caeliano. Sed primum quidque. Quod qualecumque

erit, continuo scies. Nos iuveni, ut rogas, suppeditabimus et

Peloponnesum ipsam sustinebimus. Est enim indoles, modo aliquod hoc sit

ἦθος ΑΚΙΜΟΑΟΝ.[153] Quod si adhuc nullum est, esse tamen potest, aut

ἀρετὴ non est διδακτόν, quod mihi persuaderi non potest.

 

[153] _The text here is corrupt and no convincing emendation has been

suggested._

 

 

 

 

XIII

 

CICERO ATTICO SAL.

 

 

[Sidenote: _Scr. in Cumano Non. Mai. a. 705_]

 

Epistula tua gratissima fuit meae Tulliae et me hercule mihi. Semper

speculam aliquam adferunt tuae litterae. Scribes igitur, ac, si quid ad

spem poteris, ne dimiseris. Tu Antoni leones pertimescas cave. Nihil

est illo homine iucundius. Attende πρᾶξιν πολιτικοῦ.

 

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Page 333

 

 

I often reflect about Caelius; and if I have such an opportunity, I

will not let it go. I hope Spain is safe. The action of the Massilians

is praiseworthy in itself, and is a proof to me that things are going

well in Spain. They would have been less bold, if it were otherwise,

and they should know, for they live near and are watchful. You are

right to remark the __EXPRESSION__ of popular feeling in the theatre. Even

the legions which Caesar got in Italy seem to me to be very disloyal

to him. However he is his own worst enemy. You are right to fear that

he may run amuck. Assuredly he will, if he loses hope. That is all the

more inducement for me to do something in the spirit of Caelius, and

I hope with better luck. But everything in due course; and, whatever

it be, I will inform you forthwith. I will do all for young Quintus

that is necessary, and will undertake the task not only of Arcadia but

of the whole Peloponnese.[154] He is able, if only he had character.

However, if he has none so far, he may get it, or virtue is not

teachable, and that I can never believe.

 

[154] Cf. x, 5.

 

 

 

 

XIII

 

CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

 

 

[Sidenote: _Cumae, May 7_, B.C. _49_]

 

Your letter was very pleasing to my daughter and of course to me, for

your correspondence always brings a gleam of hope. So please write,

and, if you can be hopeful, don't fail to be so. Don't be too much

afraid of Antony's lions.[155] He is a jovial fellow. Just hear

 

[155] Plutarch and Pliny state that after Pharsalia Antony had a

chariot drawn by lions: but from this passage it appears that the story

was current earlier.

 

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Page 334

 

Evocavit litteris e municipiis decem primos et IIII viros. Venerunt ad

villam eius mane. Primum dormiit ad h. III, deinde, cum esset nuntiatum

venisse Neapolitanos et Cumanos (his enim est Caesar iratus), postridie

redire iussit; lavari se velle et περὶ κοιλιολυσίαν γίνεσθαι. Hoc here

effecit. Hodie autem in Aenariam transire constituit. Exsulibus reditum

pollicetur.

 

Sed haec omittamus, de nobis aliquid agamas. A Q. Axio accepi litteras.

De Tirone gratum. Vettienum diligo. Vestorio reddidi. Servius pr.

Nonas Maias Menturnis mansisse dicitur, hodie in Liternino mansurus

apud C. Marcellum. Cras igitur nos mature videbit mihique dabit

argumentum ad te epistulae. Iam enim non reperio, quod tibi scribam.

Illud admiror, quod Antonius ad me ne nuntium quidem, cum praesertim me

valde observarit. Videlicet aliquid atrocius de me imperatum est. Coram

negare mihi non vult, quod ego nec rogaturus eram nec, si impetrassem,

crediturus. Nos tamen aliquid excogitabimus. Tu, quaeso, si quid in

Hispaniis. Iam enim poterit audiri, et omnes ita exspectant, ut, si

recte fuerit, nihil negotii futurum putent. Ego autem nec retentis iis

confectam rem puto, neque amissis desperatam. Silium et Ocellam et

ceteros credo retardatos. Te quoque a Curtio impediri video. Etsi, ut

opinor, habes ἔκπλουν.[156]

 

[156] ἔκπλουν _Baiter_: εκιταονον _MSS._

 

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Page 335

 

how he plays the statesman. He summoned by letter ten leading men and

the board of four from the municipal towns. They came to his country

house in the morning. First he slept till nine. Then, when he heard the

men had come from Naples and Cumae (for Caesar is angry with them),

he bade them return on the next day, saying that he wished to take a

bath and a laxative. This he did yesterday. But to-day he has arranged

to cross to Aenaria. He is promising the exiles[157] that they shall

return.

 

[157] Banished under Pompey's law _de ambitu_ in 52 B.C.

 

But let us pass over this and talk about ourselves. I got a letter

from Q. Axius. As for Tiro, thanks. I like Vettienus. I have repaid

Vestorius. Servius is said to have stopped at Menturnae on the 6th of

May. To-day he will stop with C. Marcellus in his villa at Liternum.

To-morrow early he will see me, and will give me a subject for a letter

to you. Just now I can find nothing to write. I am much astonished that

Antony has not even sent a messenger to me, especially when he has paid

me much attention. I suppose he has some more truculent order about me.

He does not wish to refuse me to my face, but I was not going to ask

the favour, nor, if I had got it, should I have believed him. However

I will think out some plan. Let me know if anything has happened in

Spain; for now there is time for news to have come, and everybody

awaits it with the idea, that, if all go well there, there will be no

more trouble. But I do not think the business is over, if Spain be

kept, nor yet hopeless, if it be lost. Silius and Ocella and the rest

I suppose are detained. I see that you too are hindered by Curtius,

though I think you have a passport.

 

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Page 336

 

 

 

 

XIV

 

CICERO ATTICO SAL.

 

 

[Sidenote: _Scr. in Cumano VIII Id. Mai. a. 705_]

 

O vitam miseram, maiusque malum tam diu timere, quam est illud ipsum,

quod timetur! Servius, ut antea scripsi, cum venisset Nonis Maiis,

postridie ad me mane venit. Ne diutius te teneam, nullius consilii

exitum invenimus. Numquam vidi hominem perturbatiorem metu; neque

hercule quicquam timebat, quod non esset timendum; illum sibi iratum,

hunc non amicum; horribilem utriusque victoriam, cum propter alterius

crudelitatem, alterius audaciam tum propter utriusque difficultatem

pecuniariam; quae erui nusquam nisi ex privatorum bonis posset.

Atque haec ita multis cum lacrimis loquebatur, ut ego mirarer eas

tam diuturna miseria non exaruisse. Mihi quidem etiam lippitudo

haec, propter quam non ipse ad te scribo, sine ulla lacrima est, sed

saepius odiosa est propter vigilias. Quam ob rem, quicquid habes ad

consolandum, collige et illa scribe, non ex doctrina neque ex libris

(nam id quidem domi est, sed nescio quo modo imbecillior est medicina

quam morbus), haec potius conquire de Hispaniis, de Massilia; quae quidem satis bella Servius adfert; qui etiam de duabus legionibus luculentos auctores esse dicebat. Haec igitur, si habebis, et talia. Et quidem paucis diebus aliquid audiri necesse est.