Cicero Letters to Atticus, Vol. 2 of 3 70

Cicero Letters to Atticus, Vol. 2 of 3 70

XVI

 

CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

 

 

[Sidenote: _Brundisium, June 3_, B.C. _47_]

 

It is not my fault at the present time (for I did commit an error

before) that the letter you send[189] does not give me any consolation.

For it is grudgingly written, and raises great suspicion that it is

not by Caesar: I expect you noticed that too. About going to meet him

I will do as you advise. For no one thinks he is coming, and those who

come from Asia say there has been no word of peace: and it was hope of

a peace that led me into this error.

 

[189] A letter purporting to come from Caesar, but later found to be a

forgery.

 

I see nothing to make me think of hope, especially now that that blow

has fallen in Asia, in Illyricum, in the Cassian affair, in Alexandria

itself, in Rome and in Italy.[190] For my part, even if he is on his

return--whereas

 

[190] Cicero alludes to the defeat of Domitius Calvinus in Asia, the

failure of Aulus Gabinius in Illyricum, the insurrection of Baetica,

which forced Cassius to leave the province, Caesar's difficulties at

Alexandria, the riots in Rome, and the mutinous state of the army in

Italy.

 

* * * * *

 

Page 402

 

bellum gerere dicitur, tamen ante reditum eius negotium confectum iri

puto.

 

Quod autem scribis quandam laetitiam bonorum esse commotam, ut sit

auditum de litteris, tu quidem nihil praetermittis in quo putes

aliquid solacii esse, sed ego non adducor quemquam bonum ullam salutem

putare mihi tanti fuisse, ut eam peterem ab illo, et eo minus, quod

huius consilii iam ne socium quidem habeo quemquam. Qui in Asia sunt,

rerum exitum exspectant, Achaici etiam Fufio spem deprecationis

afferunt. Horum et timor idem fuit primo qui meus et constitutum; mora

Alexandrina causam illorum correxit, meam evertit. Quam ob rem idem a

te nunc peto quod superioribus litteris, ut, si quid in perditis rebus

dispiceres, quod mihi putares faciendum, me moneres. Si recipior ab

his, quod vides non fieri, tamen, quoad bellum erit, quid agam aut ubi

sim, non reperio; sin iactor, eo minus. Itaque tuas litteras exspecto,

easque ut ad me sine dubitatione scribas, rogo.

 

Quod suades, ut ad Quintum scribam de his litteris, facerem, si me

quicquam istae litterae delectarent. Etsi quidam scripsit ad me his

verbis: "Ego ut in his malis Patris sum non invitus; essem libentius,

si frater tuus ea de te loqueretur, quae ego audire vellem." Quod ais

illum ad te scribere me

 

* * * * *

 

Page 403

 

he is said to be still fighting--still I think the business will be

settled before he does return.

 

You say, however, that some feeling of pleasure was aroused among the

loyalists when they heard of this letter. Of course you do not omit

anything in which you think there is the least consolation, but I

cannot bring myself to believe that any of the loyalists supposed that

I prize any salvation highly enough to beg for it of him: especially as

I have not even a single partner in this policy now. Those who are in

Asia are waiting to see how things turn out: those in Achaia too keep

holding out to Fufius the hope that they will petition for pardon. They

at first had the same fear and the same plan as myself; but the hitch

at Alexandria improved their case and ruined mine. So I still make the

same request of you as in former letters: if in these desperate straits

you see anything you think I ought to do, tell me of it. If I am taken

back by the loyalists, which you see is not the case, still, so long as

the war lasts, I don't see what I am to do or where I am to stay; still

less, if I am rejected by them. So I await a letter from you, and I beg

you to write to me without hesitation.

 

You advise me to write to Quintus about this letter. I would, if the

letter gave me any pleasure, though some one has written to me saying:

"Considering the evil days, I am pretty comfortable at Patrae, and I

should be more so, if your brother would speak of you as I should like

to hear him."

 

* * * * *

 

Page 404

 

sibi nullas litteras remittere, semel ab ipso accepi. Ad eas Cephalioni

dedi, qui multos menses tempestatibus retentus est. Quintum filium ad

me acerbissime scripsisse iam ante ad te scripsi.

 

Extremum est, quod te orem, si putas rectum esse et a te suscipi posse,

cum Camillo communices, ut Terentiam moneatis de testamento. Tempora

monent, ut videat, ut satis faciat, quibus debeat. Auditum ex Philotimo

est eam scelerate quaedam facere. Credibile vix est, sed certe, si quid

est, quod fieri possit, providendum est. De omnibus rebus velim ad me

scribas, et maxime quid sentias de ea, in qua tuo consilio egeo, etiam

si nihil excogitas. Id enim mihi erit pro desperato.

 

III Non. Iun.

 

 

 

 

XVII

 

CICERO ATTICO SAL.

 

 

[Sidenote: _Scr. Brundisi prid. Id aut Id. Iun. a. 707_]

 

Properantibus tabellariis alienis hanc epistulam dedi. Eo brevior est,

et quod eram missurus nostros. Tullia mea venit ad me pr. Idus Iunias

deque tua erga se observantia benevolentiaque mihi plurima exposuit

litterasque reddidit trinas. Ego autem ex ipsius virtute, humanitate,

pietate non modo eam voluptatem non cepi, quam capere ex singulari

filia debui, sed etiam incredibili sum dolore adfectus tale ingenium in

tam misera fortuna versari idque accidere

 

* * * * *

 

Page 405

 

As to his writing to you to say that I don't answer any of his letters,

I've only had one from him. To that I gave an answer to Cephalio, but

he was delayed many months by storms. I have already mentioned that

young Quintus has written to me most bitterly.

 

The last thing I have to ask you is, that, if you think it right

and care to undertake it, you and Camillus together should advise

Terentia to make her will. Circumstances suggest that she ought to make

provision for satisfying her creditors. I hear from Philotimus that she

is doing some underhand things. I can hardly believe it; but anyhow, if

there is anything of the kind (and there possibly may be), it ought to

be guarded against. Please write to me about everything, and especially

what you think about her. I want your advice about her, even if you

cannot think of any plan: for in that case I shall take it the case is

desperate.

 

June 3.

 

 

 

 

XVII

 

CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

 

 

[Sidenote: _Brundisium, June 12 or 13_, B.C. _47_]

 

I have given this letter to some one else's messengers, who are in

a hurry. That is why it is short; also because I am just going to

send my own. Tullia came to me on the 12th of June and told me of all

your attention and kindness to her and delivered three letters. I

however have not derived the pleasure from her goodness, kindness and

affection, which I ought to derive from a matchless daughter, nay, my

grief exceeds all bounds when I think that such a fine character should

be involved in such a

 

* * * * *

 

Page 406

 

nullo ipsius delicto summa culpa mea. Itaque a te neque consolationem

iam, qua cupere te uti video, nec consilium, quod capi nullum potest,

exspecto, teque omnia cum superioribus saepe litteris tam proximis

temptasse intellego.

 

 

 

 

Ep. XVIIa

 

CICERO ATTICO SAL.

 

 

[Sidenote: _Scr. Brundisi XVII K. Quint. a. 707_]

 

Ego cum Sallustio Ciceronem ad Caesarem mittere cogitabam; Tulliam

autem non videbam esse causam cur diutius mecum tanto in communi

maerore retinerem. Itaque matri eam, cum primum per ipsam liceret, eram

remissurus. Pro ea, quam ad modum consolantis scripsisti, putato ea me

scripsisse, quae tu ipse intellegis responderi potuisse.

 

Quod Oppium tecum scribis locutum, non abhorret a mea suspicione eius

oratio. Sed non dubito, quin istis persuaderi nullo modo possit ea,

quae faciant, mihi probari posse, quoquo modo loquar. Ego tamen utar

moderatione, qua potero; quamquam, quid mea intersit, ut eorum odium

subeam, non intellego.

 

Te iusta causa impediri, quo minus ad nos venias, video, idque mihi

valde molestum est. Illum ab Alexandrea discessisse nemo nuntiat,

constatque ne profectum quidem illim quemquam post Idus Martias nec

post Idus Decembr. ab illo datas ullas litteras. Ex quo intellegis illud de litteris a. d. V Idus Febr. datis,