Cicero Letters to Atticus, Vol. 2 of 3 71

Cicero Letters to Atticus, Vol. 2 of 3 71

distressful fate, and that this should happen through no fault of hers,

but through my own grave error. So I do not expect any consolation from

you now, though I see you are ready to offer it, nor any counsel, since

none can be taken: and I realize that you have tried every way in your

former letters and in these last.

 

 

 

 

XVIIa

 

CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

 

 

[Sidenote: _Brundisium, June 14_, B.C. _47_]

 

I am thinking of sending my son with Sallustius to Caesar. As for

Tullia, I see no reason for keeping her with me any longer when both of

us are in such sorrow: so I am going to send her back to her mother, as

soon as she herself will allow me. In return for the letter which you

wrote in a consolatory style, please consider that I have made the only

answer, which, as you yourself know, was possible.

 

You tell me Oppius has had a talk with you: and what you say agrees

well enough with my suspicions of him. But I feel sure that party[191]

can never be convinced that their actions can possibly win my approval,

whatever I may say. However, I will be as moderate as I can: though,

what difference it makes to me, if I do incur their enmity, I cannot

conceive.

 

[191] Caesar's followers.

 

I see you have a good reason for not being able to come to me: and

I am very sorry that is so. There is no news that Caesar has left

Alexandria; and it is well known that no one at all has left that place

since the 15th of March, and that he has despatched no letters since

the 13th of December. So you see it was quite untrue about the letter

dated Febr. 9,

 

* * * * *

 

Page 408

 

quod inane esset, etiamsi verum esset, non verum esse. L. Terentium

discessisse ex Africa scimus Paestumque venisse. Quid is adferat aut

quo modo exierit, aut quid in Africa fiat, scire velim. Dicitur enim

per Nasidium emissus esse. Id quale sit, velim, si inveneris, ad me

scribas. De HS X̅, ut scribis, faciam. Vale.

 

XVII Kal. Quinctiles.

 

 

 

 

XVIII

 

CICERO ATTICO SAL.

 

 

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

 

De illius Alexandrea discessu nihil adhuc rumoris, contraque opinio

valde esse impeditum. Itaqae nec mitto, ut constitueram, Ciceronem,

et te rogo, ut me hinc expedias. Quodvis enim supplicium levius est

hac permansione. Hac de re et ad Antonium scripsi et ad Balbum et ad

Oppium. Sive enim bellum in Italia futurum est, sive classibus utetur,

hic esse me minime convenit; quorum fortasse utrumque erit, alterum

certe. Intellexi omnino ex Oppi sermone, quem tu mihi scripsisti, quae

istorum ira esset, sed, ut eam flectas, te rogo. Nihil omnino iam

exspecto nisi miserum, sed hoc perditius, in quo nunc sum, fieri nihil

potest. Quare et cum Antonio loquare velim et cum istis et rem, ut

poteris, expedias et mihi quam primum de omnibus rebus rescribas. Vale.

 

XII Kal. Quinctil.

 

* * * * *

 

Page 409

 

though it would not have been of any importance, if it had been true.

I hear L. Terentius has left Africa and come to Paestum. What news he

brings, or how he got out, or what is happening in Africa, I should

like to know. For he is said to have been passed out through the agency

of Nasidius. What it all means, I wish you would write and tell me, if

you find out. I will do as you say about the 80 guineas.[192] Farewell.

 

[192] 10,000 sesterces.

 

June 14.

 

 

 

 

XVIII

 

CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

 

 

[Sidenote: _Brundisium, June 19_, B.C. _47_]

 

There is no rumour of his leaving Alexandria as yet: on the contrary,

he is thought to be in great difficulties. So I am not sending my son,

as I had arranged, and I beseech you to get me away from here: for any

punishment is lighter to bear than staying here. On this point I have

written to Antony, to Balbus and to Oppius. For whether there is going

to be a war in Italy, or whether he will employ his fleet--and it may

be either, but one it must be--this is a most inappropriate place for

me. I understood of course from what Oppius said according to your

letter, how angry they are with me: but I beg you to turn their anger.

I don't expect anything now that is not unpleasant: but my present

condition is as desperate as anything can be. So please speak with

Antony and the Caesarians, and see the matter through for me as best

you can: and let me have an answer on all points as soon as possible.

Farewell.

 

June 14.

 

* * * * *

 

Page 410

 

 

 

 

XIX

 

CICERO ATTICO SAL.

 

 

[Sidenote: _Scr. Brundisi XI K. Sext. a. 707_]

 

Cum tuis dare possem litteras, non praetermisi, etsi, quod scriberem,

non habebam. Tu ad nos et rarius scribis, quam solebas, et brevius,

credo, quia nihil habes, quod me putes libenter legere aut audire

posse. Verum tamen velim, si quid erit, qualecumque erit, scribas. Est

autem unum, quod mihi sit optandum, si quid agi de pace possit; quod

nulla equidem habeo in spe; sed, quia tu leviter interdum significas,

cogis me sperare, quod optandum vix est.

 

Philotimus dicitur Id. Sext. Nihil habeo de illo amplius. Tu velim ad

ea mihi rescribas, quae ad te antea scripsi. Mihi tantum temporis satis

est, dura ut in pessimis rebus aliquid caveam, qui nihil umquam cavi.

Vale.

 

XI Kal. Sexti.

 

 

 

 

XX

 

CICERO ATTICO SAL.

 

 

[Sidenote: _Scr. Brundisi XVI K. Sept. a. 707_]

 

XVII K. Septembres venerat die XXVIII Seleucea Pieria C. Trebonius, qui

se Antiocheae diceret apud Caesarem vidisse Quintum filium cum Hirtio.

Eos de Quinto, quae voluissent, impetrasse nullo quidem negotio. Quod

ego magis gauderem, si ista nobis impetrata quicquam ad spem explorati

haberent. Sed

 

* * * * *

 

Page 411

 

 

 

 

XIX

 

CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

 

 

[Sidenote: _Brundisium, July 22_, B.C. _47_]

 

As I had a chance of giving a letter to your men, I did not miss it,

though I have nothing to say. You are writing less often than you used

to do and less fully, I suppose because you have nothing that you think

I should be glad to read or hear. However please write, if there is

anything of any kind whatever. There is one thing that I do long for,

any possibility of a peace: myself I have no hope of such a thing: but,

as you sometimes give a slight hint, you compel me to have some hope of

what I hardly dare long for.

 

Philotimus is said to be coming on the 13th of August. Of Caesar I

have no further news. Please answer my former letter. I only want time

enough to take some precaution now in my misfortunes, as I have never

taken any before. Farewell.

 

July 22.

 

 

 

 

XX

 

CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.

 

 

[Sidenote: _Brundisium, Aug. 15_, B.C. _47_]

 

On the 14th of August there arrived from Seleucea Pieria C. Trebonius

after 28 days' journey: and he said he had seen young Quintus at

Antioch in Caesar's train with Hirtius. They had got what they wanted

about my brother without any difficulty at all. I should feel more

joy at that, if what I have got myself gave me some sure ground for

hope.[193] But there are things

 

[193] Or, as Tyrrell, "if the granting of such petitions afforded, in my opinion, any sure basis for hope."