IV. U, I have now completed my answer to your longest letter: hear now as to your little one; in which the first remark is, about Clodius's letter to Ciesar, iu which afioir I approve of Cieaar's conduct, in not granting yon leave, though you asked it in the most afieationate manner, to write a single word of answer to that Fury. The nest observation is about the speech of Marius Calventius. I marvel at your saying that you think I should write a reply to it, especially as, no one is likely to read it if I write nothing in reply, while all the children will learn my answer to him by heart aa a lesson.
I have begun those books of mine which you are looking for, but am unable to finish them at the present time. I have completed the required speeches for Soaurus and for Planciua. The pKDem to Ciesar, which I had composed, I have destroyed.' What you ask, I will write for you, since tho springs themselves are now thirsty, if I have any room.
' Nobla considers that the t«ib is hers lucarreot or defective.
■ Inddi, licneBti interprets thiB verb by ciNisciniicri; and 8i agrees with him in giilli£ it the eense of "outting to pieiM TO HIS BltOTHEH (JUINTUa.
12. I DOW come to tho tliird letter. As to what you say, that Balbua ia soon coming to Rome with a number of companious, and that he will be constantly with me till the middle of May; that will be very pleasant and delightful to me. As to the exhortations 'which you give mc, in the same letter, as oftentimes before, to ambition and to diligence, 1 will observe them; but when am I to enjoy life 1 13. A fourth letter was delivered to me on the 13th of September, which you had dated from Britain on the 10th of August. In it there was no news, ei.cept &bout tlioErigoimj which, if I receive from Oppius, I will write you word what I think of it; and I have no doubt that it will give me pleasure. And (a matter which I have passed over) with respect to the pei-son who, you say, wrote to CBCsar about the applause which Milo received, I readily allow Cscsar to imagine that the applause ■was vary great; and, in fact, so it was; and yet the applause which is given to him appears in some degree to be given to us.
14. A very old letter from you has also been brought mc, but brought rather late, in which you give me instmotions about the temple of Tellua, and the portico of Catulus. Both works are going on with all 8pee3; at the temple of Tellus, indeed, I have also pWed your statue. Also, as to the wishes that yon express about the gardens, 1 never was very desirous of BOch things; and my house now makes up to me for the Want of the luiury of a girden.
When I came to Rome, on the 19th of September, I found ibe roof of your house completed, which, above the chambers, jou had decided should not have any great number of gables; hut it slopes down in anything but a neat manner to the roof of the colonnade below. While I have been absent, my Cicero has not ceased from his attendance on the rhetoriciaa: you hnve no reason to be anxious about his attainments, since you know hia natural abilities; aud his studious disposition I see myself Ail his other interests I look to, as if I thought that I were going surety for them.
V. 15. As yet, three parties are prosecuting Gabiniua: LuciusJLientulus, thesonof the flamcn, who has already lodged an accusation of treason' againsthim; TiberiuaWero, with hia treU-disposed backers; and Caius Memmiua, the tribune of ' Majalaa. See note, p. 7i i the people, with Lucius Capito. He arrived iu the city on the yOth of September; no eiitraaco was ever more mean or more solitary. But I do not dare to place any confidence in these trials. Eeoause Cato was indiaposedj he has not as yet been prosecuted for peculation. Pompey lahoura very hard to reconcile me to him; but he has not succeeded aa yet, and, if I retain any portion of my liberty, he ahall net Buccoed, I am extremely noxioua for a letter from you.
16. As to what you ivrite me word that you have heard, namely, that I interfered in the coalition of the candidates for the consulship, it is not true; for agreements were made in that coalition of such a character (which Memmius subsequently esposed) that no respeotahle person ought to have been concerned iu them: and, besides, it was not a proceeding for me, to have anything to do with a coalition from which Messaln was excluded, — a man with whom I agree perfectly ia all points; and, in my opision, also with Memmius. I have already done many things for Domitius, which ho wished, and which he requested of me; and I have laid Scaurus under great obligations to me by defending him. Aa yet it has been uncertain, both when the comitia would take place, and who were to be the new consuls.
17. When I was just folding up this letter, o arrived from you on the Slst of September, having made the,! journey in twenty days. 0 how ansioua I am! How muob I have grieved over that most kind letter from Cjesar; but the more kind it was, the greater grief did that misfortune of his causo me.^ But I come to your own letter. In the first place, I approve above all things of your intention of remaining, especially since, as you write me word, you have consulted Cajsar on the subject I wonder that Oppius should have said anything to Puhlius, for I did not like the man.
18. As to what you write in your enclosure, that I should be appointed one of Pompey'a lieutenants in the middle of September, I have not heard it; and I have written to CBcaar, that VibuUiua brought directions from Ctesar about my stay to Pompey, but not to Oppius. With what object! Although I detained Oppius, because the right of speaking I ' It seema prabable thoit tbia refers to a, storm mentioDed in the fourth book,if his nocoimt of tho GaUio war, in whioli lie loat a great number of aliips. His daughter Julia, too, died nearly about tbi ^ 9& HIB BROTHER qUINTF3, fiiBt to Pompey belonged to VibuUius; for Cresar had tiJked the rontter over iu on iutcrviow with him; to Oppius he had written. However, I can have no second thouglits iu Cteear'a ofiairB. He is next to you and to our children in my heart; BO near, indeed, that he is almost equal to them. I seem to myself to feel thus from judgment; for indeed I ought; but fitill I am warmed with love for him.
VI. 1!). When 1 had written tliese last lines, which aro in my own hand, your Cicero came iu to uB to supper, as Pomponia was supping out He gave me jour letter to read, which he had received a short time before; a letter written in the Aristophanic spirit, being in truth both pleasant and sensible; and I was greatly pleased with it. lie also gave me that other letter of youra, in which you enjoin him to attach himself as much to me as to hia tutor. How those letters delighted him I how they gratified me! Nothing can fae more engaging than that boy, — no one con be more attached to me. These lines J dictated to Tiro while at I Bui-prised at their being in 20. Tour letters were very acceptable also to Annalis, as they showed that you were veiy anxious about him, and, at the same time, aasiated him with most serious advice. Publius Servilius the father, from the lettere which he says have been sent him from Caasar, intimates that you have done what was very acceptable to him, in having spoken with great courte^ and great earncstneaa of his attachment to Cteaar.
21. When I had returned to Rome from the neighbourhood of Arpiuum, I was told that a horsebreakcr had set out to go to you. I cannot say that I was astonished at his having acted so like a barbarian as to go without any letter from me to you; 1 merely say that it was vesatious to me, — fori had boon thinking of it fora long time, — in consequence of what you wrote to mo, that if there should be anything which I should wish to be conveyed to you with extraordinary ciire, I was to give it to him; because, in truth, in these letters which I usually send to you, I generally write nothing which would cause me any annoyance if it fell iuto other hands. I used to keep myself for Minucius, and Salvius, and Labeo. Labeo will either go at a late period, or aud I ante CICERO S LETTERS remain here. The hoiselireaJier did not even ask if I ibed to send anything.
22, Titus Pinariua aends very kindly-espressed lettera about yon to me; saying that ho is beyotid all meaaTire delighted with your lettere, conversation, and, beaidea, with your suppers. That man has alwaya pleased me, and his brother is a great deal with me. Do you, therefore, as you have begun to do, cherish that young man.
TIL S3. As I have had this letter under my hands several dajfs, owing to the delay of the couriers, many different things have consequentJy been thrown into it, one thing at one time, and another at another; aa for instance this: Titus Anicius has already often said to me, that he should not hesitate to purchase a suburban villa for you, if he could nieet with one. la regard to this remark of liis, I cancot but wonder at two things: that though you write to him about buying you a suburban villa, you uot only do not write to me about it, but even write to quite the coutraiy effect; and also, that when you are writing to him, you recollect nothing about him, nothing about those letters of his which you showed me when you were at Tuaculum, and nothing about the precepts of Epioharmua, " Take notice how ho treats any one else." You forget, in short, the man's whole counteaanoa, aud language, aud disposition; and, aa I conjecture, just as '" — ^ but to theae things you must look yourself 24. Take care that I may know what you really wish lut this suburban villa, and take care at the same time that does not cause any trouble. What more have I to say?
'hati Oh, this: Gabinius, on the 28th of September, entered the city by night; and to-day, at the eighth hour, when, according to the edict of Cains Aldus, ho ought to have appeared to the accusation of majesty,^ he was almost overwhelmed by the concourse aud by the detestation of the whole people. Nothing ever was more contemptible than his appearance. Piso, however, comea very near to him; I am therefore thinking of introducing a marvellous episode in the ' OrelUus says that OAa ia not a.a apoaiopeiis, but tliat bi ird or phrase is loat.
' Majesty was nearly equivalent to trenaon. It wna _ a for any offenoe oommitted agaiuBt the Roniiui people, Greek J Becood of my books: Ajwllo in the ccmnoil of the gods predicting what Bort of return that of the two generala will he, of whom ooe haa loGt his army, and the other has sold it.
25. Ctesar wrote me a letter from Britain on the 1st of September, which I reoeived on the 28tfa, ^ving a aatiafcctory account of the aftiiira of Britain; in it, tliat I may not bo Bm^riaed at receiving no letter from you, he says that he had beet) without your company, aa he had gone to the eoaat. I have not sent him. any answer to that letter, not eyen to congratuJate him, because of his private mourning. Again and again, my dear brother, I beg you to take care of your health.
LETTER II. Marcus Cicero to Iik hroiTar Quintus, greeling. 1. Os the lOtb of October, Salviua went bysea to Ostia, l&te in the evening, with the things which you wished to have Bent to you from home. On the eame day, Memuuus had given Gabinius a warming hefore the people with bo luoid au accueation, that CahdiuB was unable to utter a single word on his behalf But the day after, which was coming on aa I was irriting this before dawn, a great argument was to be held at Cato's between Memmius and Tiberius Nero, and Caius Antonius and Lucius Autonius, the sous of Marcus, as to who should manage the prosecution against Gabinius. We thought that it would bo allotted to Memrains, although there was an extraordinary struggle on the part of Nero. What would you have? The matter is well pressed forward, did not onr friend Pompey, in spite of both gods and men, upset the bufiineas.
•- 2. Understand now the boldness of the man, and that something still amuses us in so distressed a condition of publio afihira. After Gabinius, wherever he went, had said that he TTOB demanding a triumph, and after this good general had suddenly entered the city by night, (aa i^ evidently, it had been the city of an enemy,) he did not venture to present himself before the senate. In the meantime, on the tenth day •aSiex bis arrival, on which he ought to have given in his report of fliB numbers of the enemies and of our troops, he sneaked I OICEROS LETTEKS I OICEROS LETTEKS into the senate-house wth a -very Bmall following. When he ' was about to depart, he was detained by the consuls. The formers of the revenues were introduced. The roan, being attacked on all sides, and being wounded by me most of all, could bear it no longer, and with a trembling voice called me an exile. On this, {0 ye gods! nothing more honourable ever happened to me,) the whole eonate to a, man rose in an uproar against him, so tlmt they cnme close to him; while the farmers of the revenue started up with a similaj noiee and ruBh. What more do you aski All of them behaved as if you yourself had been there. Nothing can be more compliracntory than the hmguago of men out-of-doors. I, however, restrain myself from accusing him, with diffioulty indeed, but I do restrain myself, not only because I do not wish to oppose Pompey, (the busiueaa which presses me about Milo is quite enough,) but because we have no judges whom wo can trust. I dread a failure. I may take also into con-Bideration the malevolence of men, and I am a&aid that if I were to accuse him, something might happen to him; nor do I despair that the matter may be accomplished without me, though in some degree by my means.
3. All who are candidates for the consulship are impeached on the charge of bribery. Domitius by Mommius, Memmius by Quintus Cnrtius, a good and accomplished young man; Messala by Quintus Pompey, Seauiua by Triarhis. It is a great measui'e in agitation, because the ruin either of the men, or of the laws, is threatened. Some efforts are made, that no trials may take place. The affiiir appears to point to an interregnum. The consuls wish to hold the comitia; the impeached parties are against it, and Memmius above all, because on the arrival of Ciesar he hopes to become consul. Eut he has an extraordinarily bad chimce. Domitius and Messala appeared sure of success; Scanrns had lost heart. Appiua asserts, that if it were not for a lex curiata, be should succeed our friend Lentulua, who on that day showed wonderful vigour against Gabiniua, (a thing which I had almost forgotten to mention;) he accused him of treason; names of witnesses were given in; while Gabinius did not say a word. Ton now know the affairs of the forum. At home things go on well, and the house itself is proceeding with great rapidity trader the hands of the contractors.
TO BIB nKOTHEK QUIKTUS.
LETTER in.
Marcus Cicero to his brolhcr Quhdw, greeting.
1. The hand of my secretary may be a sign to you how busy 1 am. Be oasured that there doea not a day p which I do not speak on behalf of some accused person. Thus, whatcTer I compose or meditate, I generally throw into the time of my walk. In this state is my public busineBs; our domestic affairs go on as I wish. The boya are well; they lenm with great diligence; they are taught with great pains; they love us, and love one another. The polishing of both our houses is going on; while your rural matters at Arcanum and Laterium aie advancing to completion.' Besides, in one of my letters, I omitted nothing to give you a clear account about the water, and the road.
Bat this subject of ansiety disturbs and annoys me, that for the space of now more than fifty days, not only no letter has come from you, none from Ceesar, none from tt^t conntiy, but not even a single report; and that sea, and that countiy, keep me now in a state of ansiety. Nor do I cease (as is the case with persons in love) to imagine the things which I least wish. I do not therefore now ask you to write to me about yourself and about affairs in that quarter, (for I know that you never omit to do so when you have an opportunity,) but I wish you to know, that I scarcely ever longed for anj-thing bo much, as, when 1 wrote this, I did for a letter 3. Hear now what is going on in the republic. Bay after day appointed for the comitia is constantly cancelled by notices of ill omens, to the great joy of the well-affeoted wtizens, in such unpopularity are the consuls on account of the suspicion of their having bargained for bribes from the candidates. There are four candidates for the consulship; all are prosecuted; the causes are difficult ones; but still we will exert ourselves that Mcssala may come ofi' safe; a result which is even connected with the safety of the rest. Ptiblius Sylla has impeached Gabiniua of bribery, his stepson Memmiua supporting the accuaiition, as well as his brother Cfficilius, ' A Romipt pBsBnge, Bays OrelliuB. There are vmoaa rendinga, but ntmo eatiafiictorf.
CICBIiO'S LBTTBRB and his soa Sjlla. Lucius Torquatus made objectioiiB, bat fiiikd iu hia purpose, to tbe great joj of all men.
3, Do you ask, what is to become of Gabinius! We ab^ know in three days about the impeachmeat for trensou - oa which charge he is weighed down by the detcBtatioa of all daaees; aad is eqjeoially damaged by the evidence. He haa very cool accusers; the bench is of a varied character j the chief judge, Alhus, is a man of high and resolute temper, Pompey is earnest in canvassing the judges; how it will end I know not; but I see no room for him in the city, I have a moderate wish for his downibl, but the faintest possible as to the result of the whole proceedings.
i. You have now an account of almost everything. I will add this one paiticulai'; your Cicero and mine is now applying himself with great diligence to the instructions of PceoniuB, a rhetorician, a man, in my opiniou, well accomplished, and of excellent character; but you know well enough that my own style of education is a little more learned and philosophical. Though, therefore, I do not wish Cicero's progress, and that course of instriictiou, to be impeded; and the boy himself seems to be greatly charmed and delighted with tha exercise in declamation; (and as I was myself also practised in it, I would allow him to go on in my steps, for I feel sure that he will arrive at the same end,) but still, if I take him anywhere into tbe country with me, I shall lead him into my own method and practice. For a great reward is offered me from you, which certainly I shall not fail to gain through my own fault. In what parts you are going to winter, and with what espectations, I should wish you to write me word with all possible minuteness. FarewelL k Marcus Cicero to hU brother Quinttis, greeting.
1. Gabikihs haa been acquitted. Altogether, nothing could I more childish than Lentulus, bis accuser, and his fellowprosecutors, nothing more corrupt than the bench; hut stiU, if the exertion and entreaties of Pompey had not been extraordinary, and if the report of a coming dictatorship had not I 3 BROTHER QCTHTCS.
been full of alarm, ho would not have made nny reply eto Lentulus; and yet with him for his accuser, and with that boich for his judges, he Jiad tLirty-two votes against him, oerenty pei-sona voting. Certaialy, this trial is a character, that he seema likely to he coavicted on the other accuaationa, and especially on that of pocubtion; but you Bee that there is really no republic at all, no Beoate, no judges, no dignity in any one of us.
Why should I aaj more about the judges t Two men of piwtorian rank were on the bench; Domitiua Calvinns; he voted openly for hia acquittal, bo that all might see it; and Cato;' he^ after the votes had been counted, withdrew himself from the drde, and was the £rst to announce the result to Pompey.
2. Some say, and Sallust among them, that I ought to have been the accnaer. Should I trust myeelf to such judges 1 What would have been tliought of me if he Lad escaped while I Lad pleaded against him. t But other considerations inflaeneed me. Pompey would have thought that he had a diapnte with me, not about the safety of Gabinius, but hia own dignity. Ho would have entered the city. The matter would have come to a regular quarrel; I sboiiid have seamed like Pacideianus when matched with ^Beminua the Samnite; perhaps he would have bitten off my ear. He would at least have been reconciled to Clodiua. With my own conduct certainly, I am thoroughly satisfied, particularly if you do not disapprove of it. He, after he had been honoui-ed by me mth. eminent exertions on my part, and though 1 owed him nothing, and he owed everything to me, was still unable to bear my differing in opinion with him about the affairs of the commonwealth, (I will not use a harsher expression;) and even at the period when he was leea powerful, he showed how much be could do against me when 1 w»s at the height of my reputation. Now, when 1 myself am not even anxious to acquire any great influence, when the republic itself has certainly no power at all, and when he Loa power over everything eould I posaihly contend with him 1 For so I must have done. I do not believe that you think that I ought to have undertaken such a tafk.
3. [You should,] Sallust still argues, [have done] one of ' What Cato, iH nncertam; but it waa not, tis Paul MaJrat th6 Cato afterwords called Uticeatii;^.
I CICEB0 8 LETTERS ja; [if you did uot accuse him,] you should bave defended him, and have granted that to the entreaty of Pompey: for indeed he did entreat veiy earnestly. A pleasant friend certainly Salliiat iSj who thinks that I was hound either to incur a moat dangerous enmity or everlasting infamy. But I myself am pleased with this middle course; and it is gratifying to me, tliat after I had with great seriousness given my evidence in accordance with good faith and religion, the defendant said, that if he could possibly have bflBQ ia the city, he would have satisfied me;' nor did he put a single question to me.
i. With respect to the verses which you wish me to wTita out for you, the toak cannot be undertaken by me, a task which requires not only time, but also a mind free from all care. But enthusiasm is also wanting, for I am not altogether without anxiety as to the coming year, tliough I am without apprehension. And at the same time (I assure you that I speak without the slightest irony) I assign a higher place iii that kind of writing to you thau to m.vself.
5. As to completing your Greek library, changing some books, and procuring some Latin ones, I wish indeed that those matters may be done, especially as they have reference to my accommodation. But I myself have no person by whoso agency I can get such things done for me; for the books which have attractions for me are not for sale, and cannot be completed except by a man who is both skilful and diligent: however, I will give Chrysippus a commission, and I will speak with Tynmnio. I will inquire too, what Soipio has done about the money. Whatever sooma proper, I will attend to it. As to Ascanio, you shall do whatever you please; I will interpose no obstacle on my own account. I commend you for not being iu a hurry about your suburban villa, but I advise you to have one.
6. I have written this on the 24th of October, the day on which the games wore beginning, as I wta going to my Tusiiulan villa, and taking ray Cicero with me for a game ^ of iustruotion, not of amusement; on that account ' Woiild hftve thanked ma. for not having been his aocuBer, but having meraly giveu testimony a^nst him. — Pant Manvliiu.
' 111 ladant diicrml', «ob limonU. He plnya on tha word liid-ai, whicli he had used just befure; tadi coiaiaUtehaniuT, TO HB BHOTHEB (JDIBTU3.
I did not go furtJier than I wanted, because I desired to be present at the triumph of Pomptiuius,^ on tho 3d of November; for there will bo I know Jiot what trifle of buainesa; sitice Cato and ServiliuSj the pnetora, threaten that they will ja^vent it; and I do not kiiow what they cau do, as he will both have Appius the consiil with him, and the majority of ttc prtetora, and the tribunes of the people. However, they &o threaten, and especially Quintus Scasvolo, who breathes nothing but wai*. My kiudest and dearest brother, take care 'OUT health.
[LETTERS V. VI. Marcus Cicero to hia hrother Quvnlue, greeliiiff. 1. With respect to your question, what I have done about those books which, when I was in the neighbourhood of Cumse, I began to write, I have not been idle, nor ani I idle; but I have eeveral times changed my whole plan and method of treating the subject: for after two hooks were completed, in which, during that nine days' festival which took place in the consulship of Tuditanus and Aquilius, a conversation is commenead by me between Airieanus,^ a little before hia death, and Lffilius, Phtlus, Manilius, Quintus Tubero, and Faonius and Sceevola, the sona-in-Jaw of Ivtelius; and that conversatioo is extended over nine days, and through nine books, being on the beet form of government, and the character of the best citizen, {the work in truth was put together with sufficient clearness, and the dignity of the speakers added aime weight to the argumenta;) — wlien these books were read hj me at my Tusculau villa in the hearing of Sallust, I was assured by hira thnt opinions might be given on those aub-Jects with much greater authority, if I myself wore to speak on the republio, especially as I was not a HeracUdes of Pontns, but a man of eonaular rank, and one who had myself been concerned in ^e moat important affiiirs of state; but that what I attributed to eharactera of such antiquity, would appear to bo fictitious; that tia to the dialogue upon oratory ' Ovar tho AlIobrogoB.
' That is, the younger Africanus. Tbo book alluded to is the treatiaa Do Kepublioil, (lisuoT^ed in this century.
CICERO 3 LETTERS in those treatises of mine, I had done well not to litter in my own cbaracter what was eaid on the art of speaking, but to refer it to those men whom I had Been myself; but that Aristotle himself deiivera in bis own cbaracter what ho writes about the commonwealth, and the most esceilcut kind of citizen.
2. He made an impression upon me, and so much the more because, [by the plan that I had adopted,] I was nnable to touch upon the greatest disturbances in our commonwealth, inasmuch as they wore posterior to the age of the Bpeakere; though at first I had made this very thing one of my objects, lest iu touching on our own times, I should give offence to any one. Now I shall both avoid that, and shall myself converse with you; but, nevertheiess, if I come to Rome, I shall send you what I had originaliy written; for I imagine that you will be of opinion, that those hooka were not put aside by ma without some feeHng of disappointment, 3. I am exoeedingly gratified by Ceesar'e great good-will, of which he has assured me in liia letter: but I do not depend much on the promises which be holds out. I am neither eager for honours nor anxious for glory; and I am more desirous of the duration of hia good-will, than the fulfilment of bis promises. Nevertheless, I live amidst the same ■ambition and labour, as if I were expecting what I never Bolioit.
4. As to what yon ask me about making verses, it is incredible, my dear brother, how much I want time j nor indeed am I sufficiently animated in thought to sing of those things which yon wish. And do you, who have Burpoased all men in that description of language and expression, ask mo for BU^estions on a subject which I cannot fully grasp even with the utmost exertion of thought i Nevertheless, I would do it as well as I could, but, (what by no moaua escapes your knowledge,) there ia need, for composing a poem, of a certain cheerfulness of spirit, which the times altt^ether take away from me. I indeed firee myself, as far as I can, from all anxiety on account of the commonwealth, and devote myself to literature; but still I will tell you what in truth I wished above all things concealed from you: I am made wretched, my dearest brother, I am made wretched by the consideration that there is no commouwealtli; no courts of justice; and that this present time of life of miue, which ought to be ii ao niS BBOTHER QUI^TUS.
Kjn of the authority of a senator, is either haiTissed 6 labour of pleading in the forum, or endured with of private literary pursuits; and that the idea which. hed from my childhood, At all timea to eicel, and be ahore My fellows, ia all come to nothing; that of my t attacked by me, some are even defended; that not only my inclinations, but my very dislikes are not free; and that Ca^ar is the only ono of all men who is found to love me as much as I desire; or even, aa some think, is the only one who is inclined to love me.
Yet none of these vesations are of such a nature that I cannot every day soothe myself with great consolatiou; but the greatfist consolation of nil will be if we shall be tc^etber again; but, at present, to those other disquietudes of mine, there is added even the most vehement longing to see you.
5. If, as Pansa thinks that I ought to have done, I had defended Gahinins, I should have been utterly ruined; those who bate him, and thoy are all ranks of men, would have begun to hate me, on account of him whom they already hate. I bore myself, in my opinion, admirably, so as to do only so much aa every one might see. And in the whole of my conduct, as you advise me, I dovota myself greatly to the oultivation of ease and tranquillity.
6. In respect of the library, it is Tyrannio who ia the idler. I will speak to Chiysippns; but it ia a troublesome task, and one that requirea a very diligent man. I find this myself who, with a great deal of trouble, meet with no buooeaa. But for Latin hooks, I kaow not whither to turn myself; BO iiiultily are they copied, and so dishonestly are they sold; however, I will not neglect to do what may he done. Crebrius, aa I wrote you word iefore, is at Rome, and tho men who take their oaths to anything, tell me that ho is under great ohligatious to you. I fancy that the money matters have been settled in my absence.
7. When you say that you have finished four tragedies in edxteen days, are you borrowing anything fi:om any one else 1 And are you aiming at credit ^ by copying out the Electra at the Troadest Do not he an idler; and do not fancy that H^ltoet testa hnre xf^as: Cranovins and acme oihi^ra prcfur kkIos.
64 cicEno'a letteks the saying yvZQi mavrav is intended merely to ditninbh arrogance, but that it also intimates that we ehoiild know our own powers. However, I wouH wisli you to send me both them, and tLe Erigona. You have in this packet my_ lost two letters. I LETTER VII. Mcureui Cieero to hia hrotlier Quintvx, greeting. I, Tkebb 18 Q wonderful flood at Eome, ■ and especially along the Appian road, as Jiir oa the temple of Maraj the walks of Craasipes, and his gardens, have beea carried away, and many shops. There has been an amazing quantity of water down as far as the public fish-ponds. The Homer ^ is powerfully illustrated: — As on oD autumn day, vrhen Jupiter Poura violfcut waters forth, wbaue'er, enraged.
His HJigor bums 'gainst men: For it applies well to the acquittal of Gabinius: — Men who by fores iu council will pronounce Judgments unjust, and banish rjglit, the voict Of heay-n not lieeding.
But I haTO made up my mind not to trouble myself about these matters.
3. Wheu I arrive at Eomo, I will write you word what I observe, and especially about the diotatorship; and I will give the courier letters, both for Labienua and for Ligurius.
I wrote this before daybreak, by the light of a little wooden candlestick, which was very acceptable to me, because they said tiiat you, when you were at Samos, had bad it madfiu Farewell, my most affectionate and moat excellent brother.
of I LETTER VIII.
Marcus to his brother Quintus, greetvng.
1. Thkre ia'no need for me to reply to your former letter, which is full of discontent and complaints; of which kind too you say that you had given Labieaus another the day beforej but he has not ai-rived yet. For your more recent ( TO Hia BROTHEIl tJCIKTtS, 85 letter haa removed from mo every feeling of annoyauoe; only I both advise and entreat you., ta recuUect amid all those annoyaLQces and labours aod feelings of regi'et, what oul' intentioa was in your journey. For we were not a,iming at any trifling or ordinary advantagea; for what advantage could there have been which we Bhoald have thought worth piircltasing at the price of our separation I Wo were Beeking most powerful protection, for the full maintenance of our dignity, from the good-will of a most eicellent and most influential man. More is risked on hope than on money; Bvarything else will go ^ to loaa If, therefore, you often turn bock your thoughts to the couaideratioa of our old objects and hopes, you will njore easily bear those burdsliips of military seiTice, and other things which annoy you; and atill you. will be able to shako them off when you please. But the full time for that matter has not arrived yet, though it is approaching.
2. Moreover, I recommend you not to trust anything to your letters, from which, if it should be divulged, we sho'uld Buffer annoyance. There are many things of which I had rather be ignorant than be informed of them at any risk. I will write to you further with a mind at ease, when my Cicero is going on well again, as I hope he will. I would wish you to take care and let me know to whom I must give the letter which I am to send, you next; whether to the couriers of Csesar, that he may at once send them on to you, or to those of Labicnus; for whero those Nervii " are, or how fer otf they are, I know not, 3. I derived great pleasure from your letter concerning the nrtus and gravity of Ciosar, wbich he had displayed when onder deep affliction. And as to your requesting me to finish the poem which I have begun to him, although I am distracted with labour, and still more in mind, still, since Ctesar has learned from the letter which I had sent to you, that I have b^un something, I will resume what I had commenced, and complete it in these idle days of supplications 3 during which I am extremely glad that our friend ' Struenlur is tha reading of Orelliua ami moBt other editora; Nobbe I » The Nfli rvii in Gaul, among whom Quint with hia Ugi ion. CCEa. B. G. y.—Paul MamUt Meesala and the rest are relieved from annoyance, and when yotf. set liira down as qnite sure to be consul with Domitins, you do not in the least dissent from my own opinioa. I will undertake for MesBala'a conduct to CiGBarj but Memmius places hopes in tiio arrival of Ctesar, in which I think he ia mistaken; hero at least he is coldly regarded: aa for Scanrus, Pompey cast him off some time ago.
4. ilatters are postponed; the comitia are brought to an interregnum. The rnmour of a dictator ia disagreeable to the weU-afl'ected; but what they say is far more disagreeable to me. However, the whole business is regarded with alarm, and goes on slowly. Pompey plainly denies that he has any inclination for it. Before he did not use to deny it to me, Himw seems likely to propose it. 0 ye gods, what a fool of a. man 1 how does ho love himself without a rival I Ha frightened off, by my means, Ci-nssus Juniauus.^ a man wholly devoted to me. It ia very hard to laiow whether he wishes i^ or whether he does not. However, while Himia ia acting, he wUI not make people believe that he has any diaiiiclinatioiL People at this time were talking of nothing else with regard to public afiairs j at all events, nothing else is done.