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I am expecting Lepta

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to-morrow. To qualify the bitter

rue of his talk I shall want the sweet marjoram of yours.

Good-bye.

DCCLII (A XV, 22)

TO ATTICUS (AT ROME)

TUSCULUM (23 JUNE)

I CONGRATULATE ourselves that young Quintus has gone out of town: he won't be a nuisance to us. I believe Pansa is using satisfactory language. For I know that he has always been closely united with Hirtius. I think he will be

a very warm friend to Brutus and Cassius if it turns out to be expedient. But when will he ever see them? 2 And that he will be opposed to Antony-but when and on what grounds? How long are we to be fooled? However, I wrote you word that Sextus Pompeius was coming, not because he was actually near, but because he was certainly contemplating that move and because he was not shewing any signs of abandoning arms. Doubtless, if he goes on, war is a certainty. On this side too our dear lover of Cytheris3 thinks no one sure of his life unless he gains a victory. What has Pansa to say to this? Which side will he take if there is war, as I think there will be? But of this and other things when we meet, that is, to-day-as you say in your letter-or to-morrow.

1 Some other name seems to have been lost from the text.

? That is, when will he take any practical steps to shew his friendship? Cp. p. 78.

Antony. See vol. ii., p. 389; vol. iii., p. 102.

DCCLIII (A XV, 23)

TO ATTICUS (AT ROME)

TUSCULUM (24 JUNE)

I AM wonderfully distracted, yet not with pain: but a thousand opposite ideas about my journey occur to me. "How long is that to go on?" you will say. Why, until I finally commit myself, that is, till I am actually on board ship. If Pansa has written an answer to your letter, I will send you mine and his together. I am expecting Silius,' for whom I have drawn up a memorandum. Send any news. I am writing to Brutus, about whose journey I should like to hear something also from you, if you know anything.

DCCLIV (A XV, 24)

TO ATTICUS (AT ROME)

TUSCULUM, 25 JUNE

THE letter-carrier whom I sent to Brutus came straight back without stopping on the 25th. Servilia told him that Brutus had started at half-past six in the morning. I was much annoyed at my letter not being returned. Silius has not arrived. I have drawn up a statement of his case: I inclose that document to you. I should like to know on what day to expect you.

1 P. Silius Nerva, who had been proprætor of Bithynia, when Cicero was in Cilicia (see vol. ii., pp. 95, 97). He was a great friend of Atticus, and was at present engaged in a lawsuit as to the succession of some property under the will of a certain Turpilia. See p. 87.

DCCLV (A XV, 14)

TO ATTICUS (AT ROME)

TUSCULUM, 26 JUNE

On the 26th I received a letter from Dolabella, a copy of which I inclose. He says in it that he has acted in all ways to your satisfaction. I wrote back at once thanking him at some length. However, to prevent his wondering why I should do the same a second time, I explained that the reason was that I had not been able previously to get any information from you when we were together. However, to cut the matter short, my answer was as follows:

"Cicero to his friend Dolabella, consul. Having on a previous occasion been informed by a letter from our friend Atticus of the great liberality and the very great kindness which you had shewn him; and you having yourself written to tell me of your having done everything that we wished, I wrote to thank you in language meant to shew that you could have done me no greater favour. But when Atticus himself came to see me with the express purpose of declaring his gratitude to you, whose really eminent and surprising kindness in the business of the Buthrotians and marked affection for himself he had thoroughly appreciated, I could not be restrained from giving a more open expression to the same feeling on my part in this letter. Let me assure you, my dear Dolabella, that of all your kindnesses and services to me— eminent as they are the most generous and gratifying in my eyes is this, that you have made Atticus understand how much I love you and you me. For the rest, though the claims and political existence of the Buthrotians have been set on a firm foundation by you, I would wish you-for I always want to make my favours secure-to resolve that, having been taken under your care and frequently recommended by me, they shall continue to enjoy the support of your influence and active assistance. That will be sufficient protection to the Buthrotians for ever, and you will have set both Atticus

and myself free from great care and anxiety if you undertake in compliment to me to resolve that they shall always enjoy your defence. I warmly and repeatedly entreat you to do so."

After writing this letter I devoted myself to my treatise,1 which, however, I fear will require to be scored by your red wax 2 in a good number of places. I have been so distracted and hindered by engrossing thoughts.

DCCLVI (A XV, 25)

TO ATTICUS (AT ROME)

TUSCULUM (28 JUNE)

As to my journey various opinions are expressed: for I have a great number of visitors. But pray throw yourself heart and soul into that question. It is a serious matter. Do you approve of my idea of returning by the 1st of January? My mind is quite open on the subject-only provided that I do not give offence. I should like to know also the day on which the Olympic games begin. As you say in your letter, chance will decide the plan of my journey. Don't let me

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1 The de Officiis, which he was composing for the benefit of his son. 2 Wax wafers stuck on to mark places for alteration

3 The text of these two sentences is so corrupt that it is necessary to state distinctly what reading I have adopted. Velim etiam scire quo die Olympia (sint). Ut tu scribis, casus consilium nostri itineris iudicabit. I altogether disbelieve the idea that olim piaculum (for Olympia sint) can be explained by a reference to Clodius's violation of the mysteries of the Bona Dea. That was now nearly eighteen years ago. Its importance is generally exaggerated owing to its immediate effects on Cicero, and it was well forgotten by this time after so many more startling events, and we cannot conceive its influencing the date of Cicero's return. Í think the mysteria scilicet grew out of a mistaken explanation of a mistaken reading and should be left out. The second reference to mysteria I think refers to the Eleusinian mysteries. Cicero was going to Athens and wished to stay till after their annual celebration (September), but did not wish to stay so late as to have to sail home in the winter if he could help it. The reason he asks about the Olympia is shewn by Att.

make up my mind, therefore. For a winter voyage is detestable, and it was on that account I asked you the day of the mysteries. Brutus, as you say, I imagine that I shall probably see. I think of leaving this place on the 30th.

DCCLVII (F VII, 21)

TO C. TREBATIUS TESTA (AT ROME)

1

(TUSCULUM, JUNE)

He has since been to

I HAVE explained Silius's case to you. see me. When I told him that in your opinion we might safely make that stipulation, “In case the prætor Q. Cæpio, in accordance with his edict, has granted me possession of Turpilia's estate," he remarked, that Servius's doctrine was that a will made by a party who had not the legal power of making one was no will, and Ofilius concurred. He said he had had no talk with you, and asked me to commend his cause to your care. There is no better man, my dear Testa, nor anyone more attached to me than Publius Silius, yourself however excepted.

You will therefore very much oblige me if you will go to him and volunteer your services: and if you love me, do so as soon as possible. I beg you warmly and repeatedly to do this.

xvi. 7. He didn't wish it to be thought that he was going to Greece to attend the Olympic games.

This stipulatio or sponsio was a preliminary proceeding in the case of a dispute as to the validity of a will. The prætor allowed the parties to make a bargain—the heir named in the will took formal possession of the estate, and the party who would be heir if there was no will agreed to pay down some forfeit of money if the decision was against him. The question then nominally tried was, "had the prætor given such a decision?" Of course the real question tried was the validity of the will, which in this case turned on the question whether Turpilia had satisfied all the formal requirements for enabling a woman to make a valid will.

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