I am much moved at your having wept after parting from me. If you had done so in my presence, I should perhaps have entirely abandoned my design of going abroad. But it was a great thing that you were consoled by the hope of a speedy reunion. That, indeed, is the hope that supports me more than anything else. You shall not want letters from me. I will write you a full account of Brutus. I will before long send you a book of mine "On Glory." I will hammer out something in the vein of Heracleides1 to be treasured up in your secret stores. I haven't forgotten about Plancus. Attica has a good right to grumble. I am much obliged for your informing me about Bacchis and the garlands for the statues. Do not omit anything hereafter, I don't say of so much importance, but even of so little. I won't forget about either Herodes or Mettius, or anything else which I have the least idea of your wishing. What a scandalous person your sister's son is! As I am writing this he arrives at the witching hour of evening while I am at dinner. Take care of your health.

2

3

DCCLXII (A XV, 28)

TO ATTICUS (AT ROME)

ARPINUM, 3 JULY

As I wrote to you yesterday I have settled to arrive at Puteoli on the 7th. There then I shall look for a letter from you daily, and especially about the games, about which you must also write to Brutus. I have a letter from him which I could scarcely make out, of which I sent you a copy yesterday. Pray make my excuses to Attica, and take

1 For Heracleides of Pontus, see p. 56.

2 At the games of Brutus. Bacchis is an actress.

3 Herodes was a tutor of young Cicero at Athens. We know nothing of Mettius, but he doubtless was at Athens also, and Atticus had sent some message to them both.

4 The younger Quintus.

all the blame upon yourself. Assure her all the same that I am taking away with me an affection for her that has undergone no change.1

DCCLXIII (A XVI, 16)

TO ATTICUS (AT ROME)

ARPINUM, BEFORE THE 6TH OF JULY

I HAVE read your most delightful letter. I have written and despatched one to Plancus. I shall learn from Tiro himself what Plancus said to him. You will be able to give closer attention to the negotiation with your sister' now that you have obtained a relaxation of that other engrossing business of yours.3

DCCLXIV (A XVI, 16 a)

TO L. MUNATIUS PLANCUS (AT ROME)

(ARPINUM BEFORE 6TH OF JULY)

MARCUS CICERO greets Lucius Munatius Plancus, prætordesignate. I know you are fond of our friend Atticus, while for my society you show so much taste that upon my word I think I have few friends so attentive and affectionate. For to our ancestral ties-so close, old, and legitimate—a great additional force has been added by your personal kind feel

1 We don't know how Cicero had offended Attica, unless she had seen the strange letter about her written to her father in the previous year. See vol. iii., p. 223.

2 Probably as to her divorce from Quintus.

3 The case of the Buthrotians.

ing towards me and an equal and mutual one on my part towards you. Now you are acquainted with the case of the Buthrotians, for I have often pleaded it and clearly set it forth in your hearing. Its history is as follows. As soon as we observed that the territory of Buthrotum was declared confiscate, Atticus in great alarm drew up a petition. He put that in my hands to present to Cæsar: for I happened to be going to dine with him on that day. I presented that petition to Cæsar. He approved of the plea and wrote in answer to Atticus saying that his demand was fair. He, however, warned him that the Buthrotians must pay their arrears to the day. Atticus in his eager desire for the preservation of the state paid the money out of his own pocket. That being done I approached Cæsar, stated the Buthrotian case, and obtained a decree of the most generous nature, which was countersigned by men of the highest rank. In these circumstances I own that I used to be surprised at Cæsar allowing a number of men who had cast greedy eyes on the Buthrotian territory to hold meetings; and that he not only allowed that, but even put you at the head of the landcommission. Accordingly, on my remonstrating with him, and indeed so often that I incurred a rebuke from him for not trusting his fidelity to his word, he told both Marcus Messalla and Atticus himself not to be alarmed, and made no concealment of the fact that he did not wish-for he was fond of popularity, as you know-to hurt the feelings of those who were in possession; but since they had already crossed the sea, he would see to their being removed to some other land. This is what happened while he was alive. Well, after Cæsar's death, as soon as the consuls in accordance with a decree of the senate began hearing cases, what I have just told you was laid before them. They admitted the plea without any hesitation and said that they would send you a despatch. However, my dear Plancus, though I did not doubt that a senatorial decree, a law, and the decision and despatch of the consuls would have the greatest weight with you, and although I quite understood that you wished to please Atticus himself, yet in view of our friendship and mutual goodwill I have ventured to beg of you, what your own unique kindness and exquisite goodness of heart would be sure to obtain from you. It is that, what I feel sure you

will do of your own accord, you should out of compliment to me do with heartiness, completeness, and speed. No one is a warmer, more charming, or dearer friend than Atticus is to me. Formerly it was only his money, and that a very arge sum, that was at stake: now it concerns his credit also, that he should by your assistance maintain what he had secured by the exertion of great industry and influence both in Cæsar's lifetime and after it. If I obtain this favour from you, I should wish you to consider that I shall construe your liberality as a personal benefit of the highest kind to myself. I will attend with zeal and diligence to whatever I may think is your wish or to your interest. Take care of your health.

DCCLXV (A XV, 29)

TO ATTICUS (AT ROME)

FORMIE, 6 JULY

About

I SEND you Brutus's letter. Good heavens, what helplessness! You will understand when you have read it. the celebration of Brutus's games I agree with you. No, don't go to see M. Ælius at his house, but speak to him wherever you may chance to meet him. About the moiety of Tullius's debt consult Marcus Axianus, as you suggest. Your arrangement with Cosianus-first rate! For your disentanglement of my own affairs and yours at the same time -thanks! I am glad my legation is approved. Heaven send that your promises are fulfilled! For what could be more gratifying to me and mine? But I feel misgiving about her, of whom you make an exception.' When I have met Brutus, I will send you a full account. About Plancus and Decimus, I wish it may be so! I wouldn't have Sextus

1 Referring probably to a promise of Atticus to meet Cicero in Greece if Attica's health permits.

2 L. Munatius Plancus had troops in Transalpine Gaul, Decimus Brutus in Cisalpine-Atticus I suppose had said that they would join in resisting Antony

throw away his shield.' About Mundus tell me anything you learn.

2

So I have answered all your news. Now for my own. The younger Quintus is going to escort me as far as Puteoli -what an admirable loyalist! you might call him a Favonius-Asinius. He has two motives for doing so my society, and a wish to make terms with Brutus and Cassius. But what say you? For I know you are intimate with the Othones. Quintus says that Tutia offers herself to him, as a divorce has been arranged. His father asked me what sort of reputation she had. I said-for I didn't know why he asked the question-that I had never heard anything except about her looks and her father. "But why do you ask?" said I. Then he said that his son wanted her. Thereupon, though I felt disgusted, I said that I didn't believe those stories. His aim make our friend no allowance. be baulked by the like of him. Quintus is, as usual, romancing. -for you can easily do so-and Pray what's this all about? When I had already sealed this letter some Formians who were dining with me told me that the day before I write this—that is, on the 5th-they had seen our Buthrotian commissioner Plancus

3

for that is the truth-is to But the lady says she won't However, I suspect young But please make inquiries let me know.

4

"With downcast look and bare of ornament;"

and that his poor slaves said that he and the land-grabbers

1 Sextus Pompeius perhaps was said to be wavering.

2 Favonius was the well-known imitator of Cato. Asinius Pollio, besides having been a Cæsarian, was now posing as more or less of a republican, though he afterwards joined Antony. He was already known as an orator and man of letters, and perhaps took "high ground in politics. Perhaps Cicero means, 'you would suppose young Quintus to take the strictly republican views of Favonius (see p. 68), with the culture of a Pollio, as he professes to value my society." But it is rather recondite.

66

3 оỶ Tаρà TOUTOν, "not along of him," but Cicero's meaning is not at all clear. We don't know whose daughter Tutia was, or to which of the Othones she was married. For Quintus's character for romancing, see p. 8.

4 Titus Munatius Plancus (brother of Lucius), who was at the head of the land-commissioners in Epirus. See p. 98.