Servilia, that is, Brutus. As to the Queen I am glad you don't feel anxious, and that you accept the evidence. For the accounts furnished by Eros, I have both gone into them myself and have summoned him to come to me. I am exceedingly obliged by your promise to furnish my son with what is needful. Messalla,' on his way from Lanuvium, called on me; he had just come from Athens and gave me a wonderfully good report of him. And upon my word his own letter was so affectionate and well-written, that I shouldn't shrink from reading it before company which makes me all the more desirous of indulging him. I don't think Sestius is annoyed about Bucilianus. When Tiro once gets back I think of going to Tusculum. at once and tell me anything I ought to know.

Pray write

DCCXLVII (A XV, 18)

TO ATTICUS (AT ROME)

ON THE ROAD TO TUSCULUM, 15 JUNE

THOUGH I think I told you sufficiently fully what I needed and what I wanted you to do, if it was convenient to you, nevertheless, having started on the 15th, and while on board the boat in the lake, I came to the conclusion that I must send Tiro to you, that he might take part in the business affairs now in progress. I am also writing to Dolabella telling him that if he has no objection I wished to start, and asking him for an order for sumpter mules for the journey. Considering the circumstances for I quite understand that, what with

3

1 M. Valerius Messalla, who had been with young Cicero at Athens. See vol. iii., p. 225.

2 Bucilianus and his brother Cæcilius were induced by Brutus to join the assassins (App. B. C. ii. 113, 117). He accompanied Brutus to Macedonia (see p. 104). What had occurred about him now we cannot tell.

3 As legatus of a proconsul Cicero would have the right to the services of some public mules or horses.

the Buthrotians and what with Brutus, you are distracted with business, while I suspect that the trouble and even the superintendence of the latter's costly games falls to a great extent on you-well, as far as circumstances will admit, give me some little of your services: for I don't want much. In my opinion the state of affairs points to bloodshed, and that at a near date. You see what the men are, you see how they are arming.' I really don't think I am safe. But if you think otherwise, I should like you to write to me. For I should much prefer staying at home if I can do so safely.

DCCXLVIII (A XV, 19)

TO ATTICUS (AT ROME)

TUSCULUM, AFTER 16 JUNE

WHAT need is there for any farther venture on behalf of the Buthrotians? I ask, because you remark that all your trouble has been thrown away. Why again is Brutus returning? I am grieved, on my honour, that you have been so distracted. You have to thank those ten land-commissioner fellows for that. Yes, that was a tough piece of business, but it had to be borne, and I am exceedingly obliged to you. As to taking up arms-I never saw anything more patent. So let me be off, as you say. I don't know what Theophanes wants with an interview: he has already written to me, and I answered him as best I could. However, he writes to say that he wants to call on me, to discuss some business of his own and certain matters affecting myself. I am anxious for a letter from you. Pray take care that nothing rash is done. Statius has written to tell

3

1 Referring again to the increasing bodyguard enlisted by Antony from the flower of the veterani. See p. 8, etc.

2 The decemviri or land-commissioners for distributing extra-Italian land.

3 Theophanes of Mitylene, who had been Pompey's secretary and friend (vol. i., p. 90).

me that Quintus Cicero1 has spoken to him in very strong terms, saying that he cannot put up with the present state of affairs that he is resolved to go over to Brutus and Cassius. Of course I am now anxious to learn all about this: I am quite unable to explain its meaning. It may be that he is angry with Antony about something; it may be that he now wants some new chance of distinguishing himself; it may be a mere passing fancy. And, indeed, it is doubtless that. All the same I am nervous about it and his father is quite upset. For he knows what he used to say about Antony : in fact he said to me what won't bear repetition. I cannot conceive what he has got in his head. I shall only have such commissions from Dolabella as I choose—that is, none at all. Tell me about Gaius Antonius-did he wish to be on the land-commission? He was at any rate worthy of such a company. As to Menedemus it is as you say. Pray keep me acquainted with everything.

DCCXLIX (A XV, 20)

TO ATTICUS (AT ROME)

TUSCULUM, ABOUT 20 JUNE

I HAVE thanked Vettienus, for nothing could have been kinder. Let Dolabella give me any commissions he chooses, even to take a message to Nicias.3 For who, as you say, will care to ask questions? Or does anyone with any sense in his head doubt that my departure is an act of despair,

1 The younger Quintus, Cicero's nephew.

2 The seven land-commissioners (for distributing land in Italy among the veterans) were Marcus and Gaius Antonius, Dolabella, Domitius of Apulia, P. Decius, Nucula, and Lento. Nucula was a mime-writer, Lento an actor (6 Phil. § 14; 8, § 26; 11, § 13). What Cicero thought of these land-commissions (septemviri for Italy, decemviri for extra-Italian land) may be seen in 2 Phil. § 101.

3 Nicias of Cos was a grammarian (vol. ii., p. 221). Cicero means that as his legateship to Dolabella was a colourable one, Dolabella may as well give him some trifling commissions to keep up appearances.

4 The text is corrupt.

" 1

and not really a legation? You say that men are using certain extremist expressions about public affairs, and that too men of sound loyalty. Well, ever since I heard of his speaking of the tyrant in a public meeting as "that most illustrious man,' I began to have qualms of doubt: but when along with you I saw our heroes at Lanuvium with no hope of life but what they received from Antony, I gave it up for lost. And so, my dear Atticus, I would have you receive what I am going to say with the same courage as that with which I write it. Regarding the kind of death experienced by Catulus 2 as shocking, and yet as in a manner already pronounced against us by Antony, I have resolved to escape from this net, not with a view to flight, but with a hope of a better sort of death. For this Brutus is entirely to blame. You say that Pompeius has been received at Carteia, so we shall presently see an army sent against him. Which camp am I to join then? For Antony makes neutrality impossible. The one is weak, the other criminal. Let us make haste therefore. But help me to make up my mind-Brundisium or Puteoli? Brutus for his part is starting somewhat suddenly, but wisely. I feel it a good deal, for when shall I see him again.* But such is life. Even you cannot see him. Heaven confound that dead man for ever meddling with Buthrotum! But let us leave the past. Let us look to what there is to do.

3

5

The accounts of Eros, though I have not yet seen him personally, I yet know pretty thoroughly from his own letter and Tiro's report. You say that I must raise a fresh loan for five months, that is, till the 1st of November, of 200 sestertia : that on that day a certain sum of money falls in owed by Quintus. As Tiro tells me that you would not have me come to Rome on that business, please see, if it does not bore you too much, where to raise the money and put it down to my account. That is what I see for the 1 See p. 19 (Att. xiv. 11), from whence it appears that Cicero did not hear the speech, but read it.

2 Taking Madvig's quo Catulus usus est. C. Lutatius Catulus was put to death by Marius or forced to kill himself in B.C. 87.

3 Sextus Pompeius. Carteia is the modern St. Roch, near Gibraltar. He saw him again in July at Antium and at Velia in August, but never after Brutus left Italy.

About £1,600.

present to be necessary. As to other details I will demand a stricter account from Eros himself-among other things as to the rents of the dower properties.1 If these are faithfully collected for the benefit of my son, though I wish him more liberally provided, yet he will have pretty well as much as he needs. And indeed I see that I shall want some journeymoney also. But my son will be paid from these properties as the money comes in. I, on the contrary, need a lump sum. The fact is that though that trembler at shadows appears to me to have his eye on massacre, I am nevertheless not going to budge unless the payment of the money is arranged. But whether it has been arranged or not I shall learn when I see you. I thought this ought to be written by my own hand, and I have accordingly so written it. Yes, you are right about Fadius-not in any case to anyone else.3 Please answer this to-day.

2

DCCL (A XV, 21)

TO ATTICUS (AT ROME)

TUSCULUM, 21 JUNE

LET me tell you this-Quintus the elder is jumping for joy. For his son has written to say that he desired to desert to Brutus, because, when Antony charged him to secure his being made dictator, and to seize some fort, he refused. He says also that he refused for fear of hurting his father's feelings and that ever since Antony had been his enemy. "Thereupon," says he, "I pulled myself together for fear he should do you some injury. So I smoothed him down and indeed got 400 sestertia from him in cash, and a promise of more." Statius, moreover, writes word that the young man

1 Certain houses at Rome which had belonged to Terentia and were retained to furnish her son's allowance. See p. 90.

2 Antony, who-as Cicero said before (p. 95)—was pretending to be afraid of Brutus and Cassius.

3 See p. 73.