Letter 102

What? Have I sent so many letters to Rome and none to you? From now on I will send one even if it goes astray rather than fail to send one when it can be sent properly. For heaven's sake, while you are in Rome, take every precaution you can to keep my province from being prolonged. I cannot tell you how fiercely I long for the city, or how barely I can endure the tastelessness of life here. Marcellus behaved disgracefully in the case of the man from Comum. Even if the man had not held office, he was still a Transpadane. Marcellus seems to me to have angered Pompey no less than Caesar; but he may look to that himself. As you write that Varro says, Pompey seemed to me too to be certainly going to Spain. I strongly disapproved. Indeed, I easily persuaded Theophanes that nothing would be better than for Pompey not to leave Rome at all. So the Greek will press the matter, and his influence with Pompey is very great. I sent this letter on July 6 as I was leaving Athens, where I had been exactly ten days. Pomptinus had arrived, together with Gnaeus Volusius. The quaestor was present. Your Tullius alone was absent. I had open boats from Rhodes, two-bank vessels from Mytilene, and some dispatch craft. There was silence about the Parthians. For the rest, may the gods help us. So far we have traveled through Greece to the greatest admiration, and by Hercules I have no one in my staff to criticize yet. They seem to understand my situation and the terms on which they left home. They are wholly serving my reputation. If the saying is true, "as the master, so the household," they will certainly continue, for they will see me do nothing that gives them room to go wrong. If that is not enough, I will do something sterner. So far I have used mildness and kindness, and I hope I am making some progress. But I had prepared myself for this endurance, as the Sicilians say, for one year only. So fight for me, so that if anything is prolonged I am not found disgraced. Now I return to your instructions. In the matter of prefects, offer the excuse to whomever you wish. I shall not be as high-strung as I was about Appuleius. I love Xeno as much as you do, and I know for certain that he feels it. With Patro and the other important gentlemen I have put you in the highest favor, and by Hercules deservedly. Ister told me that you wrote to him that you had learned from Patro's letter that I had taken an interest in that matter, which pleased him greatly. But when Patro urged me to ask your Areopagus to cancel the memorandum they had made when Polycharmus was praetor, it seemed better to Xeno, and later to Patro himself, for me to write to Memmius. He had left for Mytilene the day before I came to Athens, and I asked him to write to his people that this could be done with his consent. Xeno did not doubt that the Areopagites could not be persuaded against Memmius' wishes. Memmius had abandoned his building plan, but he was angry with Patro. So I wrote him carefully, and I have sent you a copy of that letter. Please console Pilia in my words. I will tell you something, but do not tell her: I received the packet that contained Pilia's letter, took it out, opened it, and read it. It was written with great sympathy. Treat the letters delivered to you from Brundisium without one from me as sent when I was unwell. Do not accept that stock lazy man's excuse, "business." Make sure I know everything, but above all make sure you are well.

What, write so often to Rome, and never a line to you! Well, in future, rather than do such a thing as not to write a letter that can reach you safely, I will despatch a letter that may go astray. In the name of heaven, while you are in town, take every possible precaution against the term of my office being extended. I cannot describe how ardently I long for town, how hard I find it to bear the stupidity of life here. Marcellus acted disgracefully over the man from Comum: even if he had not been a magistrate, still he was a Transpadane. So Marcellus’ action seems to me as likely to anger Pompey as Caesar; but that is his own look-out. I agree with Varro’s statement, which you quote in your letter, that Pompey will surely go to Spain. I by no means approve of the policy, and indeed I convinced Theophanes easily that Pompey’s presence in Rome was the very best course. So the Greek will put pressure on Pompey; and his opinion weighs with him a great deal. I despatch this letter on the 6th of July, being about to leave Athens, where I have stayed just ten days. Pomptinus has come along with Cn. Volusius. My quaestor is here. Your friend Tullius is the one absentee. I have some open boats of Rhodes and two-deckers from Mitylene and a few despatch boats. There is no news of the Parthians. For the rest, God help us. So far our journey through Greece has provoked great admiration, and I have no fault at all to find with my staff at present. They seem to understand what my case is, and the terms on which they stand. They do everything to maintain my good name. For the rest, if the saying be true, “Like master, like man,” assuredly they will stick to their good behaviour, for they will see no excuse for misconduct in any act of mine. If example be futile, I must try severer means. So far I have been mild and kind, and I hope I am making headway. But I have looked forward to playing patience, as the Sicilians say, for one year only. So fight for me, for fear extension of office might spoil my conduct. To return to the commissions you have given me. Prefects have exemption from serving on a jury. Give the office to whom you will. I shall not be so difficile, as I was in the case of Appuleius. I am as fond of Xeno as you are, and I am sure he knows it. I have put you in well-deserved favour with Patro and the other blockheads. Ister has told me you have written to him that you learned from Patro’s letter I was taking an interest in the point, much to his delight. But when Patro urged me to ask your Areopagus to cancel the minute they had made when Polycharmus was praetor, it seemed better to Xeno and afterwards to Patro himself that I should send a letter to Memmius, who had set out to Mitylenae the day before I arrived at Athens, asking him to inform his agents that the minute could be cancelled with his free consent. For Xeno was sure the Areopagus would refuse to act against his will. Memmius had abandoned his plan of building a house; but he was angry with Patro. I enclose a copy of the careful letter I wrote him. Please convey my condolences to Pilia. I will tell you a secret you are not to repeat to her: I received the parcel containing her letter, took it out, opened and read it. It was written in terms of sympathy for Quintus. Please consider the letters you got from Brundisium without one from me as having been despatched when I was indisposed. I won’t ask you to accept the lazy man’s stock excuse, my business. Take great care to keep me well posted up in news, and still greater care to preserve your health.

Hui, totiensne me litteras dedisse Romam, cum ad te nullas darem? at vero posthac frustra potius dabo quam, si recte dari potuerint, committam ut non dem. ne provincia nobis prorogetur, per fortunas! dum ades, quicquid provideri (poterit) provide. non dici potest quam flagrem desiderio urbis, quam vix harum rerum insulsitatem feram. [2] Marcellus foede in Comensi. etsi ille magistratum non gesserat, erat tamen Transpadanus. ita mihi videtur non minus stomachi nostro (quam) Caesari fecisse. sed hoc ipse viderit. [3] Pompeius mihi quoque videbatur, quod scribis a Varronem dicere, in Hispaniam certe iturus. id ego minime probabam; qui quidem Theophani facile persuasi nihil esse melius quam illum nusquam discedere. ergo Graecus incumbet. valet autem auctoritas eius apud illum plurimum. [4] ego has pr. Nonas Quintilis proficiscens Athenis dedi, cum ibi decem ipsos fuissem dies. venerat Pomptinus, una Cn. Volusius; aderat quaestor; tuus unus Tullius aberat. aphracta Rhodiorum et dicrota Mytilenaeorum habebam et aliquid epikopon. de Parthis erat silentium. quod superest, di iuvent! [5] nos adhuc iter per Graeciam summa cum admiratione fecimus, nec me hercule habeo quod adhuc quem accusem meorum. videntur mihi nosse nostram causam et condicionem profectionis suae; plane serviunt existimationi meae. quod superest, si verum illud est hoiaper he despoina, certe permanebunt. nihil enim a me fieri ita videbunt ut sibi sit delinquendi locus. sin id parum profuerit, fiet aliquid a nobis severius. nam adhuc lenitate dulces sumus et, ut spero, proficimus aliquantum. sed ego hanc, ut Siculi dicunt, anexian in unum annum meditatus sum. proinde pugna ne, si quid prorogatum sit, turpis inveniar. [6] nunc redeo ad quae mihi mandas. +in praefectis excusatio iis+, quos voles deferto. non ero tam meteoros quam in Appuleio fui. Xenonem tam diligo quam tu, quod ipsum sentire certo scio. apud Patronem et reliquos barones te in maxima gratia posui et hercule merito tuo feci. nam mihi Ister dixit te scripsisse ad se mihi ex illius litteris rem illam curae fuisse, quod ei pergratum erat. sed cum Patro mecum egisset ut peterem a vestro Ariopago hupomnematismon tollerent quem Polycharmo praetore fecerant, commodius visum est et Xenoni et post ipsi Patroni me ad Memmium scribere, qui pridie quam ego Athenas veni Mytilenas profectus erat, ut is ad suos scriberet posse id sua voluntate fieri. non enim dubitabat Xeno quin ab Ariopagitis invito Memmio impetrari non posset. Memmius autem aedificandi consilium abiecerat; sed erat Patroni iratus. itaque scripsi ad eum accurate; cuius epistulae misi ad te exemplum. [7] tu velim Piliam meis verbis consolere. indicabo enim tibi, tu illi nihil dixeris. accepi fasciculum in quo erat epistula Piliae. abstuli, aperui, legi. valde scripta est sumpathos. Brundisio quae tibi epistulae redditae sunt sine mea, tum videlicet datas cum ego me non belle haberem. nam illam nomanaria me excusationem.ne acceperis. cura ut omnia sciam sed maxime ut valeas.