Letter 115

Although I really had nothing new that had happened since I gave a letter for you to your freedman Philogenes, still, since I am sending Philotimus back to Rome, I had to write you something. And first the matter that has been distressing me most—not that you can help me in any way; the business is in hand, and you are far off at the ends of the earth: polla d' en metaichmioi notos kulindei kumat' eureies halos ["and in between the south wind rolls many waves of the broad sea"]. The day creeps up, as you see (for I must leave the province on the third day before the Kalends of Sextilis [July 30]), and no successor is being sent. Whom shall I leave to govern the province? Reason, and men's opinion too, calls for my brother—first because it seems an honor, so no one is more suitable; then because he is the only man of praetorian rank I have. For Pomptinus, in keeping with the bargain and agreement (for it was on that condition that he came out), had already left me; no one thinks the quaestor worthy, since he is in fact 'fickle, lustful, light-fingered.' [2] But as for my brother, there is first this: I think he cannot be persuaded, for he hates the province, and by heaven nothing is more hateful, nothing more wearisome. Then, supposing he is unwilling to refuse me, what would my duty be? When a great war is thought to be afoot in Syria, and looks likely to burst into this province, when there is no garrison here, when only the year's expenses have been voted—would it seem consistent either with my familial duty to leave my brother behind, or with my conscientiousness to leave behind some worthless trifle of a man? I am therefore afflicted, as you see, with great anxiety and a great want of counsel. What more can I say? I had no need at all of this whole business. How much better is your province! You will leave when you wish, unless perhaps you have already left; you will put in charge of Thesprotia and Chaonia whomever you see fit. And yet I had not yet met with Quintus, so as to know already, if I should decide on it, whether it could be obtained from him; nor, even if it could, had I made up my mind what I wanted. [3] So this matter, then, stands thus. The rest, so far, is full of both praise and goodwill, worthy of those books of yours that you sing the praises of: states preserved, the tax-farmers [publicani] satisfied to the full, no one offended by any insolence, very few touched by a just and severe decree—and yet no one who would dare to complain—achievements worthy of a triumph; about which very thing I shall do nothing greedily, and certainly nothing at all without your advice. The closing scene, in handing over the province, is a difficult one. But some god will steer this. [4] About affairs in the city of course you know more; you hear them more often and more reliably. For my part I am sorry not to be kept informed by your letters. For tiresome reports were being brought here about Curio, about Paulus—not that I see any danger while Pompey stands, or even sits, provided only he stays well; but by heaven I grieve on behalf of Curio and Paulus, my own friends. So if you are now at Rome, or when you are, I should be glad if you would send me a sketch of the whole state of the Republic, to meet me on my way, from which I may shape myself and rehearse beforehand in what spirit I should approach the city. For it is something not to arrive as a foreigner and a stranger. And what I almost passed over: for the sake of your friend Brutus, as I have often written to you, I have done everything. The Cypriots were paying up; but Scaptius was not content with 12 percent interest, renewed each year. Ariobarzanes is no more open-handed to Pompey on his own account than he is to Brutus on mine. And yet I could not guarantee that, for the king was very poor and I was so far from him that I could do nothing except by letter; and with letters I never stopped fighting. The sum is this: in proportion to the size of the loan, Brutus has been handled in a different way from Pompey. For Brutus about 100 talents have been seen to this year; to Pompey 200 have been promised within six months. And in the affair of Appius, how much I have granted to Brutus can scarcely be told. What is there, then, for me to trouble over? He has for friends mere trash, Matinius, Scaptius. The latter—because he did not get from me the squadrons of cavalry with which to harry Cyprus, as he had done before my time—is perhaps angry; or because he was not made a prefect, an office I have given to no man of business, not to my friend C. Vennonius, not to your M. Laenius, and which I had told you at Rome I would keep clear of; and in that I have persisted. But what will the man be able to complain of who, when he could have carried off his money, refused to? [As for that Scaptius] who was in Cappadocia, I think satisfaction has been given. After he had accepted from me the tribuneship which I had conferred on him at Brutus's request, he afterward wrote to me that he did not wish to use that tribuneship. [6] There is a certain Gavius to whom, when I had offered him a prefecture at Brutus's request, said and did much that was rather insulting to me—a dog of P. Clodius. He neither escorted me as I set out for Apamea, nor, when he had later come to the camp and was leaving it, did he ask whether I wanted anything, and was openly, for some reason I cannot fathom, no friend of mine. If I had kept this man among my prefects, what sort of fellow would you think me? I who, as you know, have never put up with the arrogance of the most powerful men—should I put up with this lackey's? And yet this is more than putting up with it: it is even bestowing on him some favor and honor. So this Gavius, when he had seen me recently at Apamea as he was setting out for Rome, addressed me in such a way as I would scarcely dare address Culleolus: 'Where,' he said, 'do you bid me apply for a prefect's rations?' I answered more mildly than those present thought proper, that I had not made it my practice to give rations to men whose services I had not used. He went off in a rage. [7] If Brutus can be moved by the talk of this good-for-nothing, you may have leave to love him by yourself; you will not have me as a rival. But I think he will turn out to be the man he ought to be. Still, I wanted the case to be known to you, and I have written all this out to him most carefully. On the whole (for we are alone) Brutus has never sent me a single letter—not even recently about Appius—in which there was not something arrogant, something akoinonoeton [tactless, lacking in fellow-feeling]. And you are very fond of having on your lips the line: Granius, however, does not think little of himself, and hates haughty kings. In which, though, he tends to move me to laughter rather than to anger. But he plainly gives too little thought to what he writes, or to whom. [8] Young Quintus Cicero read, I believe, and indeed I am sure, the letter addressed to his father. For he is in the habit of opening them, and that on my advice, in case there should happen to be something it is necessary to know. And in that letter there was that same matter about your sister that you wrote to me. I saw the boy marvelously upset. He complained to me in tears. What more can I say? I perceived in him a wonderful family devotion, sweetness, and kindness. Wherefore I have all the greater hope that nothing will turn out otherwise than is fitting. So I wanted you to know this. [9] Nor will I leave out even this. The son of Hortensius was at Laodicea among the gladiators, behaving scandalously and disgracefully. For his father's sake I invited him to dinner the day he arrived, and for that same father's sake did nothing more. He told me he would wait for me at Athens to leave with me. 'Very well,' I said; for what was I to say? On the whole I think there is nothing in what he said; I hope not, indeed, lest I offend his father, whom by heaven I value greatly. But if he does become my companion, I will govern myself so as not to offend in any way the man I least wish to offend. That is how things stand; and also this: please send me the speech of Q. Celer against M. Servilius. Send a letter as soon as possible; if there is nothing, then send it even by your own courier. My greetings to Pilia and your daughter. Take care of your health.

Though I have no fresh news, since I handed a letter for you to your freedman Philogenes, still I must write you a line, since I am sending Philotimus back to Rome. First a thing which gives me much anxiety—not that you can help me at all—for the business is in hand, and you are far away in a foreign land The days steal on, as you see (for I am due to leave my province on the 30th of July), and no successor is appointed. Whom can I leave in charge? Policy and public opinion point to my brother: first because it is right that he should have the honour by preference to anyone else, and secondly because he is the only officer of praetorian rank that I have: for Pomptinus, who came out on that condition, has left me already according to his agreement. My quaestor is notoriously unsuitable; he is “unsteady, wanton and lightfingered.” There is one objection to my brother’s appointment,—he will probably refuse, as he hates provincial life. Certes, it is a hateful bore. Then, supposing he does not like to refuse, what is my proper course? Seeing that a great war is likely in Syria, which will apparently break forth into this district, where there is no protection and only the ordinary supplies have been voted for the year, it would certainly seem unnatural to leave my brother, and careless to leave some nincompoop. As you see I am troubled greatly and badly want advice. In short I made a mistake over the whole matter. Your sphere is far preferable. You can depart at pleasure; and perhaps you have left already. You can put Thesprotia and Chaonia in charge of anyone you like. I have not yet met my brother to know whether he would consent, if I want him to take it over; nor, should he consent, am I settled in my plans. So much for that. The rest so far is full of honour and glory and worthy of the volumes which you praise. Communities have found salvation, the whole body of tax-collectors has been satisfied, no one has been annoyed by ill-considered conduct, very few by the severity of upright justice—none so that he could dare complain—and a campaign has been conducted in a way that deserves a triumph, though I shall not seek it greedily, nor seek it at all without your advice. The conclusion is difficult in the matter of handing over the province. But some god will direct my course. About doings in town of course you know more, as your information comes more frequently and more surely. I am sorry that you do not pass on your news in a letter, for tiresome tidings have reached me about Curio and Paulus, not that there would seem anything to fear, if Pompey keeps his influence or even his inactivity. Only let him recover his health. But I am annoyed for Curio and Paulus, my friends. So, if you are now in town, or when you are there, please send me a sketch of the political situation to meet me on my way, that I may mould my conduct upon it and bethink me of the proper spirit in which to approach Rome. It is something not to arrive as a foreigner and a stranger. There was one point I nearly omitted. As I have said often, I have done everything for your friend Brutus. The people of Cyprus were paying down the money. Scaptius was not content with 12 per cent compound interest. Ariobarzanes is not more accommodating to Pompey for his own sake than to Brutus for mine. Still I could not go bail for him, for he is a very needy monarch and I was such a long way off that I could only press him on paper, as I did continually. The conclusion is this. In proportion to the sum lent, Brutus has been treated more liberally than Pompey: for Brutus there has been got this year about £24,400. To Pompey has been promised £48,800 within six months. In the business of Appius, my concessions to Brutus are almost incalculable. I have no reason to distress myself. Brutus’ friends are men of straw, Matinius, and Scaptius, who is perhaps angry because he could not get troops to harry Cyprus as he had done before my time, or because he was not made a prefect, an office I have not granted to any man of business, not to C. Vennonius, my friend, nor to your friend M. Laenius. I have persevered in the course that I told you at Rome I should keep: but a man who refused to take his money, when he could, cannot grumble. The other Scaptius who was in Cappadocia I think is satisfied. First of all he accepted a military tribuneship from me, which a letter from Brutus had persuaded me to offer him; but he wrote me afterwards that he did not want to take it up. There is a person Gavius, who, after I had offered him a post as prefect at Brutus’ request, said and did a good deal to disparage me. He is Clodius’ puppydog. He did not condescend to be one of my escort when I left Apamea, nor, when he came into camp later and was leaving it, did he ask if I had any commissions. For some unknown reason he was an open enemy of mine. If I had counted such a fellow among my prefects, you might doubt what kind of creature I am. You know I will not brook discourtesy from men of power, and should I put up with it from this hanger-on? Though, to be sure, gracious bestowal of honour is something more than putting up with a man. So Gavius, when on his road to Rome he saw me lately at Apamea, addressed me as I should scarcely address Culleolus. “Where,” said he, “am I to look for my pickings?” I answered less sternly than those present thought proper, that I was not accustomed to give pickings to men whose services I had not used. He went off in a temper. If Brutus listens to the talk of such a shady customer, you may have him to yourself. I shall not be your rival. But I think he will behave all right. However I wanted you to know the circumstances, and I have recounted the matter very fully to Brutus. Between ourselves Brutus has never sent me a letter, not even lately about Appius, without a touch of arrogance and intolerance. You often quote the lines, However in this business he excites my laughter rather than my rage, and evidently he does not consider sufficiently what he writes and to whom. The young Quintus, I fancy, yes I am sure, read your letter addressed to his father, for he usually opens his father’s letters—and that by my advice—in case there is anything he ought to know. The letter contained that same passage about your sister that you wrote to me. The boy was awfully upset. He came to me complaining in tears. I saw much good feeling in him, and a kind and courteous disposition, which increases my hope for a satisfactory issue to the matter: so I want you to know it. There is one thing I must not pass over. The young Hortensius, during the gladiatorial exhibition at Laodicea, behaved in a shameful and scandalous way. For his father’s sake I invited him to my table on the day of his arrival, and for the same father’s sake treated him handsomely. He said that he would await my departure in Athens, that we might go home together. I could only say, “Very well.” But I don’t fancy at all that he meant what he said. I hope not, lest I offend his father, who is my very good friend. But if he comes in my suite, I will arrange so as to avoid offence to a man I don’t want to offend. So much for that, there is one thing more. Please send me Q. Celer’s speech against M. Servilius. Write to me at your first opportunity. If there is no news, write to say so, or even send a verbal message. Give my love to your wife and daughter. Keep well.

Etsi nil sane habebam novi quod post accidisset quam dedissem ad te Philogeni liberto tuo litteras, tamen cum Philotimum Romam remitterem, scribendum aliquid ad te fuit. ac primum illud quod me maxime angebat&#151;non quo me aliquid iuvare posses; quippe; res enim est in manibus, tu autem abes longe gentium; polla d' en metaichmioi notos kulindei kumat' eureies halos.&#151; obrepit dies, ut vides (mihi enim a. d. iii Kal. Sextil. de provincia decedendum est), nec succeditur. quem relinquam qui provinciae praesit? ratio quidem et opinio hominum postulat fratrem, primum quod videtur esse honos, nemo igitur potior; deinde quod solum habeo praetorium. Pomptinus enim ex pacto et convento (nam ea lege exierat) iam a me discesserat; quaestorem nemo dignum putat; etenim est 'levis, libidinosus, tagax.' [2] de fratre autem primum illud est: persuaderi ei non posse arbitror; odit enim provinciam, et hercule nihil odiosius, nihil molestius. deinde ut mihi nolit negare, quidnam mei sit offici? cum bellum esse in Syria magnum putetur, id videatur in hanc provinciam erupturum, hic praesidi nihil sit, sumptus annuus decretus sit, videaturne aut pietatis esse meae fratrem relinquere aut diligentiae nugarum aliquid relinquere? Magna igitur, ut vides, sollicitudine adficior, magna inopia consili. quid quaeris? toto negotio nobis opus non fuit. quanto tua provincia melior! decedes cum voles, nisi forte iam decessisti; quem videbitur praeficies Thesprotiae et Chaoniae. necdum tamen ego Quintum conveneram, ut iam, si id placeret, scirem possetne ab eo impetrari; nec tamen, si posset, quid vellem habebam. [3] hoc est igitur eius modi. reliqua plena adhuc et laudis et gratiae, digna iis libris quos dilaudas, conservatae civitates, cumulate publicanis satis factum, offensus contumelia nemo, decreto iusto et severo perpauci nec tamen quisquam ut queri audeat, res gestae dignae triumpho; de quo ipso nihil cupide agemus, sine tuo quidem consilio certe nihil. clausula est difficilis in tradenda provincia. sed haec deus aliquis gubernabit. [4] de urbanis rebus scilicet plura tu scis; saepius et certiora audis; equidem doleo non me tuis litteris certiorem fieri. huc enim odiosa adferebantur de Curione, de Paulo; non quo ullum periculum videam stante Pompeio vel etiam sedente, valeat modo; sed me hercule Curionis et Pauli meorum familiarium vicem doleo. formam igitur mihi totius rei publicae, si iam es Romae aut cum eris, velim mittas quae mihi obviam veniat ex qua me fingere possim et praemeditari quo animo accedam ad urbem. est enim quiddam advenientem non esse peregrinum atque hospitem. et quod paene praeterii, Bruti tui causa, ut saepe ad te scripsi, feci omnia. Cyprii numerabant; sed Scaptius centesimis renovato in singulos annos faenore contentus non fuit. Ariobarzanes non in Pompeium prolixior per ipsum quam per me in Brutum. quem tamen ego praestare non poteram; erat enim rex perpauper aberamque ab eo ita longe ut nihil possem nisi litteris; quibus pugnare non destiti. summa haec est. pro ratione pecuniae liber alius est Brutus tractatus quam Pompeius. Bruto curata hoc anno talenta circiter c, Pompeio in sex mensibus promissa cc. iam in Appi negotio quantum tribuerim Bruto dici vix potest. quid est igitur quod laborem? amicos habet meras nugas, Matinium, Scaptium. qui quia non habuit a me turmas equitum quibus Cyprum vexaret, ut ante me fecerat, fortasse suscenset, aut quia praefectus non est, quod ego nemini tribui negotiatori, non C. Vennonio meo familiari, non tuo M. Laenio, et quod tibi Romae ostenderam me servaturum; in quo perseveravi. sed quid poterit queri is qui auferre pecuniam cum posset noluit? [aut Scaptius] qui in Cappadocia fuit, puto esse satis factum. is a me tribunatum cum accepisset quem ego ex Bruti litteris ei detulissem, postea scripsit ad me se uti nolle eo tribunatu. [6] Gavius est quidam cui cum praefecturam detulissem Bruti rogatu multa et dixit et fecit cum quadam mea contumelia, P. Clodi canis. is me nec proficiscentem Apameam prosecutus est nec, cum postea in castra venisset atque inde discederet, num quid vellem rogavit et fuit aperte mihi nescio qua re non amicus. hunc ego si in praefectis habuissem, quem tu me hominem putares? qui, ut scis, potentissimorum hominum contumaciam numquam tulerim, ferrem huius adseculae? etsi hoc plus est quam ferre, tribuere etiam aliquid benefici et honoris. is igitur Gavius, cum Apameae me nuper vidisset Romam proficiscens, me ita appellavit <ut&t; Culleolum vix auderem, 'Vnde' inquit me iubes petere cibaria praefecti?' respondi lenius quam putabant oportuisse qui aderant me non instituisse iis dare cibaria quorum opera non essem usus. abiit iratus. [7] huius nebulonis oratione si Brutus moveri potest, licebit eum solus ames, me aemulum non habebis. sed illum eum futurum esse puto qui esse debet. tibi tamen causam notam esse volui et ad ipsum haec perscripsi diligentissime. omnino (soli enim sumus) nullas umquam ad me litteras misit Brutus, ne proxime quidem de Appio, in quibus non inesset adrogans, akoinonoeton aliquid. tibi autem valde solet in ore esse Granius autem non contemnere se et reges odisse superbos. in quo tamen ille mihi risum magis quam stomachum movere solet. sed plane parum cogitat quid scribat aut ad quem. [8] Q. Cicero puer legit, ut opinor, et certe, epistulam inscriptam patri suo. solet enim aperire idque de meo consilio, si quid forte sit quod opus sit sciri. in ea autem epistula erat idem illud de sorore quod ad me. mirifice conturbatum vidi puerum. lacrimans mecum est questus. quid quaeris? miram in eo pietatem suavitatem humanitatemque perspexi. quo maiorem spem habeo nihil fore aliter ac deceat. id te igitur scire volui. [9] ne illud quidem praetermittam. Hortensius filius fuit Laodiceae gladiatoribus flagitiose et turpiter. hunc ego patris causa vocavi ad cenam quo die venit, et eiusdem patris causa nihil amplius. is mihi dixit se Athenis me exspectaturum ut mecum decederet. recte inquam; quid enim dicerem? omnino puto nihil esse quod dixit; nolo quidem, ne offendam patrem quem me hercule multum so diligo. sin fuerit meus comes, moderabor ita ne quid eum offendam quem minime volo. haec sunt; etiam illud. orationem Q. Celeris mihi velim mittas contra M. Servilium. Litteras mitte quam primum; si nihil, vel per tuum tabellarium. Piliae et filiae salutem. cura ut valeas.