Letter 116

I came to Tarsus on June 5. Many things troubled me there: a major war in Syria, serious brigandage in Cilicia, and the difficulty of arranging my administration when only a few days remained in my year of office. The hardest thing of all was that, by decree of the Senate, someone had to be left in charge. Nothing could be less acceptable than the quaestor Mescinius; as for Caelius, we had heard nothing. The most proper course seemed to be to leave my brother with command, but that involved many painful matters: our separation, the danger of war, the bad character of the soldiers, and six hundred other things. What a hateful situation altogether. But Fortune must see to it, since reason is of little use. Now that you have safely reached Rome, as I hope, you will look after everything you understand to concern me, as you always do. First, above all, my Tullia: I wrote to Terentia, while you were in Greece, about what settlement I preferred for her. Then there is my honor. Because you were away, I fear my dispatches were not handled in the Senate with enough care. I will write the next point to you more mysteriously, and your sharper nose will scent it out. My wife's freedman - you know whom I mean - seemed to me recently, from some foolish things he muttered without thinking, to have muddied the accounts from the sale of the property of the Crotonian tyrant-killer. I am afraid you may have noticed something. Look into this one matter, then secure the rest. I cannot write as much as I fear. Make sure your letter flies to meet me. I wrote this in haste on the road and in column. Give my greetings to Pilia and to the very charming little Caecilia.

I came to Tarsus on the 5th of June. There I was upset by many troubles: a big war in Syria, big cases of robbery in Cilicia, my difficulty in arranging things, considering there are only a few days left of my year of office: but the hardest problem of all is that, according to a decree of the Senate, some one must be left in charge. The quaestor Mescinius is by no means a suitable person. Of Caelius I hear nothing. The proper thing seems to be to leave my brother with military power, but that involves many difficulties—our separation, risk of war, mutiny in the troops, a thousand other hazards. A hateful business altogether. But fortune must look to it, since reason serves our purpose little. You, having come safe to Rome, as I hope, will as usual look to everything that concerns me, especially the matter of my daughter, about whose marriage settlement I have written to Terentia expressing my intentions, since you were in Greece. Then please look after my triumph. For as you were absent from town, I fear the Senate hardly paid sufficient attention to my despatch. The following point I will write to you in dark phrases: your cleverness will scent my meaning. My wife’s freedman (you know whom I mean) seemed to me lately from casual words of his to have cooked his accounts on the sale of the goods of the Crotonian tyrannicide. I fear you have noticed something. Look into this matter yourself alone, and secure what is left. I cannot write all my fears. Take care that your letter flies to meet me. I write in haste on the march and with my army. Give my love to your wife and to your very charming little daughter.

Tarsum venimus Nonis Iuniis. ibi me multa moverunt, magnum in Syria bellum, magna in Cilicia latrocinia, mihi difficilis ratio administrandi, quod paucos dies habebam reliquos annui muneris, illud autem difficillimum, relinquendus erat ex senatus consulto qui praeesset. nihil minus probari poterat quam quaestor Mescinius. nam de Coelio nihil audiebamus. rectissimum videbatur fratrem cum imperio relinquere; in quo multa molesta, discessus noster, belli periculum, militum improbitas, sescenta praeterea. O rem totam odiosam! sed haec fortuna viderit, quoniam consilio non multum uti licet. [2] tu quando Romam salvus ut spero venisti, videbis, ut soles, omnia quae intelleges nostra interesse, imprimis de Tullia mea, cuius de condicione quid mihi placeret scripsi ad Terentiam cum tu in Graecia esses; deinde de honore nostro. quod enim tu afuisti, vereor ut satis diligenter actum in senatu sit de litteris meis. illud praeterea mustikoteron ad te scribam, tu sagacius a odorabere. tes damartos mou ho apeleutheros (oistha hon lego) edoxe moi proen, ex hon alogeuomenos parephthengeto, pephurakenai tas psephous ek tes ones ton huparchonton ton tou Krotoniatou turannoktonou. dedoika de me ti ] noeseis. ] Heis depou touto de periskepsamenos ta loipa exasphalisai.. non queo tantum quantum vereor scribere; tu autem fac ut mihi tuae litterae volent obviae. haec festinans scripsi in itinere atque agmine. Piliae et puellae Caeciliae bellissimae salutem dices.