Letter 124

On the eighth day before the Ides of December [December 6] I arrived at Aeculanum, and there I read your letter, which Philotimus delivered to me. From it I took, at first glance, the pleasure of seeing that it was written in your own hand; and then I was wonderfully delighted by the meticulous care it showed. To begin with that first point, where you say you do not agree with Dicaearchus: although I most eagerly sought it, and with your approval, that I should not be in the province longer than a year, still it was not brought about by any effort of mine. For you should know this: not a word was ever spoken in the Senate about any of us who held provinces, to the effect that we should stay in them longer than the decree of the Senate allowed. So now I cannot even be charged with the fault of having been in the province for a shorter time than would perhaps have been useful. [2] But "what if this is better?" often seems aptly said, as in this very case. For whether matters can be brought to concord, or to the victory of the loyalists [boni], I should wish to be either a helper in one or the other or at any rate not without a share in it; but if the loyalists are defeated, wherever I might be, I would have been defeated together with them. Therefore the speed of my return ought to be without regret [ametameletos]. But if that notion about a triumph had not been thrust upon me—the one which you too approve—you would surely not miss much that ideal man who was portrayed in the sixth book. For what am I to do with you, who have devoured those books? Indeed, even now I shall not hesitate to throw away so great a thing, if that will be the more correct course. Truly the two cannot be pursued at once: to angle ambitiously for a triumph and to act freely on behalf of the Republic. But do not doubt that whatever is the more honorable course, that will rank higher with me. [3] As for your thinking it more advantageous—either for me, because it is safer, or even so that I may be able to benefit the Republic—that I should be in command [with imperium], we shall consider in person what sort of thing that is. For the matter calls for deliberation; though in great part I agree with you. As to my disposition toward the Republic, you do well not to doubt it; and you judge rightly that, in no way commensurate with my services, given his very effusiveness toward others, he [Caesar] has been generous to me—and you truly set out the reason for this, and what you write about the dealings with Fabius and Caninius agrees with it strongly. Even if matters were otherwise and he had poured himself out entirely upon me, still that guardian of the city you mention would compel me to be mindful of my splendid inscription, and would not grant me leave to imitate Volcacius or Servius, with whom you are satisfied, but would wish me to think and to defend something worthy of myself. And this indeed I would do, if it were permitted, in a different way from the way it must now be done. [4] Men are fighting for their own power at this time, with the State in peril. For if the Republic is being defended, why was it not defended when this very man was consul? Why was I—in whose cause the safety of the Republic was bound up—not defended the following year? Why was his command prolonged, or why prolonged in that manner? Why was there such a great struggle to get the ten tribunes of the plebs to bring forward a bill that account should be taken of him in his absence? By these measures he has grown so strong that now the hope of resistance rests upon a single citizen; and I would prefer that that citizen had not given him such great forces than that he should now be resisting him when he is so powerful. [5] But since matters have been brought to this pass, I shall not ask, as you write, "where is the ship of the sons of Atreus?" [pou skaphos to ton Atreidon]; for me there will be one ship, the one steered by Pompey. As for that very thing you say—"what will happen when it has been said, 'Speak, Marcus Tullius?'"—in a word [suntoma]: "I agree with Gnaeus Pompeius." Yet I shall privately urge Pompey himself toward concord. For this is my view: the situation is in the greatest danger. You who are in the city, of course, know more. But still I see this: that we have to deal with a most reckless and most ready man; that all the condemned, all who have been branded with disgrace, all who deserve condemnation and disgrace are on his side; nearly all the young men, all that ruined city rabble, the powerful tribunes—add Gaius Cassius—all who are weighed down by debt, who I realize are more numerous than I had thought (his cause lacks only a cause; in everything else it abounds). On our side everyone is doing everything to keep it from being decided by arms, whose outcomes are always uncertain, but now indeed even more to be feared as turning against us. Bibulus has left his province and put Veiento in charge; in departing he will be, as I hear, rather slow. When Cato decked him out with honors, he declared that the only men he does not envy are those to whose dignity nothing, or not much, could be added. [6] Now I come to private matters; for I have pretty well answered your letters about the Republic, both the one you wrote at your suburban villa and the one you wrote afterward. I come to private matters. One more thing about Caelius: so far is he from shifting my opinion that I think he himself must greatly regret having departed from his own. But what is this, that Lucceius' estates have been knocked down to him? I am amazed you passed this over. [7] About Philotimus I shall indeed do as you advise. But I was not at this time expecting from him the accounts which he rendered to you, but rather that balance which he himself wished me to enter in my ledger in my own hand at my Tusculan villa, and which likewise in Asia he handed me written in his own hand. If he were to make that good, he would owe me himself as much as, and even more than, the debt he told you I owed. But in this sort of business, if only the Republic allows it, I shall not be blamed hereafter—nor by Hercules have I been negligent before, but rather kept busy by the multitude of my friends. So I shall make use, as you promise, of both your help and your counsel, and I hope I shall not be a burden to you in it. [8] About the splints for my cohort [serperastra, the braces used to straighten children's crooked limbs—Cicero's joke for keeping his unruly staff in line] there is nothing for you to grieve over. For they pulled themselves together out of admiration for my integrity. But no one moved me more than the very man you think is a nobody. He was outstanding both at the start and is so now. Yet at the very moment of departure he showed that he had hoped for something, and for a little while he could not master the idea he had taken into his head; but he quickly came back to himself, and overcome by my most honorable services toward him, he valued these more than all the money. [9] I have received the will from Curius, which I carry with me. I have learned what legacies Hortensius left. Now I am eager to know what sort of man he is and of what things he is arranging an auction. For I do not see why, when Caelius has seized the Porta Flumentana, I should not make Puteoli mine. [10] I come to "Piraeea," in which I am more to be blamed for writing—I, a Roman—"Piraeea" rather than "Piraeum" (for so all our people have said), than for adding the "in." For I prefixed this not as before a town but as before a place. And yet our friend Dionysius, and Nicias of Cos who is with us, did not think the Piraeus was a town. But I shall look into the matter. If indeed there is any fault of mine, it lies in this, that I spoke of it not as of a town but as of a place; and I followed—I do not say Caecilius, "in the morning, as from the harbor into the Piraeus" (for he is a poor authority on Latin usage)—but Terence, whose little plays were thought, on account of the elegance of their language, to be written by Gaius Laelius: "yesterday a few of us young men gathered at the Piraeus"; and the same author, in the Merchant, added "taken from Sunium." But if we want demes [demous] to be towns, then Sunium is as much a town as the Piraeus. But since you are a grammarian, you will free me from great vexation if you settle this question [zetema] for me. [11] He [Caesar] sends me flattering letters; Balbus does the same on his behalf. For my part I am resolved not to budge a finger's breadth from the most honorable course—but you know how much I still owe him. Do you think, then, there is reason to fear either that someone may throw this up at me, if I act too feebly, or demand repayment, if I act too boldly? What solution do you find for this? "Let us pay it off," you say. Very well, we shall borrow from Caelius. But this I should like you to weigh; for I think that in the Senate, if I ever speak nobly on behalf of the Republic, that Tartessian of yours [the moneylender] will say to me as I go out, "Be so good as to see to the cash." [12] What remains? This too. My son-in-law is agreeable to me, to Tullia, and to Terentia. As much talent or culture as you like—enough; the rest, which you know of, must be borne. For you know whom we have laid open [examined]. All of them, except the one whom we dealt with through you, would make me a defendant—for no one will set down a loan to their account. But this in person; for it is a long story. The hope of restoring Tiro's health rests with Manius Curius, to whom I have written that he will be doing you a most welcome favor. Sent on the fifth day before the Ides of December [December 9], from Pontius' estate at Trebula.

On the 6th of December I came to Aeculanum, and there I read your letter, which Philotimus handed to me. I was pleased at the first glance to see it was in your handwriting; and I was highly delighted at the care and attention it showed. First you say that you disagree with Dicaearchus. Now, though I was exceedingly anxious, and that with your approval, not to stay in my province more than a year, it was not my own efforts that gained the point. For you should know that no word was ever said in the House about any of us provincial governors outstaying the term of our appointment; so that now I am not to be blamed even for making a shorter stay in my province than was perhaps to my advantage. But "all for the best" is an apt saying, as it is in this case. For, if peace can be patched up, or the loyalists can be made to win the victory, I should be sorry not to assist or at any rate have a hand in the matter. But, if the loyalists are conquered, I should share their defeat wherever I were. So my speedy return ought not to cost me any regret. If this idea of a triumph that you approve had not come into my head, you would find me not far short of the ideal statesman I sketched in the sixth volume. What would you have me do, you devourer of those books of mine? Even now I will not hesitate to throw away my great ambition, if that course is better. One cannot of course play both parts at once, the selfish candidate for triumph and the independent politician. But doubt not that I shall take honesty to be my best policy. As for your point that it were better for me, whether for my private safety, or for the public welfare, that I should retain my command, we will talk it over together. It is a matter for deliberation, though I agree with you in the main. You do well not to doubt my attitude towards politics: and you judge rightly that Caesar has not been liberal to me considering my services, and considering his lavishness towards others. You explain his reasons rightly: I am in the same boat with Fabius and Caninius, as your letter shows. But if things were otherwise and he had been profuse in his generosity towards me, nevertheless the goddess you mention, the guardian of the city, would have compelled me to remember her fine inscription, and would not allow me to imitate Volcacius or Servius, with whom you are content, but would wish me to express and maintain a policy worthy of my name. And I should have done it, if I could, in a different way from the way I must adopt now. It is for their own power men are fighting now to the danger of the country. For if the constitution is being defended, why was it not defended when Caesar himself was consul? Why was I, on whose case the safety of the constitution depended, not defended in the following year? Why was Caesar's command prolonged, or why was it prolonged in such a fashion? Why was there such a struggle to get the ten tribunes to bring in a bill allowing him to stand in his absence? All this has made him so strong that now hope of resistance depends on one citizen. I wish that citizen had not given him so much power rather than that he now resisted him in the hour of his strength. But since things have come to such a pass, I shall not ask, to borrow your quotation, "Where is the bark of Atreus' sons?" My only bark will be that which has Pompey for a pilot. For your query "What will happen when the question is put 'Your vote, Marcus Tullius'"—briefly "I vote with Pompey." Still I shall exhort Pompey privately to pacific measures. I feel that there is the greatest danger. You, who are in town, will know more. Yet I see that we have to do with a man of the greatest daring and readiness, who has on his side all the criminal and social outcasts, and all who deserve to be counted criminals and outcasts; nearly all the younger generation; all the lowest city rabble; the powerful tribunes including C. Cassius; all the insolvent, who are more in number than I imagined. All his cause wants is a good cause: it has everything else in plenty. On our side we all do everything to avoid battle. You can never be sure of the issue of war, and it is to be feared it would go against us now. Bibulus has quitted the province and left Veiento in charge: he will be pretty slow, I hear, on his journey. This is the man in whose praise Cato spoke, when he declared that the only people he did not envy were those who could not be raised higher or not much higher. To come to private matters: for I have fairly answered your letter on the political situation, both the one you wrote in your town villa and the one you wrote later. Now for private matters. But one word about Caelius. So far is he from affecting my view, that I think he must be sorry he changed his own. But what is this story of Lucceius' property being knocked down to him? I wonder you passed that over. As for Philotimus I shall take your advice. But I was not expecting from him the accounts, which he gave you: I was expecting the balance, which he wished me to enter in my note-book with my own hand at Tusculum, and for which he gave me in Asia a certificate in his own hand. If he should pay up all the money he told you was owing to me, he would still owe me as much again and even more. But, if only politics will allow, I shall not incur blame hereafter in matters of this kind. Indeed I have not been careless hitherto; but my time has been taken up by a crowd of friends. I shall therefore have your industry and advice, as you promise, and I hope I shall not be troublesome in the matter. You have no reason to lament the treatment that I meted to my crooked staff. They pulled themselves together in amaze at my honesty. But nobody surprised me more than the man whom you think a nobody. From first to last he was and is splendid. But just at my departure he showed me that he had hoped for some reward; and yet he did not long cling to the idea which had entered his mind, but quickly came to himself again, and overwhelmed by the honours I had done him, regarded them as of more worth than any money. I have received his will from Curius and bring it with me. I know the legacies Hortensius has to pay. Now I want to know the metal of the man, and what properties he is putting up for sale. When Caelius has taken the Porta Flumentana, I don't see why I should not make Puteoli mine. Coming to the form Piraeea, I am more to be blamed for writing it thus and not Piraeum in Latin, as all our people do, than I am for adding the preposition "in." I used "in" as before a word signifying a place and not a town. After all Dionysius and Nicias of Cos, who is with me, do not consider that the Piraeus is a town. I will look into the question. If I have made a mistake, it is in speaking of it not as a town but as a place, and I have authority. I do not depend on a quotation from Caecilius: "Máne ut ex portu in Piraeum," as he is a poor authority in Latinity; but I will quote Terence, whose fine style caused his plays to be ascribed to C. Laelius "Heri áliquot adulescéntuli coíimus in Piraeum," and again: "Mercátor hoc addébat, captam e Súnio." If we want to call parishes towns, Sunium is as much a town as the Piraeus. But, since you are a purist, you will save me a lot of trouble, if you can solve the problem for me. Caesar sends me a friendly letter. Balbus does the same on his account. Certainly I shall not swerve a finger's breadth from the strictest honour; but you know how much I still owe him. Don't you think there is fear that this may be cast in my teeth, if I am slack; and repayment demanded from me, if I am energetic? What solution is there? "Pay up," say you. Well, I will borrow from the bank. But there is a point you might consider. If I ever make a notable speech in the House on behalf of the constitution, your friend from Tarshish will be pretty sure to say to me as I go out: "Kindly send me a draft." Anything else? Yes. My son-in-law is agreeable to me, to Tullia, and to Terentia. He has any amount of native charm or shall I say culture: and that is enough. We must put up with the faults you know of. For you know what we have found the others to be on inspection. All of them except the one with whom you negotiated for us would get me into the law courts. No one will lend them money on their own security. But this when we meet: it is a long story. My hope of Tiro's recovery lies in M'. Curius. I have written to him that he will be doing you the greatest favour. Dec. 9, at Pontius' villa at Trebula.

A. d. viii Idus Decembr. Aeculanum veni et ibi tuas litteras legi quas Philotimus mihi reddidit. E quibus hanc primo aspectu voluptatem cepi quod erant a te ipso scriptae, deinde earum accuratissima diligentia sum mirum in modum delectatus. ac primum illud in quo te Dicaearcho adsentiri negas, etsi cupidissime expetitum a me est et te approbante ne diutius anno in provincia essem, tamen non est nostra contentione perfectum. sic enim scito, verbum in senatu factum esse numquam de ullo nostrum qui provincias obtinuimus quo in iis diutius quam ex senatus consulto maneremus, ut iam ne istius quidem rei culpam sustineam quod minus diu fuerim in provincia quam fortasse fuerit utile. [2] sed 'quid si hoc melius?' (saepe) opportune dici videtur ut in hoc ipso. Sive enim ad concordiam res adduci potest sive ad bonorum victoriam, utriusvis rei me aut adiutorem velim esse aut certe non expertem; sin vincuntur boni, ubicumque essem, una cum iis victus essem. qua re celeritas nostri reditus ametameletos debet esse. quod si ista nobis cogitatio de triumpho iniecta non esset quam tu quoque approbas, ne tu haud multum requireres illum virum qui in sexto libro informatus est. quid enim tibi faciam qui illos libros devorasti? quin nunc ipsum non dubitabo rem tantam abicere, si id erit rectius. utrumque vero simul agi non potest et de triumpho ambitiose et de re publica libere. sed ne dubitaris quin quod honestius id mihi futurum sit antiquius. [3] nam quod putas utilius esse vel mihi quod tutius sit vel etiam ut rei publicae prodesse possim, me esse cum imperio, id coram considerabimus quale sit. habet enim res deliberationem; etsi ex parte magna tibi adsentior. de animo autem meo erga rem publicam bene facis quod non dubitas, et illud probe iudicas nequaquam satis pro meis officiis, pro ipsius in alios effusione illum in me liberalem fuisse, eiusque rei causam vere explicas, et eis quae de Fabio Caninioque acta scribis valde consentiunt. quae si secus essent totumque se ille in me profudisset, tamen illa quam scribis custos urbis me praeclarae inscriptionis memorem esse cogeret nec mihi concederet ut imitarer Volcacium aut Servium quibus tu es contentus, sed aliquid nos vellet nobis dignum et sentire et defendere. quod quidem agerem, si liceret, alio modo ac nunc agendum est. [4] de sua potentia dimicant homines hoc tempore periculo civitatis. nam si res publica defenditur, cur ea consule isto ipso defensa non est? cur ego in cuius causa rei publicae salus consistebat defensus postero anno non sum? cur imperium illi aut cur illo modo prorogatum est? cur tanto opere pugnatum est ut de eius absentis ratione habenda decem tribuni pl. ferrent? his ille rebus ita convaluit ut nunc in uno civi spes ad resistendum sit; qui mallem tantas ei viris non dedisset quam nunc tam valenti resisteret. [5] sed quoniam res eo deducta est, non quaeram, ut scribis, pou skaphos to ton Atreidon; mihi skaphos unum erit quod a Pompeio gubernabitur. illud ipsum quod ais, 'quid fiet, cum erit dictum, DIC, M. TVLLI?'—suntoma 'CN. POMPEIO ADSENTIOR.' ipsum tamen Pompeium separatim ad concordiam hortabor. sic enim sentio, maximo in periculo rem esse. vos scilicet plura qui in urbe estis. verum tamen haec video, cum homine audacissimo paratissimoque negotium esse, omnis damnatos, omnis ignominia adfectos, omnis damnatione ignominiaque dignos illac facere, omnem fere iuventutem, omnem illam urbanam ac perditam plebem, tribunos valentis addito C. Cassio, omnis qui aere alieno premantur, quos pluris esse intellego quam putaram (causam solum illa causa non habet, ceteris rebus abundat); hic omnia facere omnis ne armis decernatur, quorum exitus semper incerti, nunc vero etiam in alteram partem magis timendi. Bibulus de provincia decessit, Veientonem praefecit; in decedendo erit, ut audio, tardior. quem cum ornavit Cato, declaravit iis se solis non invidere quibus nihil aut non multum ad dignitatem posset accedere. [6] nunc venio ad privata; fere enim respondi tuis litteris de re publica et iis quas in suburbano et iis quas postea scripsisti. ad privata venio. unum etiam de Caelio tantum abest ut meam ille sententiam moveat ut valde ego ipsi quod de sua sententia decesserit paenitendum putem. sed quid est quod ei vici Luccei sint addicti? hoc te praetermisisse miror. [7] de Philotimo faciam equidem ut mones. sed ego mihi ab illo hoc tempore non rationes exspectabam quas tibi edidit, verum id reliquum quod ipse in Tusculano me referre in commentarium mea manu voluit quodque idem in Asia mihi sua manu scriptum dedit. id si praestaret, quantum mihi aeris alieni esse tibi edidit tantum et plus etiam mihi ipse deberet. sed in hoc genere, si modo per rem publicam licebit, non accusabimur posthac, neque hercule antea neglegentes fuimus sed amicorum multitudine occupati. ergo utemur, ut polliceris, et opera et consilio tuo nec tibi erimus, ut spero, in eo molesti. [8] de serperastris cohortis meae nihil est quod doleas. ipsi enim se conlegerunt admiratione integritatis meae. sed me moverat nemo magis quam is quem tu neminem putas. idem et initio fuerat et nunc est egregius. sed in ipsa decessione significavit sperasse se aliquid et id quod animum induxerat paulisper non tenuit sed cito ad se rediit meisque honorificentissimis erga se officiis victus pluris ea duxit quam omnem pecuniam. [9] ego a Curio tabulas accepi quas mecum porto. Hortensi legata cognovi. nunc aveo scire quid hominis sit et quarum rerum auctionem instituat. nescio enim cur, cum portam Flumentanam Caelius occuparit, ego Puteolos non meos faciam. [10] venio ad 'Piraeea,' in quo magis reprehendendus sum quod homo Romanus 'Piraeea' scripserim, non 'Piraeum' (sic enim omnes nostri locuti sunt), quam quod addiderim '(in).' non enim hoc ut oppido praeposui sed ut loco. et tamen Dionysius noster et qui est nobiscum Nicias Cous non rebatur oppidum esse Piraeea. sed de re videro. nostrum quidem si est peccatum, in eo est quod non ut de oppido locutus sum sed ut de loco secutusque sum non dico Caecilium, mane ut ex portu in Piraeum (malus enim auctor latinitatis est), sed Terentium cuius fabellae propter elegantiam sermonis putabantur a C. Laelio scribi, heri aliquot adulescentuli coiimus in Piraeum, et idem, Mercator hoc addebat, captam e sunio. quod si demous oppida volumus esse, tam est oppidum Sunium quam Piraeus. sed quoniam grammaticus es, si hoc mihi zetema persolveris, magna me molestia liberans. [11] ille mihi litteras blandas mittit; facit idem pro eo Balbus. mihi certum est ab honestissima sententia digitum nusquam sed scis illi reliquum quantum sit. Putasne igitur verendum esse ne aut obiciat id nobis aliquis, si languidius, aut repetat, si fortius? quid ad haec reperis? 'solvamus' inquis. age, a Caelio mutuabimur. hoc tu tamen consideres velim; puto enim, in senatu si quando praeclare pro re publica dixero, Tartessium istum tuum mihi exeunti, 'iube sodes nummos curare. [12] quid superest? etiam. gener est suavis mihi, Tulliae, Terentiae. quantumvis vel ingeni vel humanitatis, +satis+; reliqua, quae nosti, ferenda. scis enim quos +aperierimus+. qui omnes praeter eum de quo per te egimus, +reum+ me facerent. ipsis enim expensum nemo feret. sed haec coram; nam multi sermonis sunt. Tironis reficiendi spes est in M'. Curio, cui ego scripsi tibi eum gratissimum facturum. data v Idus Decembr. a Pontio ex Trebulano.