Letter 223

To my incalculable sorrows, a new one has been added by the news brought to me about the two Quinti. My friend Publius Terentius, who was serving as deputy to the collector of harbor dues and pasture tax in Asia, saw young Quintus at Ephesus on December 8 and, because of our friendship, gave him a cordial invitation. When he asked him something about me, Quintus said I was his deadliest enemy and showed him the draft of a speech he said he was going to deliver against me before Caesar. Terentius said everything he could to dissuade him from such madness. Later, at Patrae, the elder Quintus spoke freely to him in the same scandalous way. From the letters I sent you, you will have inferred what a rage he is in. I am sure this will grieve you. To me it is sheer torture, especially since I do not expect I will even have the chance to confront them. The news I receive about affairs in Africa is quite different from what you sent me. People say that everything there is as strong and ready as possible. Spain and Italy are alienated from Caesar; his legions are not what they were either in strength or loyalty; and in the city things are in poor condition. I cannot get a moment's peace except when reading your letters. They would certainly be more frequent if you had any news you thought would lighten my sorrows. Still, I beg you not to neglect writing to me, whatever the news may be. And if you cannot bring yourself to hate those who have shown such heartless hostility toward me, at least rebuke them, not in the hope of doing any good, but so they may feel that I am dear to you. I will write more if you answer the last letter I sent. Farewell. January 19.

To my sorrows, which are incalculable, there has come an addition in the news that is brought me about the two Quinti. My friend P. Terentius was acting as deputy to the collector of port-dues and pasture tax in Asia, and he saw young Quintus at Ephesus on the 8th of December and gave him a cordial invitation on account of our friendship. And when he asked him something about me, Quintus told him that I was his deadliest enemy and showed him the manuscript of a speech which he said he was going to deliver before Caesar against me. Terentius said all he could to dissuade him from such folly. Afterwards at Patrae the elder Quintus talked freely to him in the same scandalous strain. What a rage he is in you will have inferred from the letters I sent you. I am sure this will grieve you. To me it is positive torture, especially as I don't expect I shall even have a chance of expostulating with them. The news I get about the state of affairs in Africa is quite different to what you sent me. They say that all is as strong and as ready as possible. Then there are Spain and Italy alienated from Caesar; his legions are not what they were either in strength or in loyalty; and in the city things are in a poor plight; I cannot get a moment's peace except when I am reading your letters. They would certainly be more frequent, if you had any news which you thought would lighten my sorrows. Still I beg you not to neglect writing to me, whatever the news may be; and, if you cannot bring yourself to hate those who have shown such unfeeling hostility to me, at any rate reprove them, not in the hope of doing any good, but to make them feel that I am dear to you. I will write more, if you answer the last letter I sent. Farewell. Jan. 19.

[1] ad meas incredibilis aegritudines aliquid novi accedit ex iis quae de Q. Q. ad me adferuntur. P. Terentius meus necessarius operas in portu et scriptura Asiae pro magistro dedit. is Quintum filium Ephesi vidit vi Idus Decembr. eumque studiose propter amicitiam nostram invitavit; cumque ex eo de me percontaretur, eum sibi ita dixisse narrabat, se mihi esse inimicissimum, volumenque sibi ostendisse orationis quam apud Caesarem contra me esset habiturus. multa a se dicta contra eius amentiam. multa postea Patris simili scelere secum Quintum patrem locutum; cuius furorem ex iis epistulis quas ad te misi perspicere potuisti. haec tibi dolori esse certo scio; me quidem excruciant et eo magis quod mihi cum illis ne querendi quidem locum futurum puto. [2] de Africanis rebus longe alia nobis ac tu scripseras nuntiantur. nihil enim firmius esse dicunt, nihil paratius. accedit Hispania et alienata Italia, legionum nec vis eadem nec voluntas, urbanae res perditae. quid est ubi acquiescam, nisi quam diu tuas litteras lego? quae essent profecto crebriores, si quid haberes quo putares meam molestiam minui posse. sed tamen te rogo ut ne intermittas scribere ad me quicquid erit eosque qui mihi tam crudeliter inimici sunt, si odisse non potes, accuses tamen, non ut aliquid proficias sed ut tibi me carum esse sentiant. plura ad te scribam, si mihi ad eas litteras quas proxime ad te dedi rescripseris. vale. xii K. Febr.