Letter 275

I could very easily stay here, even without Sicca [a friend of Cicero's near whose property he was lodging] (for it is better so for the sake of Tiro [Cicero's freedman and secretary, then ill]), unhappy though my circumstances are. But since you write that I must take care not to be caught off guard, and since I gather from this that you do not have a fixed date for his departure, I thought it would be more convenient for me to come over to you there; and I see that this same course meets with your approval. So tomorrow, then, I shall be at Sicca's place in the suburbs. From there, as you advise, I think I shall be at the villa near Ficulea. [2] As for the matters you wrote to me about, since I am coming in person, we shall see to them face to face. I value wonderfully the kindness, the diligence, and the good sense you show both in managing my affairs and in forming and offering me advice in the very letters you send. Still, if you settle anything with Silius, I should like you to inform me, even on the very day on which I am to come to Sicca, and above all which part of the property he wants taken off [from the purchase]. For as to what you write about "the far end," take care that it is not precisely the spot on whose account, as you know, the whole transaction was conceived by me. I have sent you Hirtius's letter, which is both recent and written in a friendly spirit.

I want it to be a shrine, and that idea cannot be rooted out of my mind. I am anxious to avoid its being taken for a tomb, not so much on account of the legal penalty as to get as near to deification as possible. That would be possible, if it were in the actual house where she died; but, as I have often said, I am afraid of its changing hands. Wherever I build it in the open, I think I can contrive that posterity shall respect its sanctity. You must put up with these foolish fancies of mine, for such I confess they are; for there is no one, not even myself, with whom I talk so freely as with you. But, if you approve of the project, the place and the plan, please read the law and send it to me. If any means of avoiding it occurs to you, we will adopt it. If you should be writing to Brutus and don't think it out of place, reproach him for refusing to stay in my house at Cumae for the reason he gave you. For when I come to think of it, I don't think he could have done anything ruder. If you think we ought to go on with our idea about the shrine, I should like you to speak to Cluatius and spur him on. For, even if we decide on another place, I think we must make use of his labour and advice. Perhaps you may be going to your country house to-morrow.

ego hic vel sine Sicca (Tironi enim melius est) facillime possem esse ut in malis sed, quom scribas videndum mihi esse ne opprimar, ex quo intellegam te certum diem illius profectionis non habere, putavi esse commodius me istuc venire; quod idem video tibi placere. cras igitur in Siccae suburbano. Inde, quem ad modum suades, puto me in Ficulensi fore. [2] quibus de rebus ad me scripsisti, quoniam ipse venio, coram videbimus. tuam quidem et in agendis nostris rebus et in consiliis ineundis mihique dandis in ipsis litteris quas mittis benevolentiam, diligentiam, prudentiam mirifice diligo. tu tamen si quid cum Silio, vel illo ipso die quo ad Siccam venturus ero, certiorem me velim facias, et maxime cuius loci detractionem fieri velit. quod enim scribis 'extremi,' vide ne is ipse locus sit cuius causa de tota re, ut scis, est a nobis cogitatum. Hirti epistulam tibi misi et recentem et benevole scriptam.