Letter 372

You have been prodding me more than once now because I seem to praise Dolabella's deed to the skies too extravagantly. For my part, although I certainly approve the act, I was led to praise it so strongly by your first and second letters. But Dolabella has entirely alienated himself from you for the same reason that he has made me too his bitter enemy. What shamelessness. He owed the money on January 1 and still has not paid, especially after freeing himself from enormous debts by Faber's hand and seeking help from Help herself. I can joke, so that you do not think I am seriously overturned. I had sent him a letter very early on May 8, and that same evening I received yours at Pompeii, remarkably quickly, on the third day after you wrote. But, as I wrote to you that same day, I sent Dolabella a letter sharp enough. If it accomplishes nothing, I think he will not be able to face me in person. I assume you have settled Albius' business. As for Patulcius' debt, on which you came to my help while it was hanging over me, that was most welcome and entirely like everything you do. Yet I thought I had left Eros made for sorting out these matters; through serious fault of his they have wobbled. I will see to it with him. As I have often written, Montanus' whole business will be in your care. I am not at all surprised that Servius, as he was leaving, spoke to you in despairing terms, and I concede nothing to him in despair. Our Brutus is a singular man, but if he is not coming to the Senate on June 1, I do not know what he will do in the Forum. He himself knows this better. From what I see being prepared, I do not think the Ides of March have brought much advantage. So I think more and more every day about Greece. I do not see how I can help my Brutus if, as he writes, he is contemplating exile. Leonidas' letter did not please me enough. About Herodes I agree with you. I wish I had read Saufeius' note. I was thinking of leaving Pompeii on May 10.

You are continually reproaching me now with lauding Dolabella to the skies more than I ought. But, though I strongly approve of his action, still it was one and then another letter of yours which induced me to belaud it so highly. But Dolabella has entirely lost your good graces for the same reason that he has made me too a bitter enemy. What a shameless fellow! He has not paid yet, though he ought to have done so on the first of January, especially as he has freed himself from enormous debts by the handwriting of Faberius and has sought help from the goddess of help. For I must have my joke, that you may not think I am seriously concerned. I had written too to him very early on the 8th, and on the same day in the evening I got a letter from you at Pompeii, delivered very quickly on the third day after you wrote it. But, as I told you then, my letter to Dolabella was sufficiently stinging. If it takes no effect, I don't think he will be able to face me. I think you have settled Albius' business. With regard to Patulcius' debt, it was most kind of you and just like yourself to come to my aid. But I seem to have deserted Eros, who is just the man to clear the matter up: it was through a grave fault of his that it went wrong. But I will see to that with him. Montanus' business, as I have often said, you must take charge of entirely. I am not surprised that Servius spoke to you in a tone of despair, when he was leaving; and my despair quite equals his. What our friend Brutus is going to do in the Forum, incomparable hero though he is, if he is not going to attend the Senate on the first of June, I do not know. But he should know this better himself. From the things I see in course of preparation I don't think the Ides of March are going to help much. So I am daily thinking more and more of Greece. For I fail to see what use I can be to Brutus, who, as he writes to me, is meditating exile. Leonidas' letter did not give me much pleasure. I agree about Herodes. I should like to have read Saufeius' note. I am thinking of leaving Pompeii on the tenth of May.

saepius me iam agitas quod rem gestam Dolabellae nimis in caelum videar efferre. ego autem, quamquam sane probo factum, tamen ut tanto opere laudarem adductus sum tuis et unis et alteris litteris. sed totum se a te abalienavit Dolabella ea de causa qua me quoque sibi inimicissimum reddidit. O hominem impudentem! Kal. Ian. debuit, adhuc non solvit, praesertim cum se maximo aere alieno Faberi manu liberarit et opem ab ope petierit licet enim iocari, ne me valde conturbatum putes. atque ego ad eum viii Idus litteras dederam bene mane, eodem autem die tuas litteras vesperi acceperam in Pompeiano sane celeriter tertio abs te die. sed, ut ad te eo ipso die scripseram,satis aculeatas ad Dolabellam litteras dedi; quae si nihil profecerint, puto fore ut me praesentem non sustineat [2] Albianum te confecisse arbitror. de Patulciano nomine, quod mihi suspendiatus est , gratissimum est et simile tuorum omnium. sed ego Erotem ad ista expedienda factum mihi videbar reliquisse; cuius non sine magna culpa vacillarunt. sed cum ipso videro. [3] de Montano, ut saepe ad te scripsi, erit tibi tota res curae. Servius proficiscens quod desperanter tecum locutus est minime miror neque ei quicquam in desperatione concedo. [4] Brutus noster, singularis vir, si in senatum non est Kal. Iuniis venturus, quid facturus sit in foro nescio. sed hoc ipse melius. ego ex iis quae parari video non multum Idibus Martiis profectum iudico. itaque de Graecia cotidie magis et magis cogito. nec enim Bruto meo exsilium, ut scribit ipse, meditanti video quid prodesse possim. Leonidae me litterae non satis delectarunt. de Herode tibi adsentior. Saufei legisse vellem. ego ex Pompeiano vi Idus Mai. cogitabam.