Letter 423

There was plainly nothing for me to write about. For while I was at Puteoli, every day there was some fresh news about Octavian, and much that was false as well about Antony. But as to the things you wrote (for I had received three letters from you on the third day before the Ides), I quite agree with you: if Octavian gains great power, the acts of the tyrant [Caesar] will be ratified far more firmly than they were on the Capitol [in telluris, lit. "in the temple of Tellus," where the Senate met after the assassination], and that this will be to the detriment of Brutus. But if, on the other hand, he is defeated, you see how intolerable Antony becomes, so that you cannot tell which outcome to wish for. [2] Oh, that messenger of Sestius, a worthless fellow! He said he would be at Rome the day after he was at Puteoli. As for your warning me to proceed step by step, I agree; though I had been thinking otherwise. Neither Philippus nor Marcellus moves me. For their situation is different and, even if it is not, it at least appears so. But in that young man [Octavian], although there is spirit enough, there is too little authority [auctoritas]. Still, consider whether, if I can perhaps be safely at my place in Tusculum, that might not be the better course. I would be there with more pleasure; for I will be ignorant of nothing. Or should I stay here, when Antony has come? [3] But, to pass from one matter to another, I have no doubt that what the Greeks call kathekon [the fitting, the appropriate], we should call "officium" [duty]. And why do you doubt that this term applies admirably even to public affairs? Do we not say "the duty of the consuls, the duty of the senate, the duty of the commander"? It fits splendidly; or else give me a better word. [4] The news you give about Nepos' son is bad. By Hercules, I am deeply moved and I take it grievously. I had not known at all that this boy even existed. I have lost Caninius, a man who, as far as I am concerned, was not ungrateful. There is no reason for you to urge Athenodorus on; for he has sent a rather fine hypomnema [memorandum, set of notes]. Please relieve your cold by every means. The great-grandson of your grandfather [a playful periphrasis: Atticus himself] writes to the grandson of my father [Cicero himself] that, beginning from those Nones on which we did great deeds [the Nones of December 63 BC, when the Catilinarian conspirators were executed], he will lay open [the accounts of] the temple of Ops, and that before the people. You will see to it, then, and write to me. I await Sestius' verdict.

Don't think it is laziness that prevents my writing myself; and yet, to be sure, it is nothing but laziness, for I have no other excuse to make. However, I seem to recognize Alexis' hand in your letters too. But to come to the point. If Dolabella had not treated me most disgracefully, I should perhaps have had some doubt whether to let him down lightly or to claim my full rights. But, as it is, I am glad to have some reason for showing him and other people that I have quarrelled with him; and I will make it clear that I detest him both on my own account and on that of the Republic, because, when at my instigation he had begun to defend it, he not only accepted a bribe to desert it, but did his best to overthrow it. You ask how I want things to be managed when the day comes. First, I should like them to be so arranged that it may appear natural for me to come to Rome. But about that, and indeed about the rest, I will do as you advise. On the main point, however, I want really active and serious steps to be taken. Though it is counted bad form to call upon the sureties for payment, still consider how that method would do. We can bring his agents into the case in order to call upon the sureties, for the agents will not dispute the suit, though, if they do, I know of course the sureties will escape. But I think it will be a disgrace for him, if his agents do not pay up a debt for which he gave security, and my position demands that I should prosecute my case without extreme humiliation to him. Please write and tell me what you think best; I have no doubt you will carry it through with reasonable moderation. I return to public affairs. You have often said many a wise thing about politics, but never anything wiser than this letter: "For though the youth is strong and at present holds Antony well in check, still we must wait and see." But what a speech! For it has been sent to me. He swears by his hopes of attaining to the honours of his father, and at the same time stretches out his hand towards the statue. Be hanged to salvation with a saviour like that! But, as you say, I see Casca's tribuneship will afford the best criterion of his policy. It was apropos of that that I said to Oppius, when he wanted me to open my arms to the youth, the whole cause, and the troop of veterans, that I could not do anything of the kind, until I had made sure that he would not only not be an enemy, but would be a friend to the tyrannicides. He said that would be so, and I replied: "Then, what is the hurry? He does not want my assistance before the 1st of January, and we shall see what he intends before the middle of December in Casca's case." He quite agreed with me. So that's enough of that. For the rest you will have messengers every day, and I think you will have something to write every day too. I am sending a copy of Lepta's letter, and from it you will see that that toy captain has had a fall. But you will judge for yourself when you have read it. When I had already sealed this letter, I got one from you and one from Sextus. Nothing could have been pleasanter or more amiable than Sextus' letter. For yours was a short note, the earlier one having been very full. It is wise and friendly advice you give me to stay here by preference, till we hear how this disturbance is going to end. But just at this minute, my dear Atticus, it is not the Republic that I am bothered about—not that any thing is or ought to be dearer to me, but even Hippocrates admits it is useless to apply medicine in desperate cases. So let that go hang—it is my private concerns that bother me. Concerns, do I say? Nay, rather my credit; for, though I have such big balances, I have not even enough money on hand yet to pay Terentia. Do I speak of Terentia? You know we arranged long ago to pay Montanus' debt of £250. My son very considerately begged me to do it out of his credit. As you also agreed, I promised quite freely, and told Eros to set a sum apart for it. Not only did he fail to do so, but Aurelius had to raise another loan at extortionate interest. For Terentia's debt Tiro tells me you said there would be money from Dolabella. I think he misunderstood you, if anyone can misunderstand anybody, or rather he did not understand at all. For you sent me Cocceius' answer, and so did Eros in nearly the same words. So I must come even into the heart of the conflagration, for private failure is even more disgraceful than public failure. So for the other matters contained in your pleasant letter, I was too perturbed in mind to answer them as usual. Combine with me in extricating me from the tiresome position I am in; how it is to be done I have some idea, but I cannot arrange things with certainty till I see you. However, how can I be less safe in Rome than Marcellus? But that is not the point, nor is it my chief anxiety; what I am anxious about you see. So I am coming.

nihil erat plane quod scriberem. nam cum Puteolis essem, cotidie aliquid novi de Octaviano, multa etiam falsa de Antonio. ad ea autem quae scripsisti (tris enim acceperam iii Idus a te epistulas), valde tibi adsentior, si multum possit Octavianus, multo firmius acta tyranni comprobatum iri quam in telluris atque id contra Brutum fore. sin autem vincitur, vides intolerabilem Antonium, ut quem velis nescias. [2] O Sesti tabellarium hominem nequam! postridie Puteolis Romae se dixit fore. quod me mones ut pedetemptim, adsentior; etsi aliter cogitabam. nec me Philippus aut Marcellus movet. Alia enim eorum ratio <est> et, si non est, tamen videtur. sed in isto iuvene, quamquam animi satis, auctoritatis parum est. tamen vide, si forte in Tusculano recte esse possum, ne id melius sit. ero libentius; nihil enim ignorabo. an hic, cum Antonius venerit? [3] sed, ut aliud ex alio, mihi non est dubium quin quod Graeci kaqh=kon , nos 'officium.' id autem quid dubitas quin etiam in rem publicam praeclare caderet? nonne dicimus 'consulum officium, senatus officium, imperatoris officium'? praeclare convenit; aut da melius. [4] male narras de Nepotis filio. valde me hercule moveor et moleste fero. nescieram omnino esse istum puerum. Caninium perdidi, hominem, quod ad me attinet, non ingratum. Athenodorum nihil est quod hortere. misit enim satis bellum u(po/mnhma . gravedini, quaeso, omni ratione subveni. avi tui pronepos scribit ad patris mei nepotem se ex Nonis iis quibus nos magna gessimus aedem Opis explicaturum idque ad populum. videbis igitur et scribes. Sexti iudicium exspecto.