Letter 81

I would very much like to know whether the tribunes are blocking the census by declaring days invalid, since there is a rumor here to that effect. Tell me what they are doing and thinking about the census as a whole. I was with Pompey here. He spoke at length about politics, quite dissatisfied with himself, as he put it. With this man, one always has to add "as he put it." He dismissed Syria, boasted about Spain, again "as he put it." I think that whenever we speak of him, that phrase should be added everywhere, like the tag "this too is by Phocylides." He also thanked you for taking on the arrangement of the statues. Toward me, by Hercules, he overflowed with sweetness. He even came from his own place to visit me at Cumae. The last thing he seemed to want was for Messalla to stand for the consulship. If you know anything about that, I would like to know it. I am grateful that you say you will commend my glory to Lucceius, and grateful too for your frequent visits to my house. My brother Quintus has written that, since you have his darling Cicero with you, he will come to see you on May 7. I left Cumae on April 26, spent that night at Naples with Paetus, and wrote this very early on April 27 while going to my place at Pompeii.

I should much like to know whether the tribunes are hindering the census by declaring days void—for there is a rumour to that effect—and what is happening about the census in general and what people are thinking. I met Pompey here; and he told me a lot of political news. He was very dissatisfied with himself, as he said—for that is a necessary proviso in his case. Of Syria he expressed a very low opinion, while he runs down Spain—with the same proviso “as he said,” which I think must be inserted everywhere when he is mentioned, like the tag “this too is by Phocylides.” To you he expressed his thanks for undertaking the arrangement of the statues, and he laid himself out to be most uncommonly pleasant to me. He even came to visit me in my house at Cumae. The last thing he seemed to wish was that Messalla should stand for the consulship: and if you have any information on that point, I should like to know it. I am most grateful to you for saying that you will recommend me as a subject for a panegyric to Lucceius and for your frequent visits to my house. My brother Quintus has written that he will pay you a visit on the 7th of May since you have his dear child with you. I left my villa at Cumae on the 26th of April, spent that night with Paetus at Naples, and am writing this very early in the morning of the 27th on my way to my place at Pompeii.

sane velim scire num censum impediant tribuni diebus vitiandis (est enim hic rumor) totaque de censura quid agant, quid cogitent. nos hic cum Pompeio fuimus. multa mecum de re publica sane sibi displicens, ut loquebatur (sic est enim in hoc homine dicendum), Syriam spernens, Hispaniam iactans, hic quoque, ut loquebatur; et opinor usque quaque, de hoc cum dicemus, sit hoc quasi kai tode Phokulidou. tibi etiam gratias agebat quod signa componenda suscepisses; in nos vero suavissime hercule est effusus. venit etiam ad me in Cumanum a se. nihil minus velle mihi visus est quam Messallam consulatum petere. de quo ipso si quid scis velim scire. [2] quod Lucceio scribis te nostram gloriam commendaturum et aedificium nostrum quod crebro invisis, gratum. Quintus frater ad me scripsit se, quoniam Ciceronem suavissimum tecum haberes, ad te Nonis Maias venturum. )ego me de Cumano movi ante diem v Kal. Maias. eo die Neapoli apud Paetum. ante diem IIII Kal. Maias iens in Pompeianum bene mane haec scripsi.