Letter 2.8

What? Do you think I asked you to send me reports about the pairings of gladiators, adjourned court appearances, Chrestus's robberies, and the sort of things that no one dares tell me even when I am in Rome? See how much I credit your judgment - and not unfairly, by Hercules, for I have not yet met anyone with a more political mind. I do not even care for you to write me about the daily events in the greatest matters of the republic, unless something directly concerns me. Others will write; many will carry reports; rumor itself will bring much. So what I expect from you is not the past or the present, but the future. You are a man who sees far ahead. From your letters, once I have seen the ground plan of the republic, I want to be able to know what kind of building will rise from it. So far, however, I have no charge to bring against you. You could not foresee more than any of us could, least of all more than I could; and I spent several days with Pompey in conversations about nothing except public affairs. Those conversations neither can nor should be put in writing. Take only this much as certain: Pompey is an excellent citizen, ready in spirit and judgment for everything that needs to be foreseen in the republic. So attach yourself to him. Believe me, he will embrace you. He now sees the same people as good and bad citizens as we usually do. After spending exactly ten days at Athens and seeing much of our friend Caninius Gallus, I was setting out on July 6, the day I gave you this letter. I want all my affairs to be most carefully commended to you, but nothing more than this: that my provincial term not be extended. Everything depends on that for me. You will decide best when, how, and through whom it should be handled.

CC (Fam. II, 8) TO M. CAELIUS RUFUS (AT ROME) ATHENS, 6 JULY: What! Do you suppose that I meant you to send me an account of gladiatorial matches, of postponements of trials, of robberies by Chrestus , and such things as, when I am at Rome , nobody ventures to retail to me? See what a high opinion I have of you — and not, indeed, undeservedly, for I have never yet known anyone with keener political instincts — I don't care for your writing to me even the daily occurrences in the most important affairs of the state, unless there is something specially affecting myself. Other people will write about them; many will convey news of them: common report itself will bring many of them to my ears. Therefore it is not things past or present that I expect from you, but things to come — for you are a man who sees far in front of you — so that, having got a view of the ground plan of the Republic from your pen, I may satisfy myself as to what the future building is to be. As yet, however, I have no fault to find with you; for it is impossible for you to see farther than any one of us, and especially myself, who have spent several days with Pompey in conversation exclusively political, which neither can nor ought to be committed to writing. Only take this as certain, that Pompey is an admirable citizen, and prepared in courage and wisdom alike to meet every contingency that needs to be provided against in the political situation. Wherefore devote yourself to him: he will receive you, believe me, with open arms. For he takes the same view, as we ever do, as to who are good and bad citizens. After spending exactly ten days in Athens , and having seen a great deal of our friend Caninius Gallus , I am starting on my journey today, the 6th of July, the day on which I send you this letter. All interests of mine I desire to have the benefit of your greatest attention, but nothing more so than that the time of my provincial government should not be extended. That is all in all to me. When, how, and by whose means this is to be worked, you will settle best for yourself.

VIII. M. CICERO PRO COS. S. D. M. CAELIO Athenis; prid. Non. Quint. 51 Quid? Tu me hoc tibi mandasse existimas ut mihi gladiatorum compositiones, ut vadimonia dilata et Chresti compilationem mitteres et ea quae nobis cum Romae sumus narrare nemo audeat? Vide quantum tibi meo iudicio tribuam (nec mehercule iniuria; πολιτικώτερον enim te adhuc neminem cognovi): ne illa quidem curo mihi scribas quae maximis in rebus rei publicae geruntur cottidie, nisi quid ad me ipsum pertinebit. Scribent alii, multi nuntiabunt, perferet multa etiam ipse rumor. Qua re ego nec praeterita nec praesentia abs te sed, ut ab homine longe in posterum prospiciente, futura exspecto, ut ex tuis litteris, cum formam rei publicae viderim, quale aedificium futurum sit scire possim. Neque tamen adhuc habeo quod te accusem; neque enim fuit quod tu plus providere posses quam quivis nostrum in primisque ego, qui cum Pompeio compluris dies nullis in aliis nisi de re publica sermonibus versatus sum. Quae nec possunt scribi nec scribenda sunt; tantum habeto, civem egregium esse Pompeium et ad omnia quae providenda sunt in re publica et animo et consilio paratum. Qua re da te homini; complectetur, mihi crede. Iam idem illi et boni et mali cives videntur qui nobis videri solent. Ego, cum Athenis decem ipsos dies fuissem multumque mecum Gallus noster Caninius, proficiscebar inde prid. Non. Quint., cum hoc ad te litterarum dedi. Tibi cum omnia mea commendatissima esse cupio tum nihil magis quam ne tempus nobis provinciae prorogetur. In eo mihi sunt omnia. Quod quando et quo modo et per quos agendum sit, tu optime constitues.