Letter 2.12

I was certainly anxious about events in the city. Reports reached us of such stormy public meetings and such troublesome Quinquatrus [a March festival often marked by assemblies and games]; more recent news had not yet arrived. But nothing troubled me more, amid all these troubles, than not being able to laugh about the ridiculous parts with you. There are many of them, but I do not dare write them down. What annoys me is that I still have no letter from you about these matters. So even though, by the time you read this, I will already have completed my year of service, please have letters meet me on the road, teaching me about the whole republic, so that I do not arrive as a total stranger. No one can do this better than you. Your Diogenes, a modest man, left me with Philo for Pessinus. They were traveling to Adiatorix, although they had learned that everything there was neither kind nor plentiful. The city, the city, my dear Rufus - cultivate it, and live in that light. Every life abroad, as I have judged since youth, is obscure and shabby for men whose energy can shine at Rome. Since I knew this perfectly well, I wish I had remained true to that view. By Hercules, I would not compare all the profit of a province with one little walk and one conversation with you. I hope I have won praise for integrity. Yet that praise was no smaller from refusing a province than it is from governing one. You hold out the hope of a triumph. I would have triumphed gloriously enough without being so long separated from the things dearest to me. But, as I hope, I will see you soon. Send me letters worthy of you to meet me.

CCLXII (Fam. II, 12) TO M. CAELIUS RUFUS (CURULE AEDILE) CILICIA, JUNE: I am much worried by events in the city. Such stormy meetings are reported to me, such a disturbed Quinquatrian holiday: for what has happened since I have not yet heard. But after all nothing worries me so much as the being debarred in the midst of these troubles from having a laugh with you at the comic points in them. These are, in fact, numerous, but I dare not trust them to paper. What annoys me is that I have not as yet received a line from you on these subjects. Wherefore, though by the time you read this letter I shall have finished my year of office, pray, nevertheless, send a letter to meet and enlighten me on all public affairs, that I may not arrive home an utter stranger. No one can do this better than you. Your friend Diogenes , a steady good man, has left me in company with Philo for Pessinus . They are on their way to visit Adiatorix , where they are fully prepared to find neither kindness nor a full exchequer. The City, the City , my dear Rufus — stick to that and live in its full light! Residence elsewhere — as I made up my mind in early life — is mere eclipse and obscurity to those whose energy is capable of shining at Rome . Knowing this thoroughly, would that I had been true to my convictions! Before heaven, I do not compare all the advantages of a province put together with one stroll and one conversation with you. I hope I have gained a reputation for integrity. I had that, however, quite as much from rejecting as from administering a province. “But what about the hope of a triumph?” say you. I had already had a sufficiently glorious triumph: I never ought to have been so long separated from all that I love best. But I shall, I hope, soon see you. Mind you send some letters to meet me worthy of yourself.

XII. M. CICERO IMP. S. D. M. CAELIO AEDILI CURULI in castris ad Pyramum(?); c. v Kal. Quint. 50 Sollicitus equidem eram de rebus urbanis. Ita tumultuosae contiones, ita molestae Quinquatrus adferebantur; nam citeriora nondum audieramus. Sed tamen nihil me magis sollicitabat quam in his molestiis non me, si quae ridenda essent, ridere tecum; sunt enim multa, sed ea non audeo scribere. Illud moleste fero, nihil me adhuc his de rebus habere tuarum litterarum. Qua re, etsi, cum tu haec leges, ego iam annuum munus confecero, tamen obviae mihi velim sint tuae litterae quae me erudiant de omni re publica, ne hospes plane veniam. Hoc melius quam tu facere nemo potest. Diogenes tuus, homo modestus, a me cum Philone Pessinuntem discessit. Iter habebant [ad] Adiatorigem, quamquam omnia nec benigna nec copiosa cognorant. Urbem, urbem, mi Rufe, cole et in ista luce vive! omnis peregrinatio, quod ego ab adulescentia iudicavi, obscura et sordida est iis quorum industria Romae potest illustris esse. Quod cum probe scirem, utinam in sententia permansissem! cum una mehercule ambulatiuncula atque uno sermone nostro omnis fructus provinciae non confero. Spero me integritatis laudem consecutum: non erat minor ex contemnenda quam est ex conservata provincia. Spem triumphi inicis: satis gloriose triumpharem, non essem quidem tam diu in desiderio rerum mihi carissimarum. Sed, ut spero, propediem te videbo. Tu mihi obviam mitte epistulas te dignas.