Letter 9.8

Although not even the populace, however excited, is accustomed to demand a gift, even if someone has displayed one, still I am stirred by my expectation of your promise to remind you, not to demand. And I have sent you four reminders who are not excessively modest; for you certainly know the brazenness of this younger Academy. From the very midst of it, then, I have roused and sent them, and I fear they may actually demand from you; but I instructed them to ask. I had been waiting for some time and restraining myself, so as not to write anything to you before I had received something, in order to repay you with as similar a gift as possible. But since you were taking longer -- that is, as I interpret it, being more careful -- I could not restrain myself from declaring, by whatever type of literary work I could, the union of our studies and our friendship. I have therefore composed a dialogue supposed to have taken place between us at Cumae, with Pomponius present. I assigned you the Antiochean position, which I seemed to have understood was approved by you; I took for myself the position of Philo. I think that when you read it, you will be surprised that we discussed between us things we never actually discussed; but you know the custom of dialogues. Hereafter, my dear Varro, let us, if you agree, write as many such works as possible about ourselves and between ourselves. It is late perhaps, but let Fortune bear the responsibility for earlier times and the republic's condition; we ourselves ought to fulfil this duty. And would that we could pursue these studies together in peaceful times and in some settled condition of the state, even if not a good one! Although in that case other honorable occupations would give us both cares and actions. But as things are now, without these studies what reason is there for us to wish to live? For my part, even with them barely so, and without them not even barely. But more of this in person and more often. I hope your move and purchase turn out well, and I approve of your judgment in the matter. Take care of your health.

DCXXXVIII (Fam. IX, 8) TO M. TARENTIUS VARRO (With a copy of the Academica) TUSCULUM (JULY 11?) To demand a gift, even if a man has promised it, is more than even a nation will generally do, unless under great provocation: nevertheless I have so much looked forward to your present that I venture to remind you of it, though not to press for it. So I have sent you four reminders who are not afflicted with excessive modesty: for you know how brazen-faced the New Academy is. Accordingly, I am sending ambassadors enlisted from its ranks, who I fear may by chance lodge a demand, though I have only commissioned them to ask a favour. I have been waiting in fact for a long time now, and have been holding back, so as not to address any work to you before I had received something from you, in order that I might repay you as nearly as possible in your own coin. But as you were somewhat slow in doing it — that is, as I construe it, somewhat unusually careful — I could not refrain from making manifest by such literary composition as I was capable of producing the union of our tastes and affections. I have therefore composed a dialogue purposing to be held between us in my villa at Cumae , Pomponius being there also. I have assigned to you the doctrines of Antiochus , which I thought I understood to have your approval; I have taken those of Philo for myself. I imagine that when you read it you will be surprised at our holding a conversation, which we never did hold; but you know the usual method of dialogues. At some future time, my dear Varro , we shall — if such is your pleasure-have many a long conversation of our own also. It may perhaps be some time hence: but let the fortune of the state excuse the past; it is our business to secure this ourselves. And oh that we might pursue these studies together in a time of tranquillity and with the constitution established on some basis, which if not good may be at any rate definitely fixed! Though in that case there would be other calls upon us-honourable responsibilities and political activities. As things are now, however, what is there to induce us to live without these studies? In my eyes indeed, even with them, it is barely worth while: when they are withdrawn, not even so much as that. But of this when we meet, and often hereafter. I hope your change of houses and new purchase may turn out everything you can desire. I think you were quite right to make them. Be careful of your health.

VIII. Scr. in Arpinati pr. Non. Sextil. a.u.c. 709. CICERO VARRONI. Etsi munus flagitare, quamvis quis ostenderit, ne populus quidem solet nisi concitatus, tamen ego exspectatione promissi tui moveor, ut admoneam te, non ut flagitem; misi autem ad te quattuor admonitores non nimis verecundos; nosti enim profecto os huius adolescentioris Academiae. Ex ea igitur media excitatos misi, qui metuo ne te forte flagitent; ego autem mandavi, ut rogarent. Exspectabam omnino iamdiu meque sustinebam, ne ad te prius ipse quid scriberem, quam aliquid accepissem, ut possem te remunerari quam simillimo munere; sed, cum tu tardius faceres, id est, ut ego interpretor, diligentius, teneri non potui, quin coniunctionem studiorum amorisque nostri quo possem litterarum genere declararem. Feci igitur sermonem inter nos habitum in Cumano, cum esset una Pomponius: tibi dedi partes Antiochinas, quas a te probari intellexisse mihi videbar; mihi sumpsi Philonis. Puto fore, ut, cum legeris, mirere nos id locutos esse inter nos, quod numquam locuti sumus; sed nosti morem dialogorum. Posthac autem, mi Varro, quam plurima, si videtur, et de nobis, inter nos: sero fortasse; sed superiorum temporum Fortuna rei publicae causam sustineat, haec ipsi praestare debemus. Atque utinam quietis temporibus atque aliquo, si non bono, at saltem certo statu civitatis haec inter nos studia exercere possemus! quamquam tum quidem vel aliae quaepiam rationes honestas nobis et curas et actiones darent; nunc autem quid est, sine his cur vivere velimus? mihi vero cum his ipsis vix, his autem detractis ne vix quidem. Sed haec coram et saepius. Migrationem et emptionem feliciter evenire volo tuumque in ea re consilum probo. Cura, ut valeas.