CDXLIII (A XI, 21)
TO ATTICUS (AT ROME)
BRUNDISIUM, 25 AUGUST
On the 25th of August I received a letter from
you dated the 19th, and I experienced on reading
his epistle a very painful renewal of the sorrow
which had been long ago caused me by Quintus's
misconduct, but which I had by this time shaken
off. Though it was impossible for you not to send
me that letter, yet I should have preferred that
it had not been sent. In
regard to what you say about the will, please
consider what should be done and how. In regard to
the money, she has herself written in the sense of
my previous letter to you, and, if it is
necessary, I will draw on the sum you mention.
Caesar does not seem
likely to be at Athens by the 1st of September.
Many things are said to detain him in Asia, 'above
all Pharnaces. 1 The 12th legion, which Sulla 2 visited first, is said to
have driven him off with a shower of stones. It is
thought that none of the legions will stir.
Caesar, people think, will go straight to Sicily
from Patrae 3 But
if that is so, he must necessarily come here.
4 Yet I should have preferred
his going from there; for in that case I should
have got away somehow or other. As it is, I fear I
must wait for him, and, among other misfortunes,
my poor Tullia must also endure the unhealthy
climate of the place. You advise me to make my
actions square with the time: I would have done
so, had circumstances allowed of it, and had it
been in any way possible. But in view of the
prodigious blunders made by myself, and the wrongs
inflicted upon me by my relations, there is no
possibility of doing anything or keeping up any
pretext worthy of my character. You compare the
Sullan period: but, if we regard the principle of
that movement, it was everything that was most
eminent; where it failed was in a want of
moderation in its execution. The present movement,
on the other hand, is of such a character, that I
forget my own position, and much prefer the
general advantage to that of the party, with whose
interests I have identified my own. 5 Nevertheless pray write to me as often as
possible, and the more so that no one else writes;
and yet, if everybody did, I should still look
forward to your letters most. You say that Caesar
will be more kindly disposed to Quintus thanks to
me: I have already told you that he at once
granted everything to the younger Quintus and said
never a word about me. Goodbye.
BRUNDISIUM, 25 AUGUST
