CDXX (A XI, 8)
TO ATTICUS (AT ROME)
BRUNDISIUM, 25 DECEMBER
Though you of course see for yourself with
what heavy anxieties I am consumed, yet you will
be enlightened on that point by Lepta and
Trebatius. I am being severely punished for my
rashness, which you wish me to consider prudence;
and I do not wish to prevent your maintaining that
view and mentioning it in letters as
often as possible. For your letter gives me
sensible relief at such a time as this. You must
exert yourself to the utmost by means of those who
are favourably disposed to me and are influential
with Caesar, especially by means of Balbus and
Oppius, to induce them to write on my behalf as
zealously as possible. For I am being attacked, as
I hear, both by certain persons who are with him
and by letter. We must counteract them as
vigorously as the importance of the matter
demands. Fufius 1 is there, a
very bitter enemy of mine. Quintus has sent his
son not only to plead on his own behalf, but also
to accuse me. He gives out that he is being
assailed by me before Caesar, though Caesar
himself and all his friends refute this. Indeed he
never stops, wherever he is, heaping every kind of
abuse upon me. Nothing has ever happened to me so
much surpassing my worst expectations, nothing in
these troubles that has given me so much pain.
People who say that they heard them from his own
lips, when he was publicly talking at Sicyon in
the hearing of numerous persons, have reported
some abominable things to me. You know his style,
perhaps have even had personal experience of it :
2 well, it is all now turned
upon me. But I increase my sorrow by mentioning
it, and perhaps do the same to you. Wherefore I
return to what I was saying: take care that Balbus
sends someone expressly for this purpose. Pray
have letters sent in my name to whom you choose.
Good-bye. 25 December.
BRUNDISIUM, 25 DECEMBER