DXCVII (A XII, 51)
TO ATTICUS (AT ROME)
TUSCULUM, 20 MAY
TIRO is come back sooner than I hoped. Nicias
has also arrived, and I hear that Valerius is
coming today. However many they may be, I shall
still be more alone than if you were here by
yourself. But I expect you, at any rate after you
have done with Peducaeus. 1 You however give some
hints of an earlier date; but that must be as you
find it possible. As to Vergilius, 2 it is as you say. Yet
what I should like to know is when the auction is
to be. I see you are of opinion that the letter
should be sent to Caesar. Well! I was very much of
that opinion also, and the more so that there is
not a word in it unbecoming the most loyal of
citizens, that is, as loyal as the state of the
times permit, to which all political writers teach
us that we must bow. But observe, I stipulate that
your Caesarian friends read it first. 3 So please see to it. But unless you
clearly understand that they approve, it must not
be sent. Now you will detect whether they really
approve or only pretend to do so. Pretence will in
my eyes be equivalent to rejection. You must probe
that question. Tiro told
me what you thought ought to be done about
Caerellia: that it was unbecoming to me to be in
debt; that you were in favour of an assignment :
4
“Fear this and not the other? passing
strange!”
5
But this and much besides when we meet. However,
we must suspend the payment of the debt to
Caerellia till we know about Meton and Faberius.
TUSCULUM, 20 MAY