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DCCXXXVIII (A XV, 8)

TO ATTICUS (AT ROME)
TUSCULUM, 31 MAY
SINCE you left me I have had two letters from Brutus, without anything new in them. Also one from Hirtius, who says that the veterans are much incensed with him. I am still uncertain what to do about the 1st. I am therefore sending Tiro, and with Tiro a number of men, to each one of whom pray give a letter as each event occurs. I have written also to Antony about a legation, for fear that, if I only wrote to Dolabella, that quick-tempered man 1 might be stirred up to wrath. As, however, he is said to be somewhat difficult of approach, I have written to Eutrapelus, 2 asking him to forward my letter to him, saying that I want a legatio. A votive legation would be the more honour-able of the two, but I could manage with either one or the other. 3 I beg you again and again to consider your own position. If possible I should like to talk it over with you; if you cannot meet me, we shall attain the same object by letter. Graeceius writes me word that C. Cassius has written to tell him that men are being got ready to send armed to my Tusculan villa. I scarcely think that this is true: but, nevertheless, I must take precautions and have sundry other villas ready. But tomorrow will bring us something for reflexion on that subject. 4


1 The other consul Antony.

2 Antony's praeftetus fabrum. See vol. iii., pp.96, 102.

3 That is, either an ordinary or a votive legatio. See p.70.

4 The text of this sentence is very uncertain. I have translated that of Tyrrell and Purser, as at any rate making a kind of sense. If it stands Cicero may mean by "having sundry other villas" ready, not that he will obtain more, but that he may be able to elude attack by going from one to the other of those which he already possessed.

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