DCCLXVII (A XVI, 5)
TO ATTICUS (AT ROME)
PUTEOLI, 9 JULY
BRUTUS is anxious for a letter from you. I
told him about the Tereus of Accius, 1 though he had heard it
before. He thought that it was the Brutus. But,
after all, some whisper of a report had reached
him that at the opening of the Greek games the
attendance had been small, at which for one I was
not surprised. For you know my opinion of Greek
games. 2 But now listen to what is of more
importance than everything else. Young Quintus
stayed with me several days, and if I had wished
it would have been quite willing to stay longer.
But as far as his visit went you could hardly
believe how much delighted I was with him in every
particular, but especially in the point in which
he used most to disappoint me. For he has become
such an entirely changed man-partly by certain
writings of mine on which I am now engaged, and
partly by my constantly talking to him and
impressing my maxims upon him—that he is
really going to be all that I wish in politics.
After having not only declared this
to me, but also thoroughly convinced me of it, he
implored me at great length to guarantee to you
that he would in the future be worthy of you and
of us. And he didn't ask you to believe this at
once, but that you should only restore your
affection to him when you had seen it with your
own eyes. Had he not convinced me of this, and had
I not made up my mind that what I am saying might
be relied upon, I would not have done what I am
going to tell you. I took the young man with me to
see Brutus. The latter was so convinced of what I
am telling you, that he took upon himself to
believe in him independently, and would have none
of me as guarantee. He praised him and spoke of
you in the most friendly tone, and dismissed him
with embraces and kisses. Wherefore, though I have
more reason to congratulate you than to prefer any
request to you, yet I do also request you that if
there appeared to be certain irregularities in his
conduct heretofore, owing to the weakness of
youth, you should believe that he has now rid
himself of them, and should trust me when I say
that your influence will contribute much, or I
should rather say more than anything else, to make
his decision permanent. 3
Though I made frequent
hints to Brutus about our sailing together, he
didn't seem to catch at the suggestion as eagerly
as I had expected. I thought him in an uneasy
frame of mind, and indeed he was so-especially
about the games. But when I had got back to my
villa Gnaeus Lucceius, who sees a good deal of
Brutus, told me that he was hesitating a great
deal as to his departure, not from any change of
policy, but because he was waiting to see if
any-thing turned up. So I am doubting whether I
shall direct my steps to Venusia and there wait to
hear about the legions : 4 and if they do not
come, as some expect—go on to Hydruntum:
5 but if
neither port is safe-come back to
where I am. Do you think I am joking? Upon my life
you are the only tie that keeps me here. For take
a careful view of the situation: but do it before
I have cause to blush for my conduct. Ah!
Lepidus's notice of his inauguration days is just
like him, and just suits with my plan of return.
6 Your letter
conveys a strong motive for my starting for
Greece. And oh, that I might find you there! But
it must be as you think most to your advantage. I
am anxious for a letter from Nepos. Can he really
want my books, when he thinks the subjects on
which I plume myself not worth reading?
Yes—as you say: “
in form and face PUTEOLI, 9 JULY
Ajax the flower of all the Grecian host
Next to the flawless son whom Thetis bore.
” 7 You are the "flawless" one—he is one of the "immortals." There is no collection of my letters in existence: but Tiro has something like seventy. Moreover, there are some to be got from you. I ought to look through and correct them. They shall not be published till I have done so. 8 Brundisium, at which latter Atticus warned him he might meet the legions of Antony. Neutrum, i.e., neither Brundisium nor Hydruntum.
