CCIII (A V, 14)
TO ATTICUS (AT ROME)
TRALLES, 28 JULY
Until I have settled down somewhere you must
not expect a long letter from me, nor always
written by my own hand. As soon, however, as I
have a moment to spare, you shall have both. I am
now journeying along a road which is both hot and
dusty. I wrote yesterday from Ephesus: this I am
despatching from Tralles. 1 I
expect to be in my province 2 on the 1st of August. From that date, if
you love me, agitate for my era to begin. 3
Meanwhile, however, the following items of news of
a welcome nature have reached me: first, that the
Parthians are quiet ; secondly, that the contracts
of the publicani have
been concluded ; lastly, that a mutiny among the
soldiers has been suppressed by Appius, and their
pay discharged up to the 13th of July. Asia has
given me an extraordinarily good reception. My
visit there cost no one a farthing. I trust that
my staff are respecting my reputation. I am very
nervous about it, however, yet hope for the best.
All my staff have now joined except your friend Tullius. My idea is to go straight
to the army, to devote the rest of the summer
months to military affairs, the winter ones to
judicial business. Pray, as you know that I have
no less curiosity in politics than yourself, write
me word of everything occurring or about to occur.
You can do me no greater favour, except, ,indeed,
that it will be the greatest favour of all if you
fulfil my commissions, especially that "at my own
hearth," 4 than which you must know I have
nothing more at heart. This letter reeks of hurry
and dust. Future ones shall go into greater
details.
TRALLES, 28 JULY