CCLXXV (A VI, 6)
TO ATTICUS (AT ROME)
(SIDA, II AUGUST?)
WHILE employed in my province in doing
everything for the honour of Appius, I suddenly
became his accuser's father-in-law. "Heaven
prosper it," you say. So say I, and I am sure you
wish it. But believe me, it was the last thing I
expected: in fact, I had even sent confidential
messengers to my wife and daughter in regard to
Tiberius Nero, who had made proposals to me; but
they arrived at Rome after the betrothal had taken
place. However, I hope this will be better. I
understand that the ladies are much pleased with
the young man's accommodating temper and courtesy.
As for the rest, pick no holes! But you now! Corn doles to Athens? Do
you approve of this? However, my treatise 1 at any rate did not forbid it:
for that was not a largess to citizens, but a gift
to hosts. Yet do you bid me think about the
"propylon" for the Academy, though Appius has
abandoned his idea about Eleusis? 2 I am sure you grieve for Hortensius. 3 I am heart-broken myself:
for I had resolved to live on very intimate terms
with him. I have put Caelius in command of the
province: a mere boy, you will say, and perhaps
empty-headed, with neither solidity nor
self-control. I agree: but nothing else was
possible. The letter, indeed, which I received
from you a good while ago, in which you said that
you "hesitated" as to what I ought to do about
leaving a substitute, gave me a twinge, for I saw
your reasons for your "hesitation,"
4 and I had the very same. Hand
over my province to a mere boy? Well, to my
brother, then? The latter was against my interest:
for there was no one except my brother whom I
could prefer to my quaestor without casting a slur
on him, especially as he was of noble birth.
Nevertheless, as long as the Parthians appeared to
be threatening, I had resolved to leave my
brother, or even to remain myself, contrary to the
decree of the senate, for the sake of the
Republic. But when by incredible good fortune they
had dispersed, all my hesitation was at an end. I
saw what people would say: "What, leave his
brother! is this what he calls not holding his
province more than a year? Did not the senate,
again, intend that the governors of provinces
should be those who had not had them before? Yet
this man has held one for three years!" So here
are my reasons for the public ear. What am I to
give you privately? I should never have been
without anxiety as to something happening from
ill-temper, violent language, or carelessness,
5 as will happen in this world.
Again, if his son did anything—a mere
lad and a lad full of self-confidence? What a
distress it would have been! His father was
resolved not to part with him, and was annoyed
with you for expressing an opinion that he should
do so. But as to Caelius, as things are, I don't
say that I don't care about his antecedents, but
at any rate I care much less. Then there is this
consideration: Pompey— so strong a man
and in so secure a position—selected Q.
Cassius without regard to the lot; Caesar did the
same in the case of Antony: was I to put such a
slight on one regularly assigned me by lot, as to
make him act as a spy on any man I left in
command? No, the course I adopted was the better
one, and for it there are many precedents, and
certainly it is more suited to my advanced time of
life. But, good heavens! what credit I have given
you in his eyes! I read him the letter written,
not by you, but by your amanuensis. My friends'
letters summon me to a triumph—a thing
which, in view of the resuscitation
of my reputation, I do not think I ought to
neglect. Wherefore, my dear Atticus, do begin to
wish it too, that I may look somewhat less
foolish.
(SIDA, II AUGUST?)