DCCCXXV (F XII, 28)
TO QUINTUS CORNIFICIUS (IN
AFRICA)
ROME (MARCH)
I agree with you that the men whom you say in
your letter are threatening Lilybaeum ought to
have been punished on the spot; but
you feared, you say, being thought to be giving
too free a rein to vengeance. That is as much as
to say, you feared being thought a high-minded
citizen, too courageous, too worthy of yourself. I
am obliged to you for renewing the partnership
with me—inherited from your
father—in working for the best interests
of the state. That partnership, my dear
Cornificius, will always be kept up between us. I
am obliged also by your thinking that I needed no
thanks on your behalf. For there ought to be no
question of thanks between you and me. The senate
would have been more frequently called upon to
compliment you, if in the absence of the consuls
it had been ever summoned except for the
consideration of some fresh complication.
Accordingly, neither in the business of the 20
sestertia, nor of the 700 sestertia, can anything
be now done in the senate. I think, however, that
in virtue of the original senatorial decree 1 you must raise the
money by impost or loan. What is going on in
political matters I expect you know from the
letters of those whose duty it is to send you
copies of the acta. I am in good heart. In
prudence, vigilance, and labour I am not wanting.
To all enemies of the constitution I avow my most
uncompromising hostility. Even now the situation
does not appear to be a very difficult one, and it
would have been quite free from difficulty had it
not been for misconduct in certain quarters. 2 [The three
following letters of introduction to Cornificius
probably belong to the early part of this year,
but cannot be dated.]
ROME (MARCH)
