CLXXVI (F II, 6)
TO C. SCRIBONIUS CURIO (ARRIVED IN
ITALY)
ROME (?JULY)
News had not yet reached me of your arrival in
Italy when I sent Sext. Villius, an intimate of my
friend Milo, with this letter to you. But
nevertheless, since your arrival was thought to be
approaching, and it was ascertained that you had
already started from Asia Rome-wards, the
importance of my subject made me dismiss any fear
of being premature in sending you this letter, for
I was exceedingly anxious that it should reach you
as soon as possible. If the obligations, Curio,
had only been on your side, and as great as they
are usually proclaimed by you rather than as
valued by me, I should have been more shy of
coming to you for any request of importance which
I might have to make. For it is very disagreeable
to a modest man to ask a great favour from one
whom he thinks under an obligation to himself,
lest he should seem rather to demand than to ask
what he is seeking, and to regard it more in the
light of a debt than of a favour. But since your
kindnesses to me were known to the whole world, or
rather I should say were made especially prominent
and valuable by the very novelty of my
circumstances; and since it is the mark of a
generous heart to be willing, when much is owed,
to reckon the debt at its highest; I
did not hesitate to prefer to you by letter a
petition for what was of the highest importance
and most vital consequence to me of anything in
the world. For I was not afraid of being unable to
support your kindnesses to me, even though they
were beyond calculation: especially as I felt
confident that there was no amount of favour for
which my heart was incapable of finding room when
receiving it, or for which in repayment it could
not make a full and brilliant return. I have
concentrated and embarked all my zeal, all my
efforts, all the care and industry of which I am
capable, my every thought, in fact, my whole heart
and soul, on securing Milo's consulship; and I
have made up my mind that in this matter I ought
to look not merely for the profit arising from an
act of kindness, but also for the credit of
disinterested affection. Nor do I think that
anyone was ever so anxious about his own personal
safety and his own fortunes as I am for his
election, on which I have made up my mind that all
my interests depend. To him I see clearly that, if
you choose, you can render such substantial help
that we need ask for nothing else. We have on our
side all these advantages: the favour of the
loyalists won since his tribunate on account of
his supporting me (as I hope you understand); that
of the common multitude on account of the
splendour of his gladiatorial exhibitions and the
liberality of his disposition; the favour of the
young men and of those influential in securing
votes, won by his own eminent powers of
captivation, shall I call it? or his diligence in
that department; lastly, my own electoral support,
which, if it is not very powerful, is at any rate
regarded as only right, due and proper, and on
that account is perhaps influential also. What we
want is a leader, and what I may call a
controller, or, so to speak, a pilot of those
winds which I have described: and if we had to
select one such out of the whole world, we should
have no one to compare with you. Wherefore, if (as
I am sure you can) you can regard me as a
grateful, as an honest man, from the mere fact
that I am thus eagerly exerting myself for Milo,
if, in fine, you think me worthy of your kindness,
I do ask you this favour—that you come
to the rescue of this anxiety of mine and this
crisis in my reputation, or, to put it with
greater truth, that you will devote your zeal to
what is all but a question of life and death to
me. As to Titus Annius 1 himself,
I promise you this much—that if you
resolve to embrace his cause, you will never have
anyone of greater spirit, solidity, firmness, or
affection to yourself. While to me you will have
given so much additional honour and prestige, that
I shall have no difficulty in acknowledging you to
have been as effective in supporting my reputation
as you were in securing my safety. Did I not know that you must be fully
aware, while writing this letter to you, under
what a weight of obligation I am labouring, how
strongly I am bound to work in this election for
Milo, not only with every kind of exertion, but
even with downright fighting, I should have
written at greater length. As it is, I hand over
and commit the business, the cause, and myself
wholly and entirely into your hands. Of one thing
be sure: if I obtain this help from you, I shall
owe you almost more than I owe Milo himself; for
my personal safety, in which I have been
conspicuously aided by him, has not been as dear
to me as the sacred duty of returning the favour
will be delightful. That object I feel confident
that your aid, and yours alone, will enable me to
secure.
ROME (?JULY)
