Letter 396

I received two letters on the 14th, one dated that same day and one dated the day before. I will answer the earlier first. Tell me about Decimus Brutus when you know. I had heard about the supposed terror of the consuls; Sicca, in a very friendly but rather panic-stricken way, brought me word of that suspicion too. What do you say? "Take what the gods give"? I have not a word from Siregius, and I do not like it. I was very annoyed that anyone heard about your neighbor Plaetorius before I did. You did well about Syrus. I think you will easily frighten Lucius Antonius through his brother Marcus. I told you not to pay Antro, but you had not yet received my letter forbidding you to pay anyone except Lucius Fadius the aedile. That is the only safe and proper course. You say you are a thousand out of pocket over the money sent to my son; please ask Eros what has become of the rents from the apartment blocks. I am not at all angry with Arabio about Sittius. I am not thinking of starting my journey until all my accounts are settled, and I think you approve of that. There is my answer to your first letter. Now hear my answer to the second. You are acting with your usual kindness in standing by Servilia, that is, Brutus. As for Cleopatra, I am glad you are not anxious and that you accept the evidence. I have heard about the state of Eros' accounts from Tiro, and I have sent for Eros himself. I am very grateful for your promise not to let my son lack anything. Messalla, on his way back from our opponents at Lanuvium, called on me with wonderfully good news about him; by heaven, my son's own letter is so affectionate and well written that I would not be ashamed to read it before an audience. I am therefore all the more indulgently disposed toward him. I do not think Sestius is annoyed about Bucilianus. As soon as Tiro returns home, I am thinking of going to Tusculum. Please let me know at once if there is anything I ought to know.

I received two letters on the 14th, one dated the same day, one the day before. So I answer the earlier first. Tell me about D. Brutus, when you know. I had heard of the pretended terror of the consuls. For Sicca, in a very friendly but rather panic-stricken manner, has brought me word of that suspicion too. What do you say? "Take what the gods give"? For I have not a word from Siregius. I don't like it. About your neighbour Plaetorius I was very annoyed that anyone heard before I did. About Syrus you did well. I fancy you will easily frighten L. Antonius through his brother Marcus. I told you not to pay Antro, but you had not yet received my letter forbidding you to pay anyone except L. Fadius the aedile. It is the only safe and proper thing. You say you are £1,000 out of pocket on the money sent to my son; please ask Eros what has become of the rents of the blocks of houses. I am not at all angry with Arabio about Sittius. I am not thinking of starting on my journey until my accounts are all settled, and of that I think you approve. There is my answer to your first letter. Now hear what I have to say to the second. You are acting as kindly as usual in standing by Servilia, that is to say, Brutus. As to Cleopatra, I am glad you are not anxious and that you accept the evidence. The state of Eros' accounts I have heard from Tiro, and I have sent for Eros himself. I am most grateful for your promise not to let my son lack in anything. Messalla, on his way back from our adversaries at Lanuvium, called on me with wonderfully good news about him, and upon my word his own letter is so affectionate and well-written that I should not be ashamed to read it before an audience. So I feel all the more indulgently disposed towards him. I don't think Sestius is annoyed about Bucilianus. As soon as Tiro returns home, I am thinking of going to Tusculum. Please let me know at once, if there is anything that I ought to know.

duas accepi postridie Idus, alteram eo die datam, alteram Idibus. prius igitur superiori. de <D.> Bruto, cum scies. de consulum ficto timore cognoveram. Sicca enim filosto/rgwj ille quidem sed tumultuosius ad me etiam illam suspicionem pertulit. quid tu autem? ' ta\ me\n dido/mena --,? nullum enim verbum a Siregio . non placet. de Plaetono vicino tuo permoleste tuli quemquam prius audisse quam me. de Syro prudenter. L. Antonium per Marcum fratrem, ut arbitror, facillime deterrebis. Antroni vetui; sed nondum acceperas litteras, ne cuiquam nisi L. Fadio aedili. aliter enim nec caute nec iure fieri potest. quod scribis tibi deesse HS c_ quae Ciceroni curata sint, velim ab Erote quaeras ubi sit merces insularum. Arabioni de Sittio nihil irascor. ego de itinere nisi explicato L nihil cogito; quod idem tibi videri puto. [2] habes ad superiorem. nunc audi ad alteram. tu vero facis ut omnia quod Serviliae non dees, id est Bruto. de regina gaudeo te non laborare, teste m etiam tibi probari. Erotis rationes et ex Tirone cognovi et vocavi ipsum. gratissimum quod polliceris Ciceroni nihil defuturum; de quo mirabilia Messalla qui Lanuvio rediens ab illis venit ad me, et me hercule ipsius litterae sic et filosto/rgwj et eu)pinw=j scriptae ut eas vel in acroasi audeam legere. quo magis illi indulgendum puto. de Buciliano Sestium puto non moleste ferre. ego, si Tiro ad me, cogito in Tusculanum. tu vero, quicquid erit quod me scire par sit, statim.