Letter 405

I see you have done everything you could in Quintus' business. He, however, is distressed and uncertain whether he should oblige Lepta or damage his son's credit. I have heard a rumor that Lucius Piso wants to go on a mission with a forged decree of the Senate. I would like to know what there is in that. The messenger I told you I had sent to Brutus came to me at Anagnia on the night of June 30 and brought me a letter containing one request quite unlike his usual good sense: the same old request that I be present at his games. I answered, of course, first that I had already set out, so that it was no longer in my power to do so; second, that it would be most inappropriate for me, who have not gone near Rome at all since the outbreak of war - not so much to protect my safety as to protect my dignity - suddenly to go to the games. At such a time, it was honorable for him to give the games, since he had to; but since there was no necessity for me to attend, it would not be honorable for me to do so. Of course I strongly desire that they be well attended and very popular, and I trust they will be. I ask you to send me a description, day by day from the beginning, of how these games and all the others are received. But enough about the games. The rest of the letter, one must admit, is rather uncertain in tone, though now and then he does emit some sparks of courage. So that you may judge for yourself what it is like, I have sent you a copy, although my messenger tells me that he also brought you a letter from Brutus and that it was forwarded to you from Tusculum. I have arranged my journeys so that I shall be at Puteoli on July 7. Although I am in a great hurry, I mean to take every possible human precaution for my voyage. Please relieve Marcus Aelius of his anxiety. Tell him I thought that on a few feet at the far end of the land there might be some sort of claims, and only underground ones at that. Tell him also that I have not the slightest desire for it and that I do not value water at that price. But, as you suggested, do this as gently as possible, more to relieve him of anxiety than to imply that I am at all annoyed. Again, about that debt of Tullius: speak frankly to Cascellius. It is a small matter, but I am glad you attended to it. There was too much trickery in it, and if he had cheated me at all - which he very nearly did, if you had not been too sharp for him - I should have been very annoyed. Whatever happens, I would rather the matter be broken off. Remember that an eighth share of Tullius' houses near the temple of Strenia is due to Caerellia, and see that it is conveyed to her at the highest price bid at the auction. I think that was about three thousand. If there is any news, and even if you foresee anything you think likely to happen, I would like you to write to me as often as possible. Remember to give Varro my excuses for my slowness in writing, as I told you. Let me know what your friend Mundus has done with Marcus Ennius about the will, since I am curious. Arpinum, July 2.

I see you have done all you could in Quintus' business. He, however, is in distress and doubt as to whether he shall oblige Lepta or damage his son's credit. I have heard a rumour that L. Piso wants to go on a mission with a forged decree of the senate. I should like to know what there is in it. The messenger I told you I had sent to Brutus came to me at Anagnia on the night of the 30th of June, and brought me a letter in which there was one request quite unlike his usual common-sense, the same old request that I should be present at his games. I answered, of course, firstly that I had already set out now, so that it was not in my power to do so, and secondly that it would be most out of place for me, who have not been near Rome at all since the outbreak of war—not so much to preserve my safety as to preserve my dignity—suddenly to go to the games. For at such a time it was honourable for him to give the games, since he had to do so, but, as there was no necessity for me to attend them, it would not be honourable for me to do so. Of course I keenly desire that they should be well attended and very popular, and I trust they will be; and I beg you to send me a description of how these games and all the other games are received day by day from the very beginning. But enough of the games. The rest of the letter is, one must confess, of rather a dubious kind, but still he does at times emit some sparks of manly courage. That you may judge for yourself what it is like, I have sent you a copy of the letter, although my messenger tells me he brought you a letter, too, from Brutus, and that it was forwarded to you from Tusculum. I have arranged my journeys so that I shall be at Puteoli on the 7th of July; for, though I am in a great hurry, I mean to take every care humanly possible in my voyage. Please relieve M. Aelius of his anxiety. Tell him I thought that on a few feet at the far end of the land there might be some sort of claims, and those only underground. Also that I have not the slightest desire for it, and that I don't value water at that price. But, as you suggested, do it as mildly as possible, rather to relieve him of anxiety than to suggest that I am in the least annoyed. Again, about that debt of Tullius: speak to Cascellius frankly. It is a small matter, but I am glad you attended to it. There was too much trickery about it: and, if he had cheated me at all, which he very nearly did if you had not been too sharp for him, I should have been very much annoyed. So, whatever happens, I would rather the matter were broken off. Remember that an eighth share of the houses of Tullius near the temple of Strenia is due to Caerellia, and see that it is conveyed to her at the highest price bid at the auction. I think that was some 3,000 guineas. If there is any news, and, even if you foresee anything you think likely to happen, I should like you to write to me as often as possible. To Varro remember to plead my excuses for my slowness in writing, as I told you. What your friend Mundus has done with M. Ennius about the will, please let me know, for I am inquisitive. Arpinum, July 2.

de Quinti negotio video <a> te omnia facta. ille tamen dolet dubitans utrum morem gerat Leptae an fidem infirmet filio. inaudivi L. Pisonem velle exire legatum yeudeggra/fw? senatus consulto. velim scire quid sit. tabellarius ille quem tibi dixeram me ad Brutum esse missurum in Anagninum ad me venit ea nocte quae proxima ante Kal. fuit litterasque ad me attulit; in quibus unum alienum summa sua prudentia, idem illud, ut spectem ludos suos. rescripsi scilicet primum me iam profectum, ut <non> integrum sit; deinde a)topw/taton esse me qui Romam omnino post haec arma non accesserim neque id tam periculi mei causa fecerim quam dignitatis subito ad ludos venire. tali enim tempore ludos facere illi honestum est cui necesse est, spectare mihi ut non est necesse sic ne honestum. quidem est. equidem illos celebrari et esse quam gratissimos mirabiliter cupio idque ita futurum esse confido et tecum ago ut iam ab ipsa commissione ad me quem ad modum accipiantur hi ludi, deinde omnia reliquorum ludorum in dies singulos persequare. sed de ludis hactenus. [2] reliqua pars epistulae est illa quidem in utramque partem, sed tamen non nullos interdum iacit igniculos virilis. quod quale tibi videretur ut posses interpretari, misi ad te exemplum epistulae; quamquam mihi tabellarius noster dixerat tibi quoque se attulisse litteras a Bruto easque ad te e Tusculano esse delatas. [3] ego itinera sic composueram ut Nonis Quintilibus Puteolis essem; valde enim festino, ita tamen ut quantum homo possit quam cautissime navigem. [4] M. Aelium cura liberabis; me paucos pedes in extremo fundo et eos quidem subterraneos servitutis putasse aliquid habituros. id me iam iam nolle neque mihi aquam esse tanti. sed ut mihi dicebas, quam lenissime, potius ut cura liberetur quam ut me suscensere aliquid suspicetur. item de illo Tulliano capite libere cum Cascellio loquere. parva res est, sed tu bene attendisti. nimis callide agebatur. ego autem si mihi imposuisset aliquid, quod paene fecit nisi tua malitia adfuisset, animo iniquo tulissem. itaque, ut ut erit, rem impediri malo. octavam partem tuli luminarum medium ad strane memineris cui Caerellia videris mancipio dare ad eam summam quae sub praecone fuit maxima. id opinor esse C_C_C_L_X_X_X. _. [5] novi si quid erit atque etiam si quid prospicies quod futurum putes, scribas ad me quam saepissime velim, Varroni, quem ad modum tibi mandavi, memineris excusare tarditatem litterarum mearum. mundus iste cum M. Ennio quid egerit de testamento (curiosus <sum> enim) facias me velim certiorem. ex Arpinati vi non.