Letter 6.8

When Largus, a man devoted to you, had spoken with me and told me that the Kalends of January had been set as your deadline, since I had thoroughly observed that whatever Balbus and Oppius had done in Caesar's absence was usually ratified by him, I pressed them urgently to grant me this: that you be permitted to remain in Sicily as long as we wished. They, who were accustomed either to promise me willingly if there was something of that sort that would not offend their sensibilities, or even to refuse and give their reason for refusing, did not immediately respond to this request, or rather demand, of mine. On the same day, however, they came back to me. They granted me this: that you should remain in Sicily as long as you wished, and they would guarantee that you would suffer no offense from this. Now that you know what is permitted you, I think you ought to know what I advise. After these matters were concluded, a letter from you was delivered to me, in which you ask my advice whether to settle in Sicily or to set out for the remainder of your Asian business dealings. This deliberation of yours did not seem to me consistent with what Largus had said; for he had spoken with me as if you were not permitted to remain longer in Sicily, but you deliberate as if it were permitted. But whether this or that is the case, I think you should remain in Sicily. The proximity of the place will help either in obtaining your pardon through frequent letters and messages, or in the speed of your return once the matter has been obtained, as I hope, or settled by some other means. Therefore I strongly advise you to stay. I shall commend you most carefully to Titus Furfanius Postumus, my close friend, and to his legates, who are also my close friends, when they arrive; for they were all at Mutina. They are excellent men, enthusiastic supporters of people like you, and my close associates. Whatever occurs to me that I think pertains to you, I shall do on my own initiative; if there is something I do not know about, I shall surpass everyone's efforts when reminded. Although I shall speak with Furfanius about you in person in such a way that you will not need my letter to him, nevertheless, since your people wished you to have my letter to give him, I have complied with their wish. A copy of that letter is written below.

DXXV (Fam. VI, 8) TO AULUS CAECINA (IN SICILY) ROME, DECEMBER: LARGUS, who is devoted to you, having told me that the 1st of January was the limit fixed for you, and having my-self noticed that any ordinance made by Balbus and Oppius in Caesar 's absence was usually ratified by him, I urged upon them with warmth to grant me as a favour that you should be permitted to remain in Sicily as long as we wished. Though they have been in the habit of freely promising me anything which was not calculated to hurt the feelings of that party, or even of refusing it and giving a reason for their refusal, to this request or rather demand of mine they gave no immediate answer. However, they came to see me again the same day: they granted me permission for you to remain in Sicily as long as you chose: they said that they would answer for your not prejudicing your interests at all by doing so. Now, since you know what you have licence to do, I think you ought to know what my Opinion is. After this business had been settled I received a letter from you asking my advice as to whether you should settle in Sicily , or go to look after the remains of your business in Asia . This deliberation on your part did not appear to me to tally with the words of Largus . For in his conversation with me he had implied that you were forbidden to stay in Sicily : you, on the other hand, are deliberating, as though the permission had been given. But, for my part, whether the former or the latter is the case, I am for your staying in Sicily . The nearness of the locality is of advantage, either for securing your recall, because of the frequency of letters and messengers, or for a rapid return, when either that point, as I hope it will be, is gained or some other plan arranged. Therefore I am strongly in favour of your staying. I will be very earnest in recommending you to T. Furfanius Postumus , who is a friend of mine, and to his legates, who are also friends, when they come here: at present they are all at Mutina . They are excellent men, fond of men like you, and on intimate terms with me. Whatever occurs to me that I think likely to be to your advantage, I will do without being asked: if there is anything I don't know, at the first hint of it I will surpass the zeal of everybody. Although I shall speak to Furfanius personally about you in such a way as to render a letter from me to him quite unnecessary for you, yet, as your relations have decided that you should have a letter of mine to give him, I have complied with their wish. I append a copy of the letter.

VIII. Scr. Romae exeunte anno u.c. 708. CICERO CAECINAE Cum esset mecum Largus, homo tui studiosus, locutus Kalendas Ianuarias tibi praefinitas esse, quod omnibus rebus perspexeram, quae Balbus et Oppius absente Caesare egissent, ea solere illi rata esse, egi vehementer cum iis, ut hoc mihi darent, tibi in Sicilia, quoad vellemus, esse uti liceret. Qui mihi consuessent aut libenter polliceri, si quid esset eiusmodi, quod eorum animos non offenderet, aut etiam negare et afferre rationem, cur negarent, huic meae rogationi vel efflagitationi potius non continuo responderunt; eodem die tamen ad me reverterunt; mihi hoc dederunt, ut esses in Sicilia, quoad velles; se praestaturos nihil ex eo te offensionis habiturum. Quoniam, quid tibi permittatur, cognosti, quid mihi placeat, puto te scire oportere. Actis his rebus litterae a te mihi redditae sunt, quibus a me consilium petis, quid sim tibi auctor, in Siciliane ut subsidas an ut ad reliquias Asiaticae negotiationis proficiscare. Haec tua deliberatio non mihi convenire visa est cum oratione Largi; ille enim mecum, quasi tibi non liceret in Sicilia diutius commorari, ita locutus erat, tu autem, quasi concessum sit, ita deliberas. Sed ego, sive hoc sive illud est, in Sicilia censeo commorandum: propinquitas locorum vel ad impetrandum adiuvabit crebris litteris et nuntiis vel ad reditus celeritatem re aut impetrata, quod spero, aut aliqua ratione confecta; quamobrem censeo magno opere commorandum. T. Furfanio Postumo, familiari meo, legatisque eius, item meis familiaribus, diligentissime te commendabo, cum venerint; erant enim omnes Mutinae: viri sunt optimi et tui similium studiosi et mei necessarii. Quae mihi venient in mentem, quae ad te pertinere arbitrabor, ea mea sponte faciam: si quid ignorabo, de eo admonitus omnium studia vincam. Ego etsi coram de te cum Furfanio ita loquar, ut tibi litteris meis ad eum nihil opus sit, tamen, quoniam tuis placuit te habere meas litteras, quas ei redderes, morem iis gessi: earum litterarum exemplum infra scriptum est.