Letter 6.19

I am glad that Macula has performed his duty. His Falernian estate has always seemed to me a suitable stopping-place, provided there is enough shelter to accommodate our company; in other respects the location does not displease me. Nor shall I abandon your Petrinum on that account, for both the villa and the pleasantness of the place are for a longer stay, not a brief stopover. I have spoken with Oppius about some management of the royal gifts; for I have not seen Balbus since you set out: he is afflicted with such pains in his feet that he does not wish to receive visitors. As for the whole matter, it seems to me you would do more wisely not to pursue it. For what you wish to achieve by that effort, you will in no way achieve; the crowd of intimates is so great that one of them is more likely to overflow than for a newcomer to gain entry, especially one who brings nothing but his labor, for which Caesar will consider that he has given a favor -- if he even knows about it -- rather than received one. But still we shall see about something that has at least an appearance of substance; otherwise I think it is not only not to be sought but even to be avoided. I expect I shall stay at Astura somewhat longer, until he arrives at some point. Farewell.

DCXLV (Fam. VI, 19) TO QUINTUS LEPTA (AT ROME) ASTURA (ABOUT THE END OF JULY) I am glad Macula has done his duty. His Falernian villa always seemed to me suitable for a place of call, if only it is enough roofed in to receive our retinue. In other respects I don't otherwise than like the situation. But I shall not on that account desert your Petrinian villa, for both the house and the picturesqueness of its situation make it suitable for residence rather than for a temporary lodging. As to some official management of these “royal” exhibitions, I have spoken to Oppius ; for I have not seen Balbus since you left. He has such a bad fit of the gout that he declines visits. On the whole you would, in my opinion, be certainly acting more wisely if you did not undertake it; for your object in incurring all that labour you will in no wise attain. For the number of his intimate entourage is so great, that it is more likely that some one of them should drop off than that there should be an opening for anyone new, especially for one who has nothing to offer but his active service, in which Caesar will consider himself — if indeed he knows anything about it — to have conferred a favour rather than received one. However, we should look out for something, but something which may give you some distinction; otherwise I think that you not only ought not to seek for it, but should even avoid it. For myself, I think I shall pro-long my stay at Astura until Caesar 's return, whenever that may be. Good-bye.

XIX. Scr. Asturae mense Sextili a.u.c. 709. CICERO LEPTAE Maculam officio functum esse gaudeo. Eius Falernum mihi semper idoneum visum est deversorio, si modo tecti satis est ad comitatum nostrum recipiendum; ceteroqui mihi locus non displicet. Nec ea re Petrinum tuum deseram; nam et villa et amoenitas illa commorationis est, non deversorii. De curatione aliqua munerum regiorum cum Oppio locutus sum; nam Balbum, posteaquam tu es profectus, non vidi: tantis pedum doloribus afficitur, ut se conveniri nolit. Omnino de tota re, ut mihi videris, sapientus faceres, si non curares; quod enim eo labore assequi vis, nullo modo assequere; tanta est enim intimorum multitudo, ut ex iis aliquis potius effluat, quam novo sit aditus, praesertim qui nihil afferat praeter operam, in qua ille se dedisse beneficium putabit—si modo id ipsum sciet—, non accepisse. Sed tamen aliquid videbimus, in quo sit species; aliter quidem non modo non appetendum, sed etiam fugiendum puto. Ego me Asturae diutius arbitror commoraturum, quoad ille quandoque veniat. Vale.