Letter 8: Cicero writes to Quintus in Sardinia from Rome in March 56 BC.

Written at Rome in the month of March, 698 from the founding of the city [56 BC]. MARCUS TO HIS BROTHER QUINTUS, GREETINGS. 1. Our friend Sestius was acquitted on the fifth day before the Ides of March, and—what was of intense concern to the Republic, that no division of opinion should appear in a case of that kind—he was acquitted by every vote. As for that matter which I had understood was often a worry to you, namely that we should leave no opening to any ill-disposed person for finding fault, who might call us ungrateful unless we bore his waywardness in certain matters as humanely as possible—be assured that we achieved this much in that trial: that we were judged the most grateful of all men. For in conducting the defense we gave the fullest possible satisfaction to a difficult man, and—the very thing he most desired—we cut down Vatinius, by whom he was being openly attacked, just as we saw fit, with gods and men applauding. What is more, our friend Paullus, when he had been brought forward as a witness against Sestius, affirmed that he would lay an information against Vatinius if Licinius Macer hesitated, and Macer rose up from the benches of Sestius and declared that he would not fail him. What more do you want? That insolent and audacious man departed thoroughly shaken and discredited. 2. Your son Quintus, an excellent boy, is being educated splendidly; I notice this all the more now because Tyrannio teaches at my house. The house of each of us is being built energetically; I have seen to it that half the money was paid to your contractor. I hope that before winter we shall be sharing the same roof. Concerning our Tullia—who, by Hercules, is most fond of you—I hope we have concluded matters with Crassipes. There were two days, those reckoned after the Latin Festival, which are days of religious scruple; for the rest, the festival was completed, and the Latiar [the feast of Jupiter Latiaris] was about to come to an end. 3. As for that abundance [originally in Greek, the amphilapheia] which you are accustomed to mention, I do indeed long for it in a measured way, exactly to this extent: that I would gladly receive it when it arrives, yet I would not even now rouse it while it lies hidden. I am building on three sites and repairing the rest; I am living a little more liberally than I used to. There would be work to do—if I had you with me, I would for a little while give the builders free rein. But these matters too, as I hope, we shall share between us before long. 4. The affairs at Rome stand thus: the consul Lentulus is outstanding, with his colleague putting no obstacle in his way—so good, I say, that I have not seen a better. He has struck out all the days available for assemblies; for the Latin Festival is even being held again, nor were days of public thanksgiving lacking either. 5. In this way the most pernicious laws are being blocked, above all that of Cato—on whom, however, our friend Milo played an outstanding trick. For that champion of gladiators and beast-fighters had bought beast-fighters from Cosconius and Pomponius, and had never appeared in public without these men under arms; he could not afford to maintain them, and so he was barely holding on to them. Milo perceived this: he gave the commission to a certain man who was not one of his intimates, who without arousing suspicion was to buy that troupe from Cato; and as soon as it had been led away, Racilius—who is at this time the one truly best tribune of the plebs—exposed the affair and said that those men had been bought for himself (for so it had been arranged), and posted a notice that he would be selling "Cato's troupe." Great peals of laughter followed upon that notice. This Cato, then, Lentulus removed from his lawmaking, along with those who promulgated monstrous proposals concerning Caesar, against which no one was interposing a veto; for as to the measure that Caninius is pushing concerning Pompey, it has thoroughly cooled off. The matter is not approved, and our friend Pompey is being criticized over his friendship with Publius Lentulus, and—by Hercules—he is not the same man he was; for among that utterly ruined and lowest dregs of the people he has given some offense on account of Milo, and the loyalists [the boni] find much wanting in him and reproach much. Marcellinus, however, fails to satisfy me, at any rate, on this one point: that he handles him too harshly—although he does so with the Senate not unwilling; and for that reason I withdraw myself all the more gladly from the Senate-house and from every part of public life. 6. In the courts we are what we were: my house is thronged as much as ever it was. One thing has fallen out awkwardly through Milo's imprudence—the affair of Sextus Clodius, whom it did not please me to have prosecuted either at this time or by feeble accusers: three votes were lacking him on a thoroughly wretched panel; and so the people are calling the man back, and he must necessarily be dragged back into court, for men will not endure it, and because, since he was almost condemned even when pleading before his own kind, they see him as condemned. In that very matter the unpopularity of Pompey stood in our way; for the urn of the senators acquitted abundantly, that of the knights was evenly balanced, while the tribuni aerarii [a third class of jurors] voted to condemn. But this setback is consoled by the daily convictions of our enemies, among whom—to my great delight—Sevius was dashed to pieces, and the rest are being cut down. Gaius Cato declared in a public meeting that he would not allow the elections to be held if the days for transacting business with the people were taken from him. Appius had not yet returned from Caesar. 7. I am awaiting your letters marvelously; and I know that the sea has been closed up to now, but they were saying that certain men had nevertheless come from Olbia who praised you uniquely and said that you were held in the highest regard in the province. They said the same men reported that you would cross over at the first sailing; this I desire—and although, of course, it is yourself I most desire, yet I also await your letter beforehand. Farewell, my brother.

Our friend Sestius was acquitted on the 4th of March, and, what was of great importance to the Republic—that there should be no appearance of difference of opinion in a case of that sort—was acquitted unanimously. As to what I had often gathered from your letters, that you were anxious about—that I should not leave any loophole for abuse to an unfriendly critic on the score of my being ungrateful, if I did not treat with the utmost indulgence his occasional wrong-headedness—let me tell you that in this trial I established my character for being the most grateful of men. For in conducting the defence I satisfied in the fullest manner possible a man of difficult temper, and, what he above all things desired, I cut up Vatinius (by whom he was being openly attacked) just as I pleased, with the applause of gods and men. And, farther, when our friend Paullus was brought forward as a witness against Sestius, he affirmed that he would lay an information against Vatinius if Licinius Macer hesitated to do so, and Macer, rising from Sestius's benches, declared that he would not fail. Need I say more? That impudent swaggering fellow Vatinius was overwhelmed with confusion and thoroughly discredited. That most excellent boy, your son Quintus, is getting on splendidly with his education. I notice this the more because Tyrannio gives his lessons in my house. The building of both your house and mine is being pushed on energetically. I have caused half the money to be paid to your contractor. I hope before winter we may be under the same roof. As to our Tullia, who, by Hercules, is very warmly attached to you, I hope I have settled her engagement with Crassipes. There are two days after the Latin festival which are barred by religion. Otherwise the festival of luppiter Latiaris has come to an end. The affluence which you often mention I feel the want of to a certain extent; but while I welcome it if it comes to me, I am not exactly beating the covert for it. I am building in three places, and am patching up my other houses. I live somewhat more lavishly than I used to do. I am obliged to do so. If I had you with me I should give the builders full swing for a while. But this too (as I hope) we shall shortly talk over together. The state of affairs at Rome is this: Lentulus Marcellinus is splendid as consul, and his colleague does not put any difficulty in his way: he is so good, I repeat, that I have never seen a better. He deprived them of aH the comitial days for even the Latin festival is being repeated, nor were thanks-giving days wanting. In this way the passing of most mischievous laws is prevented, especially that of Cato, on whom, however, our friend Milo played a very pretty trick. For that defender of the employment of gladiators and beast-fighters had bought some beast-fighters from Cosconius and Pomponius, and had never appeared in public without them in their full armour. He could not afford to maintain them, and accordingly had great difficulty in keeping them together. Milo found this out. He commissioned an individual, with whom he was not intimate, to buy this troop from Cato without exciting his suspicion. As soon as it had been removed, Racilius—at this time quite the only real tribune-revealed the truth, acknowledged that the men had been purchased for himself—for this is what they had agreed—and put up a notice that he intended to sell "Cato's troop." This notice caused much laughter. Accordingly, Lentulus has prevented Cato from going on with his laws, and also those who published bills of a monstrous description about Caesar, with no tribune to veto them. Caninius's proposal, indeed, about Pompey has died a natural death. For it is not approved of in itself, and our friend Pompey is also spoken of with great severity for the breach of his friendship with Publius Lentulus. He is not the man he was. The fact is that to the lowest dregs of the populace his support of Milo gives some offence, while the aristocrats are dissatisfied with much that he omits to do, and find fault with much that he does. This is the only point, however, in which I am not pleased with Marcellinus—that he handles him too roughly. Yet in this he is not going counter to the wishes of the senate: consequently I am the more glad to withdraw from the senate-house and from politics altogether. In the courts I have the same position as I ever had: never was my house more crowded. One untoward circumstance has occurred owing to Milo's rashness—the acquittal of Sext. Clodius—whose prosecution at this particular time, and by a weak set of accusers, was against my advice. In a most Corrupt panel his conviction failed by only three votes. Consequently the people clamour for a fresh trial, and he must surely be brought back into court. For people will not put up with it, and seeing that, though pleading before a panel of his own kidney, he was all but condemned, they look upon him as practically condemned. Even in this matter the unpopularity of Pompey was an obstacle in our path. For the votes of the senators were largely in his favour, those of the knights were equally divided, while the tribuni aerarii voted for his condemntion. But for this contretemps I am consoled by the daily condemnations of my enemies, among whom, to my great delight, Servius got upon the rocks: the rest are utterly done for. Gaius Cato declared in public meeting that he would not allow the elections to be held, if he were deprived of the days for doing business with the people. Appius has not yet returned from his visit to Caesar. I am looking forward with extraordinary eagerness to a letter from you. Although I know the sea is still closed, yet they tell me that certain persons have, nevertheless, arrived from Olbia full of your praises, and declaring you to be very highly thought of in the province. They said also that these persons reported that you intended to cross as soon as navigation became possible. That is what I desire: but although it is yourself, of course, that I most look forward to, yet meanwhile I long for a letter. Farewell, my dear brother.

IV. Scr. Romae mense Martio a.u.c. 698. MARCUS QUINTO FRATRI SALUTEM. 1. Sestius noster absolutus est a. d. V. Idus Martias et, quod vehementer interfuit rei publicae nullam videri in eiusmodi causa dissensionem esse, omnibus sententiis absolutus est. Illud, quod tibi curae saepe esse intellexeram, ne cui iniquo relinqueremus vituperandi locum, qui nos ingratos esse diceret, nisi illius perversitatem quibusdam in rebus quam humanissime ferremus, scito hoc nos in eo iudicio consecutos esse, ut omnium gratissimi iudicaremur: nam defendendo moroso homini cumulatissime satisfecimus et, id quod ille maxime cupiebat, Vatinium, a quo palam oppugnabatur, arbitratu nostro concidimus dis hominibusque plaudentibus; quin etiam Paullus noster, cum testis productus esset in Sestium, confirmavit se nomen Vatinii delaturum, si Macer Licinius cunctaretur, et Macer ab Sestii subselliis surrexit ac se illi non defuturm affirmavit; quid quaeris? homo petulans et audax valde perturbatus debilitatusque discessit. 2. Quintus tuus, puer optimus, eruditur egregie: hoc nunc magis animum adverto, quod Tyrannio docet apud me. Domus utriusque nostrum aedificatur strenue; redemptori tuo dimidium pecuniae curavi: spero nos ante hiemem contubernales fore. De nostra Tullia, tui mehercule amantissima, spero cum Crassipede nos confecisse. Dies erant duo, qui post Latinas habentur religiosi; cetero confectum erat Latiar erat exiturus. 'Amfilaf¤an autem illam, quam tu soles dicere, bono desidero, sic prorsus, ut advenientem excipiam libenter, latentem etiam nunc non excitem: tribus loci aedifico, reliqua reconcinno; vivo paullo liberalius, quam solebam; opus erat si te haberem, paullisper fabris locum darem. Sed [et] haec, ut spero, brevi inter nos communicabimus. 4. Res autem Romanae sese sic habent: consul est egregius Lentulus non impediente collega, sic, inquam, bonus, ut meliorem non viderim: dies comitiales exemit omnes; nam etiam Latinae instaurantur, nec tamen deerant supplicationes. 5. Ita legibus perniciosissimis obsistitur, maxime Catonis, cui tamen egregie imposuit Milo noster: nam ille vindex gladiatorum et bestiariorum emerat de Cosconio et Pomponio bestiarios, nec sine iis armatis umquam in publico fuerat; hos alere non poterat, itaque vix tenebat; sensit Milo: dedit cuidam non familiari negotium, qui sine suspicione emeret eam familiam a Catone; quae simul atque abducta est, Racilius, qui unus optimus est hoc tempore tribunus pl., rem patefecit eosque homines sibi emptos esse dixit—sic enim placuerat—et tabulam proscripsit, se familiam Catonianam venditurum: in eam tabulam magni risus consequebantur. Hunc igitur Catonem Lentulus a legibus removit et eos, qui de Caesare monstra promulgarunt, quibus intercederet nemo; nam, quod de Pompeio Caninius agit, sane quam refrixit; neque enim res probatur et Pompeius noster in amicitia P. Lentuli vituperatur et hercule non est idem; nam apud perditissimam illam atque infimam faecem populi propter Milonem suboffendit, et boni multa ab eo desiderant, multa reprehendunt. Marcellinus autem hoc uno mihi quidem non satisfacit, quod eum nimis aspere tractat: quamquam id senatu non invito facit; quo ego me libentius a curia et ab omni parte rei publicae subtraho. 6. In iudiciis ii sumus, qui fuimus: domus celebratur ita, ut cum maxime. Unum accidit imprudentia Milonis incommode, de Sexto Clodio, quem neque hoc tempore neque ab imbecillis accusatoribus mihi placuit accusari: ei tres sententiae deterrimo in consilio defuerunt; itaque hominem populus revocat et retrahatur necesse est, non enim ferunt homines et, quia, cum apud suos diceret, paene damnatus est, vident damnatum. Ea ipsa in re Pompeii offensio nobis obstitit; senatorum enim urna copiose absolvit, equitum adaequavit, tribuni aerarii condemnarunt; sed hoc incommodum consolantur quotidianae damnationes inimicorum, in quibus me perlibente Sevius allisus est, ceteri conciduntur. C. Cato concionatus est comitia haberi non siturum, si sibi a populo dies agendi essent exempti. Appius a Caesare nondum redierat. 7. Tuas mirifice litteras exspecto: atque adhuc clausum mare fuisse scio, sed quosdam venisse tamen Olbia dicebant, qui te unice laudarent plurimique in provincia fieri dicerent: eosdem aiebant nuntiare te prima navigatione transmissurum; id cupio et, quamquam te ipsum scilicet maxime, tamen etiam litteras tuas ante exspecto. Mi frater, vale.