Letter 102.10

[The beginning is damaged.] ... connected by marriage, not subject to guardianship, and placed besides in a position where, as Quintus Ennius says, "everyone gives empty advice, and everything is aimed at pleasing." Plautus also says splendidly in the Colax about the same matter: crafty flatterers, who pledge good faith and then deceive the trusting, stand nearest to a king; what they say to him is one thing, what they think is another. These disadvantages used to belong only to kings, but now there are more than enough of them even for kings' sons, as Naevius says: people who favor them with their tongues, nod assent, and fawn on them. I am right, then, my teacher, to burn with feeling; right to set one single aim before myself; right to think of one man alone whenever I take up my pen. You ask very kindly for my hexameters. I would have sent them at once if I had them with me. My secretary, whom you know - I mean Anicetus - sent none of my writings with me when I left. He knows my sickness, and he was afraid that if they came into my hands I would do what I usually do and throw them into the furnace. In truth, those hexameters were almost in no danger; to confess the truth to my teacher, I love them. I study here at night, I admit, because the day is spent in the theater. So in the evening I do less because I am tired, and at dawn I get up sleepy. Still, during these days I have made excerpts for myself from sixty books in five volumes. But when you read "sixty," do not be too frightened by the number: included among them are little Atellane farces by Novius and short speeches by Scipio. Since you have mentioned your Polemo, please do not mention Horace, who, along with Pollio, is dead and gone for me. Farewell, my dearest friend, my most loving friend; farewell, most distinguished consul, sweetest teacher, whom I have not seen now for two years. As for those who say two months have passed, they are only counting days. Will there ever be a time when I see you?

to the most honourable consul Fronto. 1. . . . . connected by marriage and not subject to guardianship and stationed besides in a social position in which, as Q. Ennius says, All give foolish counsel, and look in all to pleasing only; and Plautus, too, in his Colax , says finely on the same subject, Crafty cajolers, who with fast-pledged faith Take in the trustful: these stand round a king, And what they speak is far from what they think. These drawbacks used formerly to be confined to kings, but now, indeed, even the sons of kings have more than enough of men who, as Naevius says, Still flatter with their tongues and still assent , And fawn upon them to their heart's content . I do right, then, my master, in being so ardent, right in setting before me one single aim, right in thinking of one man only when I take my pen in hand. 2. You very kindly ask for my hexameters, and I too should have sent them at once if I had had them with me. But my secretary—you know him, I mean Anicetus—did not pack up any of my work when I set out. For he knows my failing and was afraid that, if they came into my hands, I should do as I usually do, and consign them to the flames. But, as a matter of fact, those particular hexameters were in next to no danger. For, to tell my master the truth, I dote on them. I pore over them o' nights, for the day is spent in the theatre. And so I get through but little in the evening, being tired, and in the morning I get up sleepy. Still I have made for myself these last few days five notebooks full of extracts from sixty volumes. But when you read sixty , don't be staggered by the number, for included in them are the little Atellane farces of Novius and Scipio's speechlets. 3. As you have mentioned your Polemo, please don't mention Horace again, who, with Polio, is dead and done with as far as I am concerned. Farewell, my dearest, my most beloved friend; farewell, my most honourable consul, my most sweet master, whom I have not seen these two years. For as to what some say, that two months have intervened, they only count days. Shall I ever see you?

ad M. Caesarem 2.8 [28 Hout; 1.136 Haines] <Amplissimo consuli magistro suo M. Caesar salutem> <...> adfinitate sociatum neque tutelae subditum, praeterea in ea fortuna constitutum in qua, ut Q. Ennius ait, “omnes dant consilium vanum atque ad voluptatem omnia”; item quod Plautus egregie in Colace super eadem re ait. Qui data fide firmata fidentem fefellerint, subdoli subsentatores regi, qui sunt proximi, qui aliter regi dictis dicunt, aliter in animo habent. Haec enim olim incommoda regibus solis fieri solebant, atenim nunc adfatim sunt “quei et regum filiis”, ut Naevius ait, “linguis faveant atque adnutent et subserviant”. Merito ego, mi magister, fraglo; merito unum meum σκοπόν mihi constitui; merito unum hominem cogito quom stilus in manus venit. 2 Hexametros meos jucundissime petis; quos ego quoque confestim misissem si illos mecum haberem. Nam librarius meus quem tu nosti, Anicetum dico, cum proficiscerer, nihil meorum scriptorum mecum misit. Scit enim morbum meum et timuit, ne si venissent in potestatem, quod soleo facerem et in furnum dimitterem. Sane istis hexametris prope nullum periculum erat. Ut enim verum magistro meo confitear, amo illos. 3 Ego istic noctibus, confiteor, studeo, nam interdiu in theatro consumitur. Itaque minus ago vespera fatigatus, surgo luce dormitans. Feci tamen mihi per hos dies excerpta ex libris sexaginta in quinque tomis, sed cum leges ‘sexaginta’, inibi sunt et Novianae Atellaniolae et Scipionis oratiunculae, ne tu numerum nimis expavescas. 4 Polemonis tui quom meministi, rogo ne Horatii memineris, qui mihi com Pollione est emortuus. 5 Vale mi amicissime, vale mi amantissime, consul amplissime, magister dulcissime, quem ego biennio jam non vidi. Nam quod ajunt quidam duos menses interfuisse, tantum dies numerant. Eritne quom te videbo?