第 23 节
作者:
想聊 更新:2021-09-05 09:19 字数:9322
r such a crushing blow as this; the wounds which seemed to have healed break out afresh。 For there is no republic now to offer me a refuge and a consolation by its good fortunes when I leave my home in sorrow; as there once was a home to receive me when I returned saddened by the state of public affairs。 Hence I absent myself both from home and forum; because home can no longer console the sorrow which public affairs cause me; nor public affairs that which I suffer at home。 All the more I look forward to your coming; and long to see you as soon as possible。 No reasoning can give me greater solace than a renewal of our intercourse and conversation。 However; I hope your arrival is approaching; for that is what I am told。 For myself; while I have many reasons for wishing to see you as soon as possible; there is this one especiallythat we may discuss beforehand on what principles we should live through this period of entire submission to the will of one man who is at once wise and liberal; far; as I think I perceive; from being hostile to me; and very friendly to you。 But though that is so; yet it is a matter for serious thought what plans; I don't say of action; but of passing a quiet life by his leave and kindness; we should adopt。 Good…bye。
XXIX
To ATTICUS (AT ROME)
PUTEOLI; 2! DECEMBER
WELL; I have no reason after all to repent my formidable guest! For he made himself exceedingly pleasant。 But on his arrival at the villa of Philippus on the evening of the second day of the Saturnalia; the villa was so choke full of soldiers that there was scarcely a dining…room left for Caesar himself to dine in。 Two thousand men; if you please! I was in a great taking as to what was to happen the next day; and so Cassius Barba came to my aid and gave me guards。 A camp was pitched in the open; the villa was put in a state of defence。 He stayed with Philippus on the third day of the Saturnalia till one o'clock; without admitting anyone。 He was engaged on his accounts; I think; with Balbus。 Then he took a walk on the beach。 After two he went to the bath。 Then he heard about Mamurra without changing countenance。 He was anointed: took his place at the table。 He was under a course of emetics; and so ate and drank without scruple and as suited his taste。 It was a very good dinner; and well served; and not only so; but
〃Well cooked; well seasoned food; with rare discourse: A banquet in a word to cheer the heart。〃
Besides this; the staff were entertained in three rooms in a very liberal style。 The freedmen of lower rank and the slaves had everything they could want。 But the upper sort had a really recherche dinner。 In fact; I shewed that I was somebody。 However; he is not a guest to whom one would say; 〃Pray look me up again on your way back。〃 Once is enough。 We didn't say a word about politics。 There was plenty of literary talk。 In short; he was pleased and enjoyed himself。 He said he should stay one day at Puteoli; another at Baiaee。 That's the story of the entertainment; or I might call it the billeting on metrying to the temper; but not seriously inconvenient。 I am staying on here for a short time and then go to Tusculum。 When he was passing Dolabella's villa; the whole guard formed up on the right and left of his horse; and nowhere else。 This I was told by Nicias。
XXX
To ATTICUS (AT ROME)
MATIUS'S SUBURBAN VILLA; 7 APRIL
I HAVE come on a visit to the man; of whom I was talking to you this morning。 His view is that 〃the state of things is perfectly shocking: that there is no way out of the embroglio。 For if a man of Caesar's genius failed; who can hope to succeed ?〃 In short; he says that the ruin is complete。 I am not sure that he is wrong; but then he rejoices in it; and declares that within twenty days there will be a rising in Gaul: that he has not had any conversation with anyone except Lepidus since the Ides of March: finally that these things can't pass off like this。 What a wise man Oppius is; who regrets Caesar quite as much; but yet says nothing that can offend any loyalist! But enough of this。 Pray don't be idle about writing me word of anything new; for I expect a great deal。 Among other things; whether we can rely on Sextus Pompeius; but above all about our friend Brutus; of whom my host says that Caesar was in the habit of remarking: 〃It is of great importance what that man wishes; at any rate; whatever he wishes he wishes strongly〃: and that he noticed; when he was pleading for Deiotarus at Nicaea; that he seemed to speak with great spirit and freedom。 Alsofor I like to jot down things as they occur to methat when on the request of Sestius I went to Caesar's house; and was sitting waiting till I was called in; he remarked: 〃Can I doubt that I am exceedingly disliked; when Marcus Cicero has to sit waiting and cannot see me at his own convenience? And yet if there is a good…natured man in the world it is he; still I feel no doubt that he heartily dislikes me。〃 This and a good deal of the same sort。 But to my purpose。 Whatever the news; small as well as great; write and tell me of it。 I will on my side let nothing pass。
XXXI
To ATTICUS (AT ROME)
ASTURA; II JUNE
AT length a letter…carrier from my son! And; by Hercules; a letter elegantly expressed; shewing in itself some progress。 Others also give me excellent reports of him。 Leonides; however; still sticks to his favourite 〃at present。〃 But Herodes speaks in the highest terms of him。 In short; 1 am glad even to be deceived in this matter; and am not sorry to be credulous。 Pray let me know if Statius has written to you anything of importance to me。
XXXII
To ATTICUS (AT ROME)
ASTURA; 13 JUNE
CONFOUND Lucius Antonius; if he makes himself troublesome to the Buthrotians! I have drawn out a deposition which shall be signed and sealed whenever you please。 As for the money of the Arpinates; if the aedile L。 Fadius asks for it; pay him back every farthing。 In a previous letter I mentioned to you a sum of 110 sestertia to be paid to Statius。 If; then; Fadius applies for the money; I wish it paid to him; and to no one except Fadius。 I think that amount was put into my hands; and I have written to Eros to produce it。
I can't stand the Queen: and the voucher for her promises; Hammonius; knows that I have good cause for saying so。 What she promised; indeed; were all things of the learned sort and suitable to my charactersuch as I could avow even in a public meeting。 As for Sara; besides finding him to be an unprincipled rascal; I also found him inclined to give himself airs to me。 I only saw him once at my house。 And when I asked him politely what I could do for him; he said that he had come in hopes of finding Atticus。 The Queen's insolence; too; when she was living in Caesar's trans… Tiberine villa; I cannot recall without a pang。 I won't have anything to do therefore with that lot。 They think not so much that I have no spirit; as that I have scarcely any proper pride at all。 My leaving Italy is hindered by Eros's way of doing business。 For whereas from the balances struck by him on the 5th of April I ought to be well off; I am obliged to borrow; while the receipts from those paying properties of mine I think have been put aside for building the shrine。 But I have charged Tiro to see to all this; whom I am sending to Rome for the express purpose。
I did not wish to add to your existing embarrassments。 The steadier the conduct of my son; the more I am vexed at his being hampered。 For he never mentioned the subject to methe first person to whom he should have done so。 But he said in a letter to Tiro that he had received nothing since the 1st of Aprilfor that was the end of his financial year。 Now I know that your own kind feeling always caused you to be of opinion that he ought to be treated not only with liberality; but with splendour and generosity; and that you also considered that to be due to my position。 Wherefore pray seeI would not have troubled you if I could have done it through anyone elsethat he has a bill of exchange at Athens for his year's allowance。 Eros will pay you the money。 I am sending Tiro on that business。 Pray therefore see to it; and write and tell me any idea you may have on the subject。
XXXIII
To C。 TREBATIUS TESTA (AT ROME)
TUSCULUM (JUNE)
You jeered at me yesterday amidst our cups; for having said that it was a disputed point whether an heir could lawfully prosecute on an embezzlement which had been committed before he became the owner。 Accordingly; though I returned home full of wine and late in the evening; I marked the section in which that question is treated and caused it to be copied out and sent to you。 I wanted to convince you that the doctrine which you said was held by no one was maintamed by Sextus Aelius; Manius Manilius; Marcus Brutus。 Nevertheless; I concur with Scaevola and Testa。
XXXIV
M。 CICERO (THE YOUNGER) TO TIR0
ATHENS (AUGUST)
AFTER I had been anxiously expecting letter…carriers day after day; at length they arrived forty…six days after they left you。 Their arrival was most welcome to me: for while I took the greatest possible pleasure in the letter of the kindest and most beloved of fathers; still your most delightful letter put a finishing stroke to my joy。 So I no longer rep