The Letters of Cicero Part 40

[Footnote 580: Pompey had two functions at this time: he was governor of Spain and _praefectus annonae_. The latter office, as being extraordinary, might be, perhaps, held with the other without an actual breach of law, but it was certainly against the spirit of the const.i.tution. Cicero knows that Pompey's staying in Italy and governing his province by _legati_ will not be acceptable to Caesar, and he alludes to it in carefully guarded terms. He had been named his _legatus_ when Pompey first undertook the care of the corn-supply, but it does not seem as if he ever seriously contemplated going on actual service.]

[Footnote 581: L. Cornelius Balbus, whom Cicero defended, and who acted as Caesar's agent.]

[Footnote 582: The name of the person jocosely referred to by Caesar is uncertain, from corruption of the text. Q. Lepta is Caesar's _praefectus fabrum_.]

Cx.x.xIV (Q FR II, 11 [13])

TO HIS BROTHER QUINTUS (IN THE COUNTRY)

ROME (15 FEBRUARY)

[Sidenote: B.C. 54, aeT. 52]

Your "black snow"[583] made me laugh, and I am very glad that you are in a cheerful frame of mind and ready for a joke. As to Pompey, I agree with you, or rather you agree with me. For, as you know, I have long been singing the praises of your Caesar. Believe me, he is very close to my heart, and I am not going to let him slip from his place. Now for the history of the Ides (13th). It was Caelius's tenth day.[584] Domitius had not obtained a full panel. I am afraid that foul ruffian, Servius Pola, will appear for the prosecution. For our friend Caelius has a dead set made at him by the Clodian gens. There is nothing certain as yet, but I am afraid. On the same day there was a full house for the case of the Tyrians: the _publicani_ of Syria appeared in large numbers against them. Gabinius was abused roundly:[585] the _publicani_ were also denounced by (the consul) Domitius for having escorted him on his start on horseback. Our friend Lucius Lamia was somewhat insolent: for on Domitius saying, "It is your fault, equites of Rome, that such things have happened: for you give verdicts laxly," he said, "Yes, we give verdicts, but you senators give evidence of character."[586] Nothing was done that day: the house stood adjourned at nightfall. On the comitial days which follow the Quirinalia (17th February), Appius holds the view that he is not prevented by the _lex Pupia_ from holding a meeting of the senate, and that by the _lex Gabinia_ he is even compelled to have a meeting for the legations from the 1st of February to the 1st of March.[587] And so the elections are supposed to be put off till March.

Nevertheless, on these comitial days the tribunes say that they will bring forward the case of Gabinius.[588] I collect every item of intelligence, that I may have some news to tell you: but, as you see, I am short of material. Accordingly, I return to Callisthenes and Philistus, in whom I see that you have been wallowing. Callisthenes is a commonplace and hackneyed piece of business, like a good many Greeks.

The Sicilian is a first-rate writer, terse, sagacious, concise, almost a minor Thucydides;[589] but which of his two books you have--for these are two works--I don't know. That about Dionysius is my favourite. For Dionysius himself is a magnificent intriguer, and was familiarly known to Philistus. But as to your postscript--are you really going in for writing history? You have my blessing on your project: and since you furnish me with letter-carriers, you shall hear to-day's transactions on the Lupercalia (15th February). Enjoy yourself with our dear boy to your heart's content.

[Footnote 583: We cannot tell the allusion, not having the letter of Quintus. But he seems to have used the expression for something incongruous either in politics, or in regard to his contemplated services with Caesar.]

[Footnote 584: _I.e._, the day he had to appear for trial, usually fixed by the praetor on the tenth day from the notice of prosecution. Caelius had been acqiuitted in B.C. 56, when Cicero defended him; this second trial appears to have in some way fallen through. The praetor Domitius is said to be Cn. Domitius Ahen.o.barbus, son of Lucius, but he was much too young to have been praetor this year. The former trial of Caelius (B.C.

56) had been before Cn. Comitius Calvinus, hence a difficulty about this pa.s.sage. For the praetor Domitius of this year is not known. Domitius Calvinus was praetor B.C. 56.]

[Footnote 585: The _publicani_ of Syria were enraged with Gabinius for neglecting his province while going to Egypt, thus allowing the pirates so to plunder that they could not collect enough dues to recoup them for their bargain to the state (Dio, x.x.xix. 59).]

[Footnote 586: L. aelius Lamia, an eques, appears to have been one of the deputation of _publicani_ who attended the senate to accuse Gabinius.]

[Footnote 587: The praetorian elections were again postponed from the previous year to the early months of B.C. 54. Appius Claudius found means to put them off till March by holding meetings of the senate each day--the electoral _comita_ not being able to meet on the same day as the senate.]

[Footnote 588: The tribune C. Memmius was prosecuting Gabinius (Letter CXLVII). The judicial _comita_ could meet, though not the electoral.]

[Footnote 589: Callisthenes of Olynthus wrote (1) a history of the Trojan war; (2) an account of Alexander the Great. Philistus of Syracuse (1) a history of Sicily; (2) a life of Dionysius the elder; (3) a life of Dionysius the younger. He imitated Thucydides (_de Orat._ -- 17).]

Cx.x.xV (F VII, 6)

TO C. TREBATIUS TESTA (IN GAUL)

c.u.mae (APRIL)

[Sidenote: B.C. 54, aeT. 52]

In all my letters to Caesar or Balbus there is a sort of statutory appendix containing a recommendation of you, and not one of the ordinary kind, but accompanied by some signal mark of my warm feeling towards you. See only that you get rid of that feeble regret of yours for the city and city ways, and carry out with persistence and courage what you had in your mind when you set out. We, your friends, shall pardon your going away for that purpose as much as

"The wealthy n.o.ble dames who held the Corinthian peak"

pardoned Medea, whom, with hands whitened to the utmost with chalk, she persuaded not to think ill of her for being absent from her fatherland: for

"Many have served themselves abroad and served the state as well; Many have spent their lives at home to be but counted fools."

In which latter category you would have certainly been, had I not forced you abroad. But I will write more another time. You who learnt to look out for others, look out, while in Britain, that you are not yourself taken in my the charioteers; and, since I have begun quoting the _Medea_, remember this line:

"The sage who cannot serve himself is vainly wise I ween."

Take care of your health.[590]

[Footnote 590: Trebatius is going to join Caesar, who is about to sail to Britain; hence the jest about the _essedarii_, drivers of Gallic and British war-chariots. Letter Cx.x.xIII recommended him to Caesar. The lines quoted are from the _Medea_ of Ennius, adapted or translated from Euripides. I date these two letters from c.u.mae, because he speaks of writing to Balbus, who was at Rome (p. 267).]

Cx.x.xVI (F VII, 7)

TO C. TREBATIUS TESTA (ON HIS WAY TO GAUL)

c.u.mae (APRIL OR MAY)

[Sidenote: B.C. 54, aeT. 52]

For my part, I never cease recommending you, but I am eager to know from you how far my recommendation is of service. My chief hope is in Balbus, to whom I write about you with the greatest earnestness and frequency.

It is often excites my wonder that I don't hear from you as often as from my brother Quintus. In Britain I am told there is no gold or silver. If that turns out to be the case, I advise you to capture a war-chariot and hasten back to us at the earliest opportunity. But if--letting Britain alone--we can still obtain what we want, take care to get on intimate terms with Caesar. In that respect my brother will be of much use to you, so will Balbus, but most of all, believe me, your own modesty and industry. You have an _imperator_ of the most liberal character, your age is exactly the best one for employment, and your recommendation at any rate is quite unique, so that all you have to fear is not doing yourself full justice.

Cx.x.xVII (A IV, 14)

TO ATTICUS (ON A JOURNEY)

c.u.mae (MAY)

[Sidenote: B.C. 54, aeT. 52]

Our friend Vestorius[591] has informed me by letter that you are believed to have left Rome on the 10th of May--later than you said that you intended--because you had not been very well. If you are now better I rejoice indeed. I wish you would write to your town house, ordering your books to be at my service just as if you were at home, especially those of Varro. For I have occasion to use some pa.s.sages of those books in reference to those which I have in hand, and which, I hope, will meet with your strong approval.[592] Pray, if by chance you have any news, princ.i.p.ally from my brother Quintus, next from Caesar, and, finally, anything about the elections or about politics--for you have an excellent nose for such things--write and tell me about them: if you have no news, nevertheless write something. For a letter from you never yet seemed to me either ill-timed or too long-winded. But above all I beg that, when your business and your whole tour has been concluded to your mind, you will come back to us as soon as possible. Give my compliments to Dionysius. Take care of your health.

[Footnote 591: A banker at Puteoli.]

[Footnote 592: The six books on the Republic.]