XIX
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
In the camp at Cybistra, Sept. 20, B.C. 51
I had already sealed the letter, which I fancy you must have just read, written in my own handwriting and containing a full account of events, when suddenly your letter was delivered to me on September 20th by a letter carrier of Apelles, who had done a journey express from Rome in forty-seven days. Ah, what a long way it is! It makes me sure that you awaited Pompey’s return from Ariminum, and have now set out for Epirus, and I fear from your tone, that you may be in as great straits in Epirus as I am here.
I have written to my wife’s steward not to dun Messalla for the money due from Atilius. I am delighted you have heard reports of my official progress, and I shall be still more delighted if you hear of my other good deeds. I am glad that you are pleased with your little daughter. I have never seen her, but I love her and I am sure she is lovable. Good-bye, again good-bye.
Talking of Patro and your friends of his school, I am glad you liked my efforts about the ruins in Melita. It is a sign of great affection on your part, to rejoice in the defeat of a man[[187]] who opposed the uncle of your sister’s son. You have put it into my head to rejoice too. It had not occurred to me. You need not believe me, if you like: but really I
[187]. Probably C. Hirrus, who had just failed to obtain the curule aedileship. He had previously stood for the augurate, when Cicero had been successful. Others, however, suggest M. Calidius, who had criticized Cicero’s oratorical style and prosecuted Q. Gallius in 64 B.C., when Cicero defended him.
libet; sed plane gaudeo, quoniam τὸ νεμεσᾶν interest τοῦ φθονεῖν.
XX
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
Scr. in Cilicia a. 703 inter a. d. XII et IV K. Ian.
Saturnalibus mane se mihi Pindenissitae dediderunt septimo et quinquagesimo die, postquam oppugnare eos coepimus. “Qui, malum! isti Pindenissitae qui sunt?” inquies; “nomen audivi numquam.” Quid ego faciam? num potui Ciliciam Aetoliam aut Macedoniam reddere? Hoc iam sic habeto, nec hoc exercitu nec hic tanta negotia geri potuisse. Quae cognosce ἐν ἐπιτομῇ; sic enim concedis mihi proxumis litteris. Ephesum ut venerim, nosti, qui etiam mihi gratulatus es illius diei celebritatem, qua nihil me umquam delectavit magis. Inde in oppidis iis, qua iter erat, mirabiliter accepti Laodiceam pridie Kal. Sextiles venimus. Ibi morati biduum perillustres fuimus honorificisque verbis omnes iniurias revellimus superiores, quod idem Colossis, dein Apameae quinque dies morati et Synnadis triduum, Philomeli quinque dies, Iconi decem fecimus. Nihil ea iuris dictione aequabilius, nihil lenius, nihil gravius. Inde in castra veni a. d. VII Kalendas Septembres. A. d. III exercitum lustravi apud Iconium. Ex his castris, cum graves de Parthis nuntii venirent, perrexi in Ciliciam per Cappadociae partem eam, quae Ciliciam attingit, eo consilio, ut Armenius Artavasdes et ipsi Parthi