VII
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
Tarsus, before July 30, B.C. 50
The boy Quintus has contrived to reconcile his father to your sister. He showed the proper feeling of a son, and I gave him much encouragement, which he received nothing loath. He was greatly moved by your letter. I trust that matters are as we wish.
I have written to you twice about a domestic matter of mine in Greek and in riddles, if only my letters have reached you. Don’t take decided steps: but still you may do some good by questioning the man simply about Milo’s accounts, and urging him to settle the business as he promised.
I have ordered my quaestor Mescinius to wait at Laodicea, so that in accordance with the Julian law I may leave copies of my accounts in two cities. I want to go to Rhodes for the sake of the boys, thence as soon as possible to Athens, though the Etesian winds are very contrary. But I wish to reach Rome during the magistracy of men whose good-will I experienced over that thanksgiving in my honour. However please send a letter to meet me, saying if you think there can be any political reason for delay.
[226]. Presumably dictated to him by Cicero himself.
te dedisset litteras, nisi eum graviter aegrum Issi reliquissem. Sed nuntiant melius esse. Ego tamen angor; nihil enim illo adulescente castius, nihil diligentius.
VIII
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
Scr. Ephesi K. Oct. a. 704
Cum instituissem ad te scribere calamumque sumpsissem, Batonius e navi recta ad me venit domum Ephesi et epistulam tuam reddidit pridie Kal. Octobres. Laetatus sum felicitate navigationis tuae, opportunitate Piliae, etiam hercule sermone eiusdem de coniugio Tulliae meae. Batonius autem miros terrores ad me attulit Caesarianos, cum Lepta etiam plura locutus est, spero falsa, sed certe horribilia, exercitum nullo modo dimissurum, cum illo praetores designates, Cassium tribunum pl., Lentulum consulem facere, Pompeio in animo esse urbem relinquere.