horreo. Volet enim, credo, S. C. facere, volet augurum decretum (rapiemur aut absentes vexabimur), vel ut consules roget praetor vel ut dictatorem dicat; quorum neutrum ius est. Etsi, si Sulla potuit efficere, ab interrege ut dictator diceretur[112] cur hic non possit? Nihil expedio, nisi ut aut ab hoc tamquam Q. Mucius aut ab illo tamquam L. Scipio.
[112] After diceretur most MSS. add et magister equitum.
Cum tu haec leges, ego illum fortasse convenero. Τέτλαθι. Κύντερον ne illud quidem nostrum proprium. Erat enim spes propinqui reditus, erat hominum querela. Nunc exire cupimus, qua spe reditus, mihi quidem numquam in mentem venit. Non modo autem nulla querela est municipalium hominum ac rusticorum, sed contra metuunt ut crudelem, iratum. Nec tamen mihi quicquam est miserius quam remansisse nec optatius quam evolare non tam ad belli quam ad fugae societatem. Sed tu, omnia qui consilia differebas in id tempus, cum sciremus, quae Brundisi acta essent. Scimus nempe; haeremus nihilo minus. Vix enim spero mihi hunc veniam daturum, etsi multa adfero iusta ad impetrandum. Sed tibi omnem illius meumque sermonem omnibus verbis expressum statim mittam. Tu nunc omni amore enitere, ut nos cura tua et prudentia iuves. Ita subito accurrit, ut ne T. Rebilum quidem,
will take, for he will want, I am sure, a decree of the Senate and a decree of the augurs (we shall be hurried off to Rome or harassed, if we are absent), so that the praetor may hold an election of consuls or name a dictator, both acts unconstitutional. Though, if Sulla could arrange to be named dictator by an interrex, why should not Caesar? I can see no solution of the problem except by meeting the fate of Mucius at the hand of Caesar, or that of Scipio[113] at the hands of Pompey.
[113] L. Scipio was proscribed by Sulla. For Mucius cf. VIII, 3.
Odyssey iii. 27
When you read this, perhaps I shall have met the man. "Endure." My own exile was no "unkinder cut";[114] for I had prospects of speedy return and was consoled by the popular outcry. Now I long to go away and it never strikes me that there is any chance of return. Not only is there no outcry of any in town or country, but on the contrary all are afraid of Pompey as cruel in his anger. Nothing causes me more wretchedness than my having remained, and there is nothing that I want more than to flee to him to share not his fighting but his flight. But now what becomes of your counsel to put off decision till we knew how things went at Brundisium? We do know, but are as badly stuck as ever. I can scarcely hope that Caesar will give me privilege, though many are the good reasons I can bring for granting it. But I will send you immediately a report of our conversation word for word. Use all your affection to help me with your careful advise. He is coming so fast that I cannot see even T. Rebilus, as I had arranged. I
[114] Odyssey XX, 18, τέτλαθι δὴ, κραδίη, κὰι κύντερον ἄλλο ποτ' ἔτλης, "endure, my heart, worse hast thou borne before."