Cum, quod scriberem ad te, nihil haberem, tamen, ne quem diem intermitterem, has dedi litteras. A. d. VI K. Caesarem Sinuessae mansurum nuntiabant. Ab eo mihi litterae redditae sunt a. d. VII K., quibus iam "opes" meas, non ut superioribus litteris "opem" exspectat. Cum eius clementiam Corfiniensem illam per litteras collaudavissem, rescripsit hoc exemplo:
"CAESAR IMP. CICERONI IMP. SAL. DIC.
Recte auguraris de me (bene enim tibi cognitus sum) nihil a me abesse longius crudelitate. Atque ego cum ex ipsa re magnam capio voluptatem tum meum factum probari abs te triumpho gaudio. Neque illud me movet, quod ii, qui a me dimissi sunt,
Brundisium on the 17th of March: that Caesar on the next day entered the town, made a speech and went off at full speed to Rome, meaning to be at the city before the 1st of April, to remain there a few days and then to set out for Spain. It seemed proper since we had sure news of Caesar's approach to send your servants back to you to give information as early as possible. Your charges have our attention, and we will act as circumstances demand. Trebatius is trying hard to reach you before Caesar.
"When this letter had been written, news came to us that Caesar would stop on the 25th at Beneventum, at Capua on the 26th, on the 27th at Sinuessa. This we consider certain."
XVI
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
Formiae, March 26, B.C. 49
Though I have nothing to write to you, still, not to miss a day, I send this letter. On the 27th of March Caesar will stop at Sinuessa, they say. He sent me a letter dated the 26th, in which he looks forward to my "resources," not as in the former letter to "my help." I had written praising to the skies his kindness, his clemency at Corfinium. He replied as follows: