"CAESAR IMPERATOR TO CICERO IMPERATOR, GREETING.

"You are right to infer of me (for I am well known to you) that there is nothing further from my nature than cruelty. Whilst I take great pleasure from that fact, I am proud indeed that my action wins your approval. I am not moved because it is said that those,

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discessisse dicuntur, ut mihi rursus bellum inferrent. Nihil enim malo quam et me mei similem esse et illos sui. Tu velim mihi ad urbem praesto sis, ut tuis consiliis atque opibus, ut consuevi, in omnibus rebus utar. Dolabella tuo nihil scito mihi esse iucundius. Hanc adeo habebo gratiam illi; neque enim aliter facere poterit. Tanta eius humanitas, is sensus, ea in me est benevolentia."

XVII
CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Scr. in Formiano VI K. Apr. a. 705

Trebatium VI Kal., quo die has litteras dedi, exspectabam. Ex eius nuntio Matique litteris meditabor, quo modo cum illo loquar. O tempus miserum! Nec dubito, quin a me contendat, ad urbem veniam. Senatum enim Kalendis velle se frequentem adesse etiam Formiis proscribi iussit. Ergo ei negandum est? Sed quid praeripio? Statim ad te perscribam omnia. Ex illius sermone statuam, Arpinumne mihi eundum sit an quo alio. Volo Ciceroni meo togam puram dare, istic puto. Tu, quaeso, cogita, quid deinde. Nam me hebetem molestiae reddiderunt. A Curio velim scire ecquid ad te scriptum sit de Tirone. Ad me enim ipse Tiro ita scripsit, ut verear, quid agat. Qui autem veniunt inde, κινδυνώδη nuntiant. Sane in magnis curis etiam haec me sollicitant. In hac enim fortuna perutilis eius et opera et fidelitas esset.

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whom I let go, have departed to wage war on me again, for there is nothing I like better than that I should be true to myself and they to themselves. I could wish you to meet me at Rome that I may avail myself of your advice and resources, as usual, in everything. You must know that nothing pleases me more than the presence of your relative Dolabella. This favour also I shall owe to him; for he will not be able to do otherwise than arrange it, such is his kindness, his feeling and goodwill towards me."