XVIII
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
Arpinum, March 28, B.C. 49
In both respects I followed your advice. I spoke so as to gain Caesar's respect rather than his gratitude; and I persisted in my resolve not to go to Rome. We were mistaken in thinking he would be easy to manage. I have never seen anyone less easy. He kept on saying that my decision was a slur on him, and that others would be less likely to come, if I did not come. I pointed out that my case was very unlike theirs. After much talk he said, "Well, come and discuss peace." "On my own terms?" I asked. "Need I dictate to you?" said he. "Well," said I, "I shall contend that the Senate cannot sanction your invasion of Spain or your going with an army into Greece, and," I added, "I shall lament Pompey's fate." He replied, "That is not what I want." "So I fancied," said I: "but I do not want to be in Rome, because either I must say that and much else, on which I cannot keep silent, if I am present, or else I cannot come." The upshot was that I was to think over the matter, as Caesar suggested, with a view to closing our interview. I could not refuse. So we parted. I am confident then he has no liking for me. But I like myself, as I have not for a long time.
For the rest, ye gods what a following! What âmes damnées in your phrase! Celer is an hero to the rest. What an abandoned cause, and what desperate gangs! What can one think of a son of Servius and a son of Titinius being in an army which beset Pompey? Six legions! He is very wide-awake and
audet. Nullum video finem mali. Nunc certe promenda tibi sunt consilia. Hoc fuerat extremum.
Illa tamen κατακλεὶς illius est odiosa, quam paene praeterii, si sibi consiliis nostris uti non liceret, usurum, quorum posset, ad omniaqae esse descensurum. "Vidisti igitur virum, ut scripseras? ingemuisti?" Certe. "Cedo reliqua." Quid? Continuo ipse in Pedanum, ego Arpinum. Inde exspecto equidem λαλαγεῦσαν[117] illam tuam. "Tu malim," inquies, "actum ne agas." Etiam illum ipsum, quem sequimur, multa fefellerunt.
[117] λαλαγεῦσαν Bosius: ΑΛΑΤΕΛΓΑΝ M.