Caesar probably won't reach Athens by the 1st of September. There are said to be many things that keep him in Asia, especially Pharnaces. The 12th legion, which Sulla visited first, is said to have driven him off with stones, and it is thought none of them will stir. Caesar it is supposed will go straight from Patrae to Sicily. But, if so, he must come here. I should have preferred him to go straight there, for I should have got away from here somehow. Now I am afraid I must wait for him, and in addition to other afflictions my poor daughter must endure this unhealthy climate.
You advise me to make my actions fit the times. I would, if circumstances permitted, and it were anyhow possible. But what with all my own mistakes and the wrongs inflicted on me by my family, there is nothing worthy of myself that I can do or even pretend to do. You compare Sulla's reign: that in principle was all that could be noble, but it was rather too lacking in moderation. The present crisis however is such that I forget myself, and should much prefer the public cause to win rather than that with which my interests are bound up. However, please write to me as often as possible, especially as no one else writes, and, if all the world were writing, I should still look forward to your letters more than any. You say Caesar will be kinder to Quintus for my sake: but I told you before he had made every concession to young Quintus, without mentioning me. Farewell.
XXII
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
Scr. Brundisi circa K. Sept. a. 707
Diligenter mihi fasciculum reddidit Balbi tabellarius. Accepi enim a te litteras, quibus videris vereri, ut epistulas illas acceperim. Quas quidem vellem mihi numquam redditas; auxerunt enim mihi dolorem, nec, si in aliquem incidissent, quicquam novi attulissent. Quid enim tam pervulgatum quam illius in me odium et genus hoc litterarum? quod ne Caesar quidem ad istos videtur misisse, quasi qui illius improbitate offenderetur, sed, credo, uti notiora nostra mala essent. Nam, quod te vereri scribis, ne illi obsint, eique rei mederi, ne rogari quidem se passus est de illo. Quod quidem mihi molestum non est; illud molestius, istas impetrationes nostras nihil valere.
Sulla, ut opinor, cras erit hic cum Messalla. Currunt ad illum pulsi a militibus, qui se negant usquam, nisi acceperint. Ergo ille huc veniet, quod non putabant, tarde quidem. Itinera enim ita facit, ut multos dies in oppido uno[195] ponat. Pharnaces autem, quoquo modo aget, adferet moram. Quid mihi igitur censes? Iam enim corpore vix sustineo gravitatem huius caeli, quae mihi laborem adfert in dolore. An his illuc euntibus mandem, ut me excusent, ipse accedam propius? Quaeso, attende et me, quod adhuc saepe rogatus
[195] oppido uno Peerlkamp: oppidum MSS.