ut de hac misera cogites, et illud, de quo ad te proxime scripsi, ut aliquid conficiatur ad inopiam propulsandam, et etiam de ipso testamento. Illud quoque vellem antea, sed omnia timuimus. Melius quidem in pessimis nihil fuit discidio. Aliquid fecissemus ut viri vel tabularum novarum nomine vel nocturnarum expugnationum vel Metellae vel omnium malorum; nec res perisset, et videremur aliquid doloris virilis habuisse. Memini omnino tuas litteras, sed et tempus illud; etsi quidvis praestitit. Nunc quidem ipse videtur denuntiare; audimus enim de statua Clodi. Generumne nostrum potissimum vel hoc vel tabulas novas! Placet mihi igitur et item tibi nuntium remitti. Petet fortasse tertiam pensionem. Considera igitur, tumne, cum ab ipso nascetur, an prius. Ego, si ullo modo potuero, vel nocturnis itineribus experiar, ut te videam. Tu et haec, et si quid erit, quod intersit mea scire, scribas velim. Vale.
think of my poor girl, both as regards the point about which I wrote lately—making some arrangement to avoid destitution—and also as regards the will itself. The other thing too I wish I had attended to before; but I was afraid of everything. In this very bad business there was nothing better than a divorce. I should have done something like a man, either on the score of his cancelling of debts or his night attacks on houses, or Metella or all his sins together: I should not have lost the money, and I should have shown some manly spirit. I remember of course your letter, but I remember the circumstances too: still anything would have been better than this. Now he seems to be giving notice of divorce himself; for I have heard about the statue of Clodius. To think that a son-in-law of mine above all people should do such a thing as that, or abolish debts! So I agree with you we must serve a notice of divorce on him. Perhaps he will ask for the third instalment of the dowry. So consider whether we should wait for a move of his or act first.[196] If I can possibly manage it, even by night journeys, I will try to see you. Please write to me about this and anything else it may interest me to know. Farewell.
[196] If Dolabella started the divorce proceedings, he could not claim the rest of the dowry, and would have to refund what had already been paid. If Tullia began them, part at least of the dowry would remain with him, unless she could prove misconduct.
XXIV
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
Scr. Brundisi VIII Id. Sext. a. 707
Quae dudum ad me et (quae etiam ad me vis) ad Tulliam de me scripsisti, ea sentio esse vera. Eo sum miserior, etsi nihil videbatur addi posse, quod mihi non modo irasci gravissima iniuria accepta, sed ne dolere quidem impune licet. Quare istuc feramus. Quod cum tulerimus, tamen eadem erunt perpetienda, quae tu ne accidant ut caveamus mones. Ea enim est a nobis contracta culpa, ut omni statu omnique populo eundem exitum habitura videatur.