IV
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
Scr. in Tusculano Id. Iun. a. 708
O gratas tuas mihi iucundasque litteras! Quid quaeris? restitutus est mihi dies festus. Angebar enim, quod Tiro ἐνερευθέστερον te sibi esse visum dixerat. Addam igitur, ut censes, unum diem.
Sed de Catone πρόβλημα Ἀρχιμήδειον est. Non adsequor, ut scribam, quod tui convivae non modo libenter, sed etiam aequo animo legere possint; quin etiam, si a sententiis eius dictis, si ab omni voluntate consiliisque, quae de re publica habuit, recedam; ψιλῶςque velim gravitatem constantiamque eius laudare, hoc ipsum tamen istis odiosum ἄκουσμα sit. Sed vere laudari ille vir non potest, nisi haec ornata sint, quod ille ea, quae nunc sunt, et futura viderit, et, ne fierent, contenderit, et, facta ne videret, vitam reliquerit. Horum quid est, quod Aledio probare possimus? Sed cura, obsecro, ut valeas, eamque, quam ad omnes res adhibes, in primis ad convalescendum adhibe prudentiam.
might accept Vettienus'[[30]] proposal and take half paid down. So look into the matter. The fact is I am afraid Caesar may not hold any auction now, but, as soon as his games are over, may run off to the aid of his stammering friend,[[31]] not to slight so important a person. But I will attend to the matter. Pray take care of Attica and give her and Pilia and Tullia my kindest greetings.
[30]. A banker (cf. Att. X. 5) who proposed to take over the debt, in return for present payment of half the sum owed.
[31]. Balbus, if the reading is right
IV
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
Tusculum, June 13, B.C. 46
How glad I was of your delightful letter! Why, it made my day a red-letter day after all. For I was anxious because Tiro had said you looked to him rather flushed. So I will stay another day, as you suggest.