That's jolly good news about Buthrotum. But I had sent Tiro to Dolabella with a letter as you bade me. What harm is there in it? About our friends at Antium, I think I wrote plainly enough for you not to doubt that they are going to take things quietly and accept Antonius' insulting favour. Cassius rejects the corn-supply job, and Servilia says she will cut it out of the senatorial decree. Our friend is taking things very seriously, now he agrees with me that he cannot be safe in Rome (for he prefers the games to take place in his absence). He says he will go to Asia at once, as soon as he has handed over the management of the games to those who will attend to it. He is collecting vessels, and his heart is set on going. Meantime they will stay in the same places. Brutus says he will be at Astura. L. Antonius has sent a kind letter telling me to have no fear. That's one thing I have to thank him for; perhaps there will be another, if he comes to
328O negotia non ferenda! quae feruntur tamen. Τῶνδε αἰτίαν τῶν Βρούτων τίς ἔχει; In Octaviano, ut perspexi, satis ingenii, satis animi, videbaturque erga nostros ἥρωας ita fore, ut nos vellemus, animatus. Sed quid aetati credendum sit, quid nomini, quid hereditati, quid κατηχήσει, magni consilii est. Vitricus quidem nihil censebat; quem Asturae vidimus. Sed tamen alendus est, et, ut nihil aliud, ab Antonio seiungendus. Marcellus praeclare, si praecipit nostro nostra. Cui quidem ille deditus mihi videbatur. Pansae autem et Hirtio non nimis credebat. Bona indoles, ἐὰν διαμείνῃ.
XIII
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
Scr. in Puteolano VIII K. Nov. a. 710
VIII Kal. duas a te accepi epistulas. Respondebo igitur priori prius. Adsentior tibi, ut nec duces simus nec agmen cogamus, faveamus tamen. Orationem tibi misi. Eius custodiendae et proferendae arbitrium tuum. Sed quando illum diem, cum tu edendam putes? Indutias quas scribis, non intellego fieri posse. Melior est ἀναντιφωνησία; qua me usurum arbitror. Quod scribis legiones duas Brundisium venisse, vos omnia prius. Scribes igitur, quicquid audieris. Varronis διάλογον exspecto. Iam probo Ἡρακλείδειον, praesertim cum tu tanto opere delectere;
Tusculum. What intolerable nuisances! Yet we put up with them. Which of the Bruti have we to thank for this? In Octavianus, as I have observed, there is plenty of wit and plenty of spirit, and he seems likely to be as well disposed to our heroes as we could wish. But it is a grave question how far we can trust one of his age, name, heritage, and bringing up. His father-in-law, whom I saw at Astura, thinks he is not to be trusted at all. However, we must look after him, and, if nothing else, dissociate him from Antonius. Marcellus will be doing well if he inculcates our views into Brutus, to whom Octavianus seems to be well affected. In Pansa and Hirtius, however, he has but little trust. His disposition is good, if it will last.
XIII
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
Puteoli, Oct. 25, B.C. 44
On the 25th I received two letters from you. So I will answer the former first. I agree with you that we need not be the first to move nor the last to follow, but that we should incline to Brutus' side. I have sent you my speech,[[257]] and leave it to you to keep it or publish it. But when shall we see the day when you will think it right to publish it? I don't understand how the truce you mention can be possible. It is better to make no reply; and that, I think, is what I shall do. You say that two legions have arrived at Brundisium: you get all the news first. So you must write whatever you hear. I am expecting Varro's dialogue.[[258]] I agree now about writing something in Heracleides' style,[[259]] especially as you like it
[257]. The Second Philippic, an answer to Antony's speech of September 19, never actually delivered by Cicero.