XVIa
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
Arpinum, May 19 or 20, B.C. 44
I tell you what, this place is lovely, and certainly it is retired and free from overlookers, if you want to write. But somehow or other there's no place like home.[[266]] So my feet are carrying me back to Tusculum. And after all the tameness of this bit of coast would probably soon cloy on one. Besides, I am afraid of rain, if our Prognostics[[267]] are right, for the frogs are holding forth. Please let me know where Brutus is and when I can see him.
[266]. Apparently a proverb.
[267]. Cicero translated the Prognostica of Aratus into Latin verse.
XVII
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
Antias, June 14, B.C. 44
I received two letters on the 14th, one dated the same day, one the day before. So I answer the earlier first. Tell me about D. Brutus, when you know. I had heard of the pretended terror of the consuls.[[268]]
[268]. They were afraid of violence on the part of Brutus and Cassius.
342Sicca enim φιλοστόργως ille quidem, sed tumultuosius ad me etiam illam suspicionem pertulit. Quid tu autem? "τὰ μὲν διδόμενα ——"? Nullum enim verbum a Siregio. Non placet. De Plaetorio, vicino tuo, permoleste tuli quemquam prius audisse quam me. De Syro prudenter. L. Antonium per Marcum fratrem, ut arbitror, facillime deterrebis. Antroni vetui; sed nondum acceperas litteras, ne cuiquam nisi L. Fadio aedili. Aliter enim nec caute nec iure fieri potest. Quod scribis tibi desse HS C, quae Ciceroni curata sint, velim ab Erote quaeras, ubi sit merces insularum. Arabioni de Sittio nihil irascor. Ego de itinere nisi explicato Λ nihil cogito; quod idem tibi videri puto. Habes ad superiorem.