[291]. deberi Caerelliae Shuckburgh: cui Caerellia MSS.

Novi si quid erit, atque etiam si quid prospicies, quod futurum putes, scribas ad me quam saepissime.

my messenger tells me he brought you a letter, too, from Brutus, and that it was forwarded to you from Tusculum.

I have arranged my journeys so that I shall be at Puteoli on the 7th of July; for, though I am in a great hurry, I mean to take every care humanly possible in my voyage. Please relieve M. Aelius of his anxiety. Tell him I thought that on a few feet at the far end of the land there might be some sort of claims, and those only underground. Also that I have not the slightest desire for it, and that I don't value water at that price.[[292]] But, as you suggested, do it as mildly as possible, rather to relieve him of anxiety than to suggest that I am in the least annoyed. Again, about that debt of Tullius: speak to Cascellius frankly. It is a small matter, but I am glad you attended to it. There was too much trickery about it: and, if he had cheated me at all, which he very nearly did if you had not been too sharp for him, I should have been very much annoyed. So, whatever happens, I would rather the matter were broken off. Remember that an eighth share of the houses of Tullius near the temple of Strenia is due to Caerellia, and see that it is conveyed to her at the highest price bid at the auction. I think that was some 3,000 guineas.[[293]]

[292]. The reading and meaning of this passage is uncertain. Apparently either Cicero had asserted some claim on some underground water-pipes on property of Aelius adjoining his own, and was now disclaiming it; or Aelius had been commissioned to buy property for Cicero on which there was a disputed claim to such pipes, and Cicero refuses to purchase on that ground. Servitus above is used in the technical-legal sense of an "easement" or liability on property.

[293]. 380 sestertia. On this debt cf. Att. XII. 51.

If there is any news, and, even if you foresee anything you think likely to happen, I should like you to write to me as often as possible. To Varro

362Velim Varroni, quem ad modum tibi mandavi, memineris excusare tarditatem litterarum mearum. Mundus iste cum M. Ennio quid egerit de testamento (curiosus enim), facias me velim certiorem. Ex Arpinati VI Non.

XXVII
CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Scr. in Arpinati V Non. Quint. a. 710