Ita ut heri tibi narravi vel fortasse hodie (Quintus enim altero die se aiebat), in Nesida VIII Idus. Ibi Brutus. Quam ille doluit de NONIS IULIIS! mirifice est conturbatus. Itaque sese scripturum aiebat, ut venationem eam, quae postridie ludos Apollinares futura est, proscriberent in III IDUS QUINCTILES. Libo
have been put straight, I am anxious when I see Dolabella's name among them, and drafts on people that I do not know among my assets: and that makes me more uneasy than anything else. So I don't think I was wrong in applying to Balbus quite openly to assist me, if such a thing should happen as my debts not coming in properly, and telling him that I had commissioned you to communicate with him in any such event. Do so, if you think fit, especially if you are starting for Epirus.
This I have written just as I was embarking from Pompeii with three ten-oared pinnaces. Brutus is still in Nesis, Cassius at Naples. Can you like Deiotarus and not like Hieras?[[308]] When Blesamius came to me Hieras was commissioned not to do anything without Sextus Peducaeus' advice, but he never consulted him or any of our friends. I should like to kiss Attica, far off as she is: I was so pleased with the good wishes she sent me through you. So please give her my best thanks, and the same to Pilia.
[308]. Hieras and Blesamius were agents of Deiotarus in bribing Antony to restore Armenia to him, and apparently were now disowned by him after he had succeeded in getting it back.
IV
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
Puteoli, July 10, B.C. 44
As I told you yesterday or perhaps to-day—for Quintus said he would take two days going—I went to Nesis on the 8th: and there was Brutus. How annoyed he was about the "7th of July."[[309]] It quite upset him. So he said he would send orders for them to advertise the beast-hunt, which is to take place on the day after the games to Apollo, as on the "13th of Quinctilis." Libo came in, and he
[309]. Cf. Att. XVI. 1.
382intervenit. Is Philonem, Pompei libertum, et Hilarum, suum libertum, venisse a Sexto cum litteris ad consules, "sive quo alio nomine sunt." Earum exemplum nobis legit, si quid videretur. Pauca παρὰ λέξιν, ceteroqui et satis graviter et non contumaciter. Tantum addi placuit, quod erat "COSS." solum, ut esset "PRAETT., TRIBB. PL., SENATVI," ne illi non proferrent eas, quae ad ipsos missae essent. Sextum autem nuntiant cum una solum legione fuisse Karthagine, eique eo ipso die, quo oppidum Baream cepisset, nuntiatum esse de Caesare, capto oppido miram laetitiam commutationemque animorum concursumque undique; sed illum ad sex legiones, quas in ulteriore reliquisset, revertisse. Ad ipsum autem Libonem scripsit nihil esse, nisi ad larem suum liceret. Summa postulatorum, ut omnes exercitus dimittantur, qui ubique sint. Haec fere de Sexto.
De Buthrotiis undique quaerens nihil reperiebam. Alii concisos agripetas, alii Plancum acceptis nummis relictis illis aufugisse. Itaque non video sciturum me, quid eius sit, ni statim aliquid litterarum.