De dote tanto magis perpurga. Balbi regia condicio est delegandi. Quoquo modo confice. Turpe est rem impeditam iacere. Insula Arpinas habere potest germanam ἀποθέωσιν; sed vereor, ne minorem τιμὴν habere videatur ἐκτοπισμός. Est igitur animus in hortis; quos tamen inspiciam, cum venero.
De Epicure, ut voles; etsi μεθαρμόσομαι in posterum genus hoc personarum. Incredibile est, quam ea quidam requirant. Ad antiquos igitur; ἀνεμέσητον γάρ. Nihil habeo, ad te quod scribam, sed tamen institui cotidie mittere, ut eliciam tuas litteras, non quo aliquid ex iis exspectem, sed nescio quo modo tamen exspecto. Quare, sive habes quid sive nil habes, scribe tamen aliquid teque cura.
write about. The ugliest thing I ever saw. But I am coming to town at once: so we will discuss it together.
When I had sealed this letter I received yours. I am very glad to hear Attica is so cheerful; and I'm grieved about the slight indisposition.
XII
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
Astura, March 16, B.C. 45
With regard to the dowry make all the more effort to clear the business up. To make over the debt to Balbus is a high-handed proceeding.[[54]] Get it settled anyhow. It is disgraceful to let the thing hang fire. The island at Arpinum would be an excellent place for a shrine, but I'm afraid it's too far out of the way to convey much honour. So my mind is set on the garden: however I'll have a look at it, when I arrive.
[54]. The first sentence refers to the repayment of Tullia's dowry; the second to Cicero's debt to his divorced wife. This Terentia had made over to Balbus in order to enforce payment quicker. The shrine mentioned below was intended to be in honour of Tullia.
About Epicurus you shall have your way:[[55]] but in the future I shall change my plan as regards the persons in my dialogues. You'd never believe how eager some people are for a place. So I shall confine myself to the ancients: that avoids invidious distinctions. I have nothing to say; but I've made up my mind to write every day to draw letters from you, not that there is anything I expect from them, still somehow or other I do expect something. So whether you have any news or not, anyhow write something; and take care of yourself.
[55]. Apparently Atticus had asked to have the Epicurean view in the De Finibus put in the mouth of some friend of his.