Scr. Asturae IV Id. Mai. a. 709
Venerat mihi in mentem monere te, ut id ipsum, quod facis, faceres. Putabam enim commodius te idem istud domi agere posse interpellatione sublata.
Ego postridie Idus, ut scripsi ad te ante, Lanuvi manere constitui, inde aut Romae aut in Tusculano; scies ante, utrum. Quod scribis[[79]] recte illam rem fore levamento, bene facis, tamen id est[[80]] mihi crede perinde, ut existimare tu non potes. Res indicat quanto opere id cupiam, cum tibi audeam confiteri, quem id non ita valde probare arbitrer. Sed ferendus tibi in hoc meus error. Ferendus? immo vero etiam adiuvandus. De Othone diffido, fortasse quia cupio. Sed tamen maior etiam res est quam facilitates nostrae,
[79]. scribis Boot: scies M.
[80]. tamen id est Wesenberg: cum id esse M.
there was, was pleasant to me: if nothing else, it taught me you had no news.
But you say something or other about Clodia. Where is she then or when is she coming? I prefer her grounds to anyone's except Otho's. But I don't think she will sell: she likes the place and has plenty of money: and how difficult the other thing is, you are well aware. But pray let us make an effort to think out some way of getting what I want.
I think of leaving here on the 16th; but either for Tusculum or for Rome, and then on perhaps to Arpinum. When I know for certain, I will write.
XLIII
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
Astura, May 12, B.C. 45