De Mustela, ut scribis, etsi magnum opus est. Eo magis delabor ad Clodiam. Quamquam in utroque Faberianum nomen explorandum est. De quo nihil nocuerit si aliquid cum Balbo eris locutus, et quidem, ut res est, emere nos velle, nee posse sine isto nomine, nec audere re incerta. Sed quando Clodia Romae futura est, et quanti rem aestimas? Eo prorsus specto, non quin illud malim, sed et magna res est et difficile certamen cum cupido, cum locuplete, cum herede. Etsi de cupiditate nemini concedam; ceteris rebus inferiores sumus. Sed haec coram.
XLVIII
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
Scr. Lanuvi XVI K. Iun. mane a. 709
Hirti librum, ut facis, divulga. De Philotimo idem et ego arbitrabar. Domum tuam pluris video futuram vicino Caesare. Tabellarium meum hodie exspectamus. Nos de Pilia et Attica certiores faciet.
Domi te libenter esse facile credo. Sed velim scire, quid tibi restet, aut iamne confeceris. Ego te in Tusculano exspecto, eoque magis, quod Tironi statim te venturum scripsisti et addidisti te putare opus esse.
XLVII
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
Lanuvium, May 16, B.C. 45
About Mustela, do as you say, though it will be a big business. For that reason I incline more to Clodia; though in both cases we must find out about Faberius' debt. There will be no harm in your speaking to Balbus about it and telling him, what is the truth, that we want to buy, but cannot without getting in that debt, and dare not, until something is settled. But when is Clodia going to be in Rome, and how much do you think it will cost? Why I turn my thoughts to it is not that I should not prefer the other, but it is a big venture and it is difficult to contend with one who is eager for it, rich and one of the heirs. As far as eagerness goes, I yield to no one, but in the other respects we are worse off. However of this when we meet.
XLVIII
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
Lanuvium, May 17, B.C. 45