Tusculum, June 19-21, B.C. 45
I am not at all surprised at your being upset about Marcellus[[102]] and fearing all sorts of new dangers. For who would have feared this? Such a thing never happened before and it did not seem as though nature could allow such things to happen. So one may fear anything. But fancy you of all people making such a historical slip as to call me the only surviving ex-consul. Why, what about Servius? However, that of course has not the slightest importance in any respect, least of all to me, who think my dead comrades' fate quite as happy as my own. For what am I or what can I be? Am I anything in private life or in public? If it had not occurred to me to write my books, such as they are, I should not know what to do with myself.
[102]. M. Marcellus had been murdered by P. Magius Chilo.
I think I must follow your advice and dedicate something more general and more political to Dolabella. I must certainly do something for him, as he is very anxious for it. If Brutus makes any move, pray let me know. I think he ought to make one as soon as possible, especially if he has made up his mind.[[103]] That would either put an end to all chatter
[103]. About his marriage to Porcia.
126enim omnem aut restinxerit aut sedarit. Sunt enim, qui loquantur etiam mecum. Sed haec ipse optime, praesertim si etiam tecum loquetur.
Mihi est in animo proficisci XI Kal. Hic enim nihil habeo, quod agam, ne hercule illic quidem nec usquam, sed tamen aliquid illic. Hodie Spintherem exspecto. Misit enim Brutus ad me. Per litteras purgat Caesarem de interitu Marcelli; in quem, ne si insidiis quidem ille interfectus esset, caderet ulla suspicio. Nunc vero, cum de Magio constet, nonne furor eius causam omnem sustinet? Plane, quid sit, non intellego. Explanabis igitur. Quamquam nihil habeo, quod dubitem, nisi, ipsi Magio quae fuerit causa amentiae; pro quo quidem etiam sponsor sum factus. Et nimirum id fuit. Solvendo enim non erat. Credo eum petisse a Marcello aliquid, et illum, ut erat, constantius respondisse.
XI
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
Scr. in Arpinati IX K. Quint. a. 709
"Οὐ ταὐτὸν εἶδος." Credebam esse facile; totum est aliud, posteaquam sum a te diiunctior. Sed fuit faciendum, ut et constituerem mercedulas praediorum et ne magnum onus observantiae Bruto nostro imponerem. Posthac enim poterimus commodius colere inter nos in Tusculano. Hoc autem tempore, cum