You have given my speech for Ligarius a magnificent start. Henceforth, when I write anything, I shall leave it to you to advertise it. As to what you say about Varro, you know formerly I have written speeches or things of such a kind, that I could not introduce him; but afterwards, when I began these more literary works, Varro had already promised to dedicate a great and important work to me. Two years have passed and that slow coach,[[106]] though always on the move, has not advanced an inch, while I was prepared to pay him back "full measure and more" for what he sent, if I could. For Hesiod adds "if you can."[[107]]
[106]. It is uncertain whether the actor mentioned in Aristotle's Poetics, ch. 26, is referred to or someone else. Anyhow, the name seems to be used proverbially as = "a slow coach."
[107]. Hesiod, Op. 350.
Now I have pledged my De Finibus, of which I
130Bruto, ut tibi placuit, despondimus, idque eum non nolle mihi scripsisti. Ergo illam Ἀκαδημικήν, in qua homines nobiles illi quidem, sed nullo modo philologi nimis acute loquuntur, ad Varronem transferamus. Etenim sunt Antiochia, quae iste valde probat. Catulo et Lucullo alibi reponemus, ita tamen, si tu hoc probas; deque eo mihi rescribas velim.
De Brinniana auctione accepi a Vestorio litteras. Ait sine ulla controversia rem ad me esse conlatam. Romae videlicet aut in Tusculano me fore putaverunt a. d. VIII Kal. Quinct. Dices igitur vel amico tuo, S. Vettio, coheredi meo, vel Labeoni nostro, paulum proferant auctionem; me circiter Nonas in Tusculano fore. Cum Pisone Erotem habes. De Scapulanis hortis toto pectore cogitemus. Dies adest.
XIII, XIV
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
Scr. in Arpinati VI K. Quint. a. 709
Commotus tuis litteris, quod ad me de Varrone scripseras, totam Academiam ab hominibus nobilissimis abstuli, transtuli ad nostrum sodalem et ex duobus libris contuli in quattuor. Grandiores sunt omnino, quam erant illi, sed tamen multa detracta. Tu autem mihi pervelim scribas, qui intellexeris illum velle; illud vero utique scire cupio, quem intellexeris
think very highly, to Brutus as you advised, and you have told me he was gratified. So I must assign the Academica to Varro. The speakers in it are men of birth to be sure, but not scholars, and talk above their own heads. And indeed the doctrines are those of Antiochus,[[108]] of which Varro is a strong supporter. I will make it up to Catulus and Lucullus somewhere else[[109]]; that is to say, if you agree. Please write and tell me.