letters of cicero-第12部分

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hing；　I　should　yet　have　been　no　other　than　I　now　am　in　politics。　When；　moreover；　I　am　at　once　induced　to　adopt　these　sentiments　by　the　kindness　of　certain　persons；　and　driven　to　do　so　by　the　injuries　of　others；　I　am　quite　content　to　think　and　speak　about　public　affairs　as　I　conceive　best　conduces　to　the　interests　both　of　myself　and　of　the　Republic。　Moreover；　I　make　this　declaration　the　more　openly　and　frequently；　both　because　my　brother　Quintus　is　Caesar's　legate；　and　because　no　word　of　mine；　however　trivial；　to　say　nothing　of　any　act；　in　support　of　Caesar　has　ever　transpired；　which　lie　has　not　received　with　such　marked　gratitude；　as　to　make　me　look　upon　myself　as　closely　bound　to　him。　Accordingly；　I　have　the　advantage　of　his　popularity；　which　you　know　to　be　very　great；　and　his　material　resources；　which　you　know　to　be　immense；　as　though　they　were　my　own。　Nor　do　I　think　that　I　could　in　any　other　way　have　frustrated　the　plots　of　unprincipled　persons　against　me；　unless　I　had　now　combined　with　those　protections；　which　I　have　always　possessed；　the　goodwill　also　of　the　men　in　power。　I　should；　to　the　best　of　my　belief；　have　followed　this　same　line　of　policy　even　if　I　had　had　you　here。　For　I　well　know　the　reasonableness　and　soberness　of　your　judgment：　I　know　your　mind；　while　warmly　attached　to　me；　to　be　without　a　tinge　of　malevolence　to　others；　but　on　the　contrary　as　open　and　candid　as　it　is　great　and　lofty。　I　have　seen　certain　persons　conduct　themselves　towards　you　as　you　might　have　seen　the　same　persons　conduct　themselves　towards　me。　The　same　things　that　have　annoyed　me　would　certainly　have　annoyed　you。　But　whenever　I　shall　have　the　enjoyment　of　your　presence；　you　will　be　the　wise　critic　of　all　my　plans：　you　who　took　thought　for　my　safety　will　also　do　so　for　my　dignity。　Me；　indeed；　you　will　have　as　the　partner　and　associate　in　all　your　actions；　sentiments；　wishesin　fact；　in　everything；　nor　shall　I　ever　in　all　my　life　have　any　purpose　so　steadfastly　before　me；　as　that　you　should　rejoice　more　and　more　warmly　every　day　that　you　did　me　such　eminent　service。

As　to　your　request　that　I　would　send　you　any　books　I　have　written　since　your　departure；　there　are　sonic　speeches；　which　I　will　give　Menocritus；　not　so　very　many；　so　don't　be　afraid！　I　have　also　written…　for　I　am　now　rather　withdrawing　from　oratory　and　returning　to　the　gentler　Muses；　which　now　give　me　greater　delight　than　any　others；　as　they　have　done　since　my　earliest　youthwell；　then；　I　have　written　in　the　Aristotelian　style；　at　least　that　was　my　aim；　three　books　in　the　form　of　a　discussion　in　dialogue　〃On　the　Orator；〃　which；　I　think；　well　be　of　some　service　to　your　Lentulus。　For　they　differ　a　good　deal　from　the　current　maxims；　and　embrace　a　discussion　on　the　whole　oratorical　theory　of　the　ancients；　both　that　of　Aristotle　and　Isocrates。　I　have　also　written　in　verse　three　books　〃On　my　own　Times；〃　which　I　should　have　sent　you　some　time　ago；　if　I　had　thought　they　ought　to　be　publishedfor　they　are　witnesses；　and　will　he　eternal　witnesses；　of　your　services　to　me　arid　of　my　affectionhut　I　refrained　because　I　was　afraid；　not　of　those　who　might　think　themselves　attacked；　for　I　have　been　very　sparing　and　gentle　in　that　respect；　but　of　my　benefactors；　of　whom　it　were　an　endless　task　to　mention　the　whole　list。　Nevertheless；　the　books；　such　as　they　are；　if　I　find　anyone　to　whom　I　can　safely　commit　them；　I　will　take　care　to　have　conveyed　to　you：　and　as　far　as　that　part　of　my　life　and　conduct　is　concerned；　I　submit　it　entirely　to　your　judgment。　All　that　I　shall　succeed　in　accomplishing　in　literature　or　in　learningmy　old　favourite　relaxationsI　shall　with　the　utmost　cheerfulness　place　before　the　bar　of　your　criticism；　for　you　have　always　had　a　fondness　for　such　things。　As　to　what　you　say　in　your　letter　about　your　domestic　affairs；　and　all　you　charge　me　to　do；　I　am　so　attentive　to　them　that　I　don't　like　being　reminded；　can　scarcely　bear；　indeed；　to　be　asked　without　a　very　painful　feeling。　As　to　your　saying；　in　regard　to　Quintus's　business；　that　you　could　not　do　anything　last　summer；　because　you　were　prevented　by　illness　from　crossing　to　Cilicia；　but　that　you　will　now　do　everything　in　your　power　to　settle　it；　I　may　tell　you　that　the　fact　of　the　matter　is　that；　if　he　can　annex　this　property；　my　brother　thinks　that　he　will　owe　to　you　the　consolidation　of　this　ancestral　estate。　I　should　like　you　to　write　about　all　your　affairs；　and　about　the　studies　and　training　of　your　son　Lentulus　（whom　I　regard　as　mine　also）　as　confidentially　and　as　frequently　as　possible；　and　to　believe　that　there　never　has　been　anyone　either　dearer　or　more　congenial　to　another　than　you　are　to　me；　and　that　I　will　not　only　make　you　feel　that　to　be　the　case；　but　will　make　all　the　world　and　posterity　itself　to　the　latest　generation　aware　of　it。

Appius　used　some　time　back　to　repeat　in　conversation；　and　afterwards　said　openly；　even　in　the　senate；　that　if　he　were　allowed　to　carry　a　law　in　the　cornitia　curiata；　he　vould　draw　lots　with　his　colleague　for　their　provinces；　but　if　no　curiatian　law　were　passed；　he　would　make　an　arralgement　with　his　colleague　and　succeed　you：　that　a　curiatian　law　was　a　proper　thing　for　a　consul；　but　was　not　a　necessity：　that　since　he　was　in　possession　of　a　province　by　a　decree　of　the　senate；　he　should　have　imperiuns　in　virtue　of　the　Cornelian　law　until　such　time　as　he　entered　the　city。　I　don't　know　what　your　several　connexions　write　to　you　on　the　subject：　I　understand　that　opinion　varies。　There　are　some　who　think　that　you　can　legally　refuse　to　quit　your　province；　because　your　successor　is　named　without　a　curiatian　law：　some　also　hold　that；　even　if　you　do　quit　it；　you　may　leave　some　one　behind　you　to　conduct　its　government。　For　myself；　I　do　not　feel　so　certain　about　the　point　of　lawalthough　there　is　not　much　doubt　even　about　thatas　I　do　of　this；　that　it　is　for　your　greatest　honour；　dignity；　and　independence；　which　I　know　you　always　value　above　everything；　to　hand　over　your　province　to　a　successor　without　any　delay；　especially　as　you　cannot　thwart　his　greediness　without　rousing　suspicion　of　your　own。　I　regard　my　duty　as　twofoldto　let　you　know　what　I　think；　and　to　defend　what　you　have　done。

PS。I　had　written　the　above　when　I　received　your　letter　about　the　publicani；　to　whom　I　could　not　but　admire　the　justice　of　your　conduct。　I　could　have　wished　that　you　had　been　able　by　sonic　lucky　chance　to　avoid　running　counter　to　the　interests　and　wishes　of　that　order；　whose　honour　you　have　always　promoted。　For　my　part；　I　shall　not　cease　to　defend　your　decrees：　but　you　know　the　ways　of　that　class　of　men；　you　are　aware　how　bitterly　hostile　they　were　to　the　famous　Q。　Scaevola　himself。　However；　I　advise　you　to　reconcile　that　order　to　yourself；　or　at　least　soften　its　feelings；　if　you　can　by　any　means　do　so。　Though　difficult；　I　think　it　is；　nevertheless；　not　beyond　the　reach　of　your　sagacity。

XVI

To　C。　TREBATIUS　TESTA　（IN　GAUL）

ROME　（NOVEMBER）

IN　the　〃Trojan　Horse；〃　just　at　the　end；　you　remember　the　words；　〃Too　late　they　learn　wisdom。〃　You；　however；　old　man；　were　wise　in　time。　Those　first　snappy　letters　of　yours　were　foolish　enough；　and　then！　I　don't　at　all　blame　you　for　not　being　over…curious　in　regard　to　Britain。　For　the　present；　however；　you　seem　to　be　in　winter　quarters　somewhat　short　of　warm　clothing；　and　therefore　not　caring　to　stir　out：

〃Not　here　and　there；　but　everywhere；　Be　wise　and　ware：　No　sharper　steel　can　warrior　bear。〃

If　I　had　been　by　way　of　dining　out；　I　would　not　have　failed　your　friend　Cn。　Octavius；　to　whom；　however；　I　did　remark　upon　his　repeated　invitations；　〃Pray；　who　are　you？〃　But；　by　Hercules；　joking　apart；　be　is　a　pretty　fellow：　I　could　have　wished　you　had　taken　him　with　you！　Let　me　know　for　certain　what　you　are　doing　and　whether　you　intend　coming　to　Italy　at　all　this　winter。　Balbus　has　assured　me　that　you　will　be　rich。　Whether　he　speaks　after　the　simple　Roman　fashion；　meaning　that　you　will　be　well　supplied　with　money；　or　according　to　the　Stoic　dictum；　that　〃all　are　rich　who　can　enjoy　the　sky　and　the　earth；〃　I　shall　know　hereafter。　Those　who　come　from　your　part　accuse　you　of　pride；　because　they　say　you　won't　answer　men　who　put　questions　to　you。　However；　there　is　one　thing　that　will　please　you：　they　all　agree　in　saying　that　there　is　no　better　lawyer　than　you　at　Samarobriva！

XVII　

To　ATTICUS　（AT　ROME）

MINTURNAE；　MAY

YES；　I　saw　well　enough　what　your　feelings　were　as　I　parted　from　you；　what　mine　were　I　am　my　own　witness。　This　makes　it　all　the　mote　incumbent　on　you　to　prevent　an　additional　decree　being　passed；　so　that　this　mutual　regret　of　ours　may　not　last　more　than　a　year。　As　to　Annius　Saturninus；　your　measures　are　excellent。　As　to　the　guarantee；　pray；　during　your　stay　at　Rome；　give　it　yourself。　You　will　find　several　guarantees　on　purchase；　such　as　those　of　the　estates　of　Memmius；　or　rather　of　Attilius。　As　to　Oppius；　that　is　exactly　what　I　wished；　and　especially　your　having　engaged　to　pay　him　the　8oo　sestertia　（about　6；400　pounds）；　which　I　am　determined　shall　be　paid　in　any　case；　even　if　I　have　to　borrow　to　do　so；　rather　than　wait　for　the　last　day　of　getting　in　my　own　debts。

I　now　come　to　that　last　line　of　your　letter　written　crossways；　in　which　you　give　me　a　word　of　caution　about　your　sister。　The　facts　of　the　matter　are　these。　On　arriving　at　my　place　at　Arpinum；　my　brother　came　to　see　me；　and　our　first　subject　of　conversation　was　yourself；　and　we　discussed　it　at　great　length。　After　this　I　brought　the　conversation　round　to　what　you　and　I　had　discussed　at　Tusculum；　on　the　subject　of　your　sister。　I　never　saw　anything　so　gentle　and　placable　as　my　brother　was　on　that　occasion　in　regard　to　your　sister：　so　much　so；　indeed；　that　if　there　had　been　any　cause　of　quarrel　on　the　score　of　expense；　it　was　not　apparent。　So　much　for　that　day。　Next　day　we　started　from　Arpinum。　A　country　festival　caused　Quintus　to　stop　at　Arcanum；　I　stopped　at　Aquinum；　but　we　lunched　at　Arcanum。　You　know　his　property　there。　When　we　got　there　Quintus　said；　in　the　kindest　manner；　〃Pomponia；　do　you　ask　the　ladies　in；　I　will　invite　the　men。〃　Nothing；　as　I　thought；　could　be　more　courteous；　and　that；　too；　not　only　in　the　actual　words；　but　also　in　his　intention　and　the　expression　of　face。　But　she；　in　the　hearing　of　us　all；　exclaime