B.C. 45, ÆT. 61 that he had to be kept.[1] But I didn't quite "tear his cloak"[2] in my efforts to keep him (for I remember that expression of yours), and they were a large party and I was not prepared. How did that help me? Soon after came Gaius Capito with Titus Carrinas. I hardly laid a finger on their cloaks; yet they stopped, and very à propos (though by chance) Capito fell to talking about the enlargement of the city: the Tiber is to be diverted, starting from the Milvian bridge along the Vatican Hills: the Campus Martius is to be covered with buildings; while the Vatican plain is to become a kind of new Campus Martius. "What do you say?" said I, "why, I was going to the auction, to secure Scapula's pleasure-grounds if I could safely do so." "Don't do anything of the sort," said he, "for the law will be carried.[3] Cæsar wishes it."[4] I didn't betray any annoyance at the information, but I am annoyed at the scheme. What do you say to it? But I needn't ask: you know what a quidnunc Capito is, always finding some mare's nest: he is as bad as Camillus.[5] So let me know about the 15th:[6] for it is that business which is bringing me to Rome: I had combined some other pieces of business with it, which, however, I shall be easily able to do two or three days later. However, I don't want you to be tired out with travelling: I even excuse Dionysius. As to what you say in your letter about Brutus, I have left him quite free to do as he likes as far as I am concerned: for I wrote yesterday to tell him that I had no occasion for his assistance on the 15th.
- ↑ I.e., to dinner.
- ↑ Both German and French have equivalent expressions; but I do not know of any in English. I agree with Dr. Reid in referring this proverb to a remark of Atticus which Cicero remembered.
- ↑ This scheme was never carried out, though both Dio (43, 58) and Aulus Gellius (13, 14) say that Cæsar did enlarge the pomærium.
- ↑ The horti Scapulæ which Cicero wanted to buy seem to be included in the new district that Cæsar meant to make into a Campus Martius, and so Cicero would have been obliged to surrender them, probably at a loss. See p. 296.
- ↑ C. Furius Camillus. He was an authority on property law (vol. ii., p. 237).
- ↑ The day of the auction of Scapula's horti.
