B.C. 45, ÆT. 61 which do not please Cæsar himself. In truth, this is always among the results of civil wars—that it is not only what the victor wishes that is done: concessions have also to be made to those by whose aid the victory was won. For my part, I have become so hardened that at our friend Cæsar's games I saw T. Plancus[1] and listened to the poems of Laberius and Publilius[2] with the utmost sangfroid. There is nothing I feel the lack of so much as of some one with whom to laugh at these things in a confidential and philosophic spirit. You will be the man, if you will only come as soon as possible. That you should do so I think is important to yourself as well as to me.
DCLXVIII (F XII, 19)
TO Q. CORNIFICIUS (IN SYRIA)
Rome (? December)
I read your letter with very great pleasure. The most
gratifying thing in it was to learn that mine had reached your
hands; for I felt no doubt that you would find pleasure in
reading it. I was afraid it would not reach you. I learn
from your letter that the war now raging in Syria and
the province of Syria itself have been put in your hands
by Cæsar. I hope it may turn out to your honour and
success. I feel confident that it will do so, for I have full
reliance both on your activity and prudence. But what you
- ↑ T. Munatius Plancus Bursa, tribune in B.C. 52. An adherent of Publius Clodius, and principally responsible for the burning of the Curia when Clodius's body was burnt. He had been condemed for vis, and seeing him at the games Cicero knew that he had been recalled by Cæsar. See vol. i., p. 365.
- ↑ Decimus Laberius and Publilius Syrus were writers of mimes (vol. i., p. 345; ad Att. xiv. 2). It is said that Cæsar, who employed them in these games, taunted Laberius with being surpassed by the improvisations of the foreigner Syrus. A number of sententiæ or sententious verses are extant under the name of Syrus, and a fragment of his on luxury is preserved by Petronius Arbiter, § 55. Laberius died at Puteoli in B.C. 43. They doubtless on this occasion introduced flatteries of Cæsar.
