to me. For they increased my misery, and, if they had fallen into anyone else's hands, they would not have inflicted any fresh harm upon me. For what can be more universally notorious than his rage against me and the sort of letter he writes?—a kind of letter which even Cæsar appears to have sent to his friends at Rome, not because he was shocked at his unprincipled conduct, but, I believe, to make my miserable position better known. You say that you are afraid that they will do Quintus harm, and that you are trying to remedy the mischief. Why! Cæsar did not even wait to be asked about him. I don't mind that; but what I mind more is that the favours granted to myself have no stability.
Sulla, I believe, will be here to-morrow with Messalla. They are hurrying to Cæsar after being driven away by the soldiers, who say that they will go nowhere until they have got what was promised them.[1] Therefore he will come here, though slowly: for, though he is keeping on the move, he devotes many days to the several towns.[2] Moreover, Pharnaces, whatever course he takes, must cause him delay.[3] What, then, do you think I should do? For by this time I am scarcely strong enough physically to endure the unhealthiness of this climate, because it adds bodily suffering to mental pain. Should I commission these two who are going to him, to make my excuses, and myself go nearer Rome? I beg you to consider it, and as hitherto, in spite of frequent requests, you have declined to do, aid me by your advice. I know that it is a difficult question; but it is a choice of evils, and it is of great importance to me that I should see you. If that could be brought about, I should certainly make some advance. As to the will,[4] as you say, pray attend to it.
- ↑ See p. 51. Messalla is M. Valerius Messalla, consul B.C. 53, afterwards condemned for sodalitium (vol. ii., pp. 22, 40). He had been recalled, it seems, with others by Antony, under Cæsar's orders.
- ↑ In oppidum, "town by town," may possibly be justified by analogy with such a phrase as in diem vivere: but it is certainly very difficult. Schmidt writes in oppido uno.
- ↑ As a matter of fact, while Cicero wrote this, Cæsar had already overcome all difficulties in Asia with marvellous rapidity. See p. 51.
- ↑ Terentia's will. See pp. 38, 51.
