style what I expect that the persons addressed only, in another what I expect that many, will read. In the next place, I praised his genius in higher terms than you think could have been done with sincerity. To begin with, it was because that was my real opinion. He had a subtle and active mind: he adhered to a certain definite style, in which, though his judgment was at fault—generally his strong point—he yet attained his aim. He had great and uncommon learning: force he had not. It was in that direction, therefore, that I tried to rouse his energies. Now, in stimulating and whetting a man's intellect nothing is more efficacious than to mingle praise with exhortation. That is my judgment on Calvus, and the motive of my letter: motive, in that I praised in order to stimulate him; judgment, in that I thought very highly of his ability.
It only remains to follow your journey with affectionate interest, to look forward to your return with hope, to cherish you while absent in memory, and to alleviate our regret by an interchange of letters. I should wish you often to recall your kindnesses and good services to me; for while you may, and I may not, forget them without positive crime, you will have reason, not only to think me an honest man, but also to believe that you are deeply loved by me.
CCCCXLIX (F XIII, 10)
B.C. 46. Coss., C. Iulius Cæsar III., M. Æmilius Lepidus. Dictator C. Iulius Cæsar III. Magister Equitum, M. Æmilius Lepidus. Cicero, having returned to Rome in the autumn of the previous year, spends this one in comparative peace, and in something like his old manner of life. Any uneasiness he may still have felt as to his political position ceased after Cæsar's victory over the Pompeians at Thapsus in April. He, however, seems to have lived in retirement, and to have devoted himself to literary work, producing two oratorical treatises—Partitiones Oratoriæ, Orator ad M. Brutum. After Cæsar's return to Rome (26 July) he twice came out of his retirement: once to deliver a speech (pro Marcello) in the senate thanking Cæsar for recalling M. Claudius Marcellus, the consul of B.C. 51, and again to defend Q. Ligarius, accused of vis, for his conduct in Africa in B.C. 49. His discontent with the "tyranny" is only cautiously expressed in his letters, but his panegyric on Cato called out a reply from Cæsar himself. Some
