this scheme, like that of building a porticus for the Academy at Athens, went gradually off, probably from considerations as to means: for the necessity of repaying Terentia's dowry made him seriously embarrassed at this time.]
DXLIV (A XII, 13)
TO ATTICUS (AT ROME)
Astura (7 March[1])
I am disturbed about Attica, though I agree with Craterus.[2]
Brutus's letter, full of wisdom and affection as it is, has yet
cost me many tears. This solitude is less painful to me
than the crowds of Rome. The only person I miss is yourself;
but although I find no more difficulty in going on with
my literary work than if I were at home, yet that passionate
unrest haunts and never quits me, not, on my word, that I
encourage it, I rather fight against it: still it is there. As
to what you say about Appuleius, I don't think that there is
any need for your exerting yourself, nor for applying to Balbus
and Oppius, to whom he undertook to make things
right, and even sent me a message to say that he would
not be troublesome to me in any way. But see that my excuse of
ill-health for each separate day is put in. Lænas
undertook this. Add C. Septimius and L. Statilius. In
fact, no one, whomsoever you ask, will refuse to make the
affidavit. But if there is any difficulty, I will come and
make a sworn deposition myself of chronic ill-health.[3] For*
- ↑ The dates of this and the following letters to Atticus are deduced from DLX and DLXI, which give us the first indication—23rd of March. As Cicero says he will write every day, supposing no letter to be missing, we can feel fairly certain of their correctness.
- ↑ A doctor mentioned by Horace, Sat. ii. 3, 161.
- ↑ The augurs met regularly on the Nones of each month. The only admissible excuse for non-attendance (besides absence from Rome on official duty) was ill-health. See de Am. § 8, where Cicero represents his own case in the person of Lælius. There is nothing to shew whether M. Appuleius was the senior augur, to whom the excuse was to be given,
