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o you was dated earlier than that to Caesar。 Oppius at times cannot help this： the reason is that； having settled to send letter…carriers； and having received a letter from me； he is hindered by something turning up； and obliged to despatch them later than he had intended； and I don't take the trouble to have the day altered on a letter which I have once handed to him。 You write about Caesar's extreme affection for us。 This affection you must on your part keep warm； and I for mine will endeavour to increase it by every means in my power。 About Pompey； I am carefully acting； and shall continue to act； as you advise。 That my permission to you to stay longer is a welcome one； though I grieve at your absence and miss you exceedingly； 1 am yet partly glad。 What you can be thinking of in sending for such people as Hippodamus and some others； I do not understand。 There is not one of those fellows that won't expect a present from you equal to a suburban estate。 However； there is no reason for your classing my friend Trebatius with them。 I sent him to Caesar； and Caesar has done all I expected。 If he has not done quite what he expected himself； I am not bound to make it up to him； and I in like manner free and absolve you from all claims on his part。 Your remark； that you are a greater favourite with Caesar every day； is a source of undying satisfaction to me。 As to Balbus； who； as you say； promotes that state of things； he is the apple of my eye。 I am indeed glad that you and my friend Trebonius like each other。 As to what you say about the military tribuneship； I； indeed； asked for it definitely for Curtius； and Caeesar wrote back definitely to say that there was one at Curtius's service； and chided me for my modesty in making the request。 If I have asked one for anyone elseas I told Oppius to write and tell CaesarI shall not be at all annoyed by a refusal； since those who pester me for letters are annoyed at a refusal from me。 I like Curtius； as I have told him； not only because you asked me to do so； but from the character you gave of him； for from your letter I have gathered the zeal he shewed for my restoration。 As for the British expedition； I conclude from your letter that we have no occasion either for fear or exultation。 As to public affairs； about which you wish Tiro to write to you； I have written to you hitherto somewhat more carelessly than usual； because I knew that all events； small or great； were reported to Caesar。 I have now answered your longest letter。
Now hear what I have to say to your small one。 The first point is about Clodius's letter to Caesar。 In that matter I approve of Caesar's policy； in not having given way to your request so far as to write a single word to that Fury。 The next thing is about the speech of Calventius 〃Marius。〃 I am surprised at your saying that you think I ought to answer it； particularly as； while no one is likely to read that speech； unless I write an answer to it； every schoolboy learns mine against him as an exercise。 My books； all of which you are expecting； I have begun； but I cannot finish them for some days yet。 The speeches for Scaurus and Plancius which you clamour for I have finished。 The poem to Caesar； which I had begun； I have cut short。 I will write what you ask me for； since your poetic springs are running dry； as soon as I have time。
Now for the third letter。 It is very pleasant and welcome news to hear from you that Balbus is soon coming to Rome； and so well accompanied！ and will stay with me continuously till the 15th of May。 As to your exhorting me in the same letter； as in many previous ones； to ambition and labour； I shall； of course； do as you say： but when am I to enjoy any real life？
Your fourth letter reached me on the 13th of September； dated on the ioth of August from Britain。 In it there was nothing new except about your Erigona； and if I get that from Oppius I will write and tell you what I think of it。 I have no doubt I shall like it。 Oh yes！ I had almost forgotten to remark as to the man who； you say in your letter； had written to Qesar about the applause given to Milo I am not unwilling that Caesar should think that it was as warm as possible。 And in point of fact it was so； and yet that applause； which is given to him； seems in a certain sense to be given to me。
I have also received a very old letter； but which was late in coming into my hands； in which you remind me about the temple of Tellus and the colonnade of Catulus。 Both of these matters are being actively carried out。 At the temple of Tellus I have even got your statue placed。 So； again； as to your reminder about a suburban villa and gardens； I was never very keen for one； and now my town house has all the charm of such a pleasure…ground。 On my arrival in Rome on the 18th of September I found the roof on your house finished： the part over the sitting…rooms； which you did not wish to have many gables； now slopes gracefully towards the roof of the lower colonnade。 Our boy； in my absence； did not cease working with his rhetoric master。 You have no reason for being anxious about his education； for you know his ability； and I see his application。 Everything else I take it upon myself to guarantee； with full consciousness that I am bound to make it good。
As yet there are three parties prosecuting Gabinius： first； L。 Lentulus； son of the flainen； who has entered a prosecution for l？se majest？； secondly； Tib。 Nero with good names at the back of his indictment； thirdly； C。 Memmius the tribune in conjunction with L。 Capito。 He came to the walls of the city on the 19th of September； undignified and neglected to the last degree。 But in the present state of the law courts I do not venture to be confident of anything。 As Cato is unwell； he has not yet been formally indicted for extortion。 Pompey is trying hard to persuade me to be reconciled to him； but as yet he has not yet succeeded at all； nor； if I retain a shred of liberty； will he succeed。 I am very anxious for a letter from you。 You say that you have been told that I was a party to the coalition of the consular candidatesit is a lie。 The compacts male in that coalition afterwards made public by Memmius； were of such a nature that no loyal man ought to have been a party to them； nor at the same time was it possible for me to be a party to a coalition from which Messalla was excluded； who is thoroughly satisfied with my conduct in every particular； as also； I think； is Memmius。 To Domitius himself I have rendered many services which he desired and asked of me。 I have put Scaurus under a heavy obligation by my defence of him。 It is as yet very uncertain both when the elections will be and who will be consuls。
Just as I was folding up this epistle letter…carriers arrived from you and Caesar （20th September） after a journey of twenty days。 How anxious I was！ How painfully I was affected by Caesar's most kind letter！ But the kinder it was； the more sorrow did his loss occasion me。 But to turn to your letter。 To begin with； I reiterate my approval of your staying on； especially as； according to your account； you have consulted Caesar on the subject。 I wonder that Oppius has anything to do with Publius for I advised against it。 Farther on in your