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。 I wonder that Oppius has anything to do with Publius for I advised against it。 Farther on in your letter you say that I am going to be made legatus to Pompey on the 13th of September： I have heard nothing about it； and I wrote to Caesar to tell him that neither Vibullius nor Oppius had delivered his message to Pompey about my remaining at home。 Why； I know not。 However； it was I who restrained Oppius from doing so； because it was Vibullius who should take the leading part in that matter： for with him Caesar had communicated personally； with Oppius only by letter。 I indeed can have no 〃second thoughts〃 in matters connected with Caesar。 He comes next after you and our children in my regard； and not much after。 I think I act in this with deliberate judgment； for I have by this time good cause for it； yet warm personal feeling no doubt does influence me also。
Just as I had written these last wordswhich are by my own handyour boy came in to dine with me； as Pomponia was dining out。 He gave me your letter to read； which he had received shortly beforea truly Aristophanic mixture of jest and earnest； with which I was greatly charmed。 He gave me also your second letter； in which you bid him cling to my side as a mentor。 How delighted he was with those letters！ And so was I。 Nothing could be more attractive than that boy； nothing more affectionate to me ！This； to explain its being in another handwriting； I dictated to Tiro while at dinner。
Your letter gratified Annalis very much； as shewing that you took an active interest in his concerns； and yet assisted him with exceedingly candid advice。 Publius Servilius the elder； from a letter which he said he had received from Caesar； declares himself highly obliged to you for having spoken with the greatest kindness and earnestness of his devotion to Caesar。 After my return to Rome from Arpinum I was told that Hippodamus had started to join you。 I cannot say that I was surprised at his having acted so discourteously as to start to join you without a letter from me： I only say that； that I was annoyed。 For I had long resolved； from an expression in your letter； that if I had anything I wished conveyed to you with more than usual care； I should give it to him： for； in truth； into a letter like this； which I send you in an ordinary way； I usually put nothing that； if it fell into certain hands； might be a source of annoyance。 I reserve myself for Minucius and Salvius and Labeo。 Labeo will either be starting late or will stay here altogether。 Hippodamus did not even ask me whether he could do anything for me。 T。 Penarius sends me a kind letter about you： says that he is exceedingly charmed with your literary pursuits； conversation； and above all by your dinners。 He was always a favourite of mine； and I see a good deal of his brother。 Wherefore continue； as you have begun； to admit the young man to your intimacy。
From the fact of this letter having been in hand during many days； owing to the delay of the letter…carriers； I have jotted down in it many various things at odd times； as； for instance； the following： Titus Anicius has mentioned to me more than once that he would not hesitate to buy a suburban property for you； if he found one。 In these remarks of his I find two things surprising： first； that when you write to him about buying a suburban property； you not only don't write to me to that effect； but write even in a contrary sense； and； secondly； that in writing to him you totally forget his letters which you shewed me at Tusculum； and as totally the rule of Epicharmus； 〃Notice how he has treated another〃： in fact； that you have quite forgotten； as I think； the lesson conveyed by the expression of his face； his conversation； and his spirit。 But this is your concern。 As to a suburban property； be sure to let me know your wishes； and at the same time take care that that fellow doesn't get you into trouble。 What else have I to say？ Anything？ Yes； there is this： Gabinius entered the city by night on the 27th of September； and today； at two o clock； when he ought to have appeared on his trial for l？se niajest？； in accordance with the edict of C。 Alflus； he was all but crushed to the earth by a great and unanimous demonstration of the popular hatred。 Nothing could exceed his humiliating position。 However； Piso comes next to him。 So I think of introducing a marvellous episode into my second bookApollo declaring in the council of the gods what sort of return that of the two commanders was to be； one of whom had lost； and the other sold his army。 From Britain I have a letter of Qesar's dated the 1st of September； which reached me on the 27th； satisfactory enough as far as the British expedition is concerned； in which； to prevent my wondering at not getting one from you； he tells me that you were not with him when he reached the coast。 To that letter I made no reply； not even a formal congratulation； on account of his mourning。 Many； many wishes； dear brother； for your health。
XV
To P。 LENTTJLUS SPINTHER （IN CILICIA）
ROME （OCTOBER）
M。 CICERO desires his warmest regards to P。 Lentulus； imperator。 Your letter was very gratifying to me； from which I gathered that you fully appreciated my devotion to you： for why use the word kindness； when even the word 〃devotion〃 itself； with all its solemn and holy associations； seems too weak to express my obligations to you？ As for your saying that my services to you are gratefully accepted； it is you who in your overflowing affection make things； which cannot be omitted without criminal negligence； appear deserving of even gratitude。 However； my feelings towards you would have been much more fully known and conspicuous； if； during all this time that we have been separated； we had been together； and together at Rome。 For precisely in what you declare your intention of doingwhat no one is more capable of doing； and what I confidently look forward to from youthat is to say； in speaking in the senate； and in every department of public life and political activity； we should together have been in a very strong position （what my feelings and position are in regard to politics I will explain shortly； and will answer the questions you ask）； and at any rate I should have found in you a supporter； at once most warmly attached and endowed with supreme wisdom； while in me you would have found an adviser； perhaps not the most unskilful in the world； and at least both faithful and devoted to your interests。 However； for your own sake； of course； I rejoice； as I am bound to do； that you have been greeted with the title of imperator； and are holding your province and victorious army after a successful campaign。 But certainly； if you had been here； you would have enjoyed to a fuller extent and more directly the benefit of the services 1which I am bound to render you。 Moreover； in taking vengeance on those whom you know in some cases to be your enemies； because you championed the cause of my recall； in others to be jealous of the splendid position and renown which that measure brought you； I should have done you yeoman's service as your associate。 However； that perpetual enemy of his own friends； who； in spite of having been honoured with the highest compliments on