按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
at you did me such eminent service。
As to your request that I would send you any books I have written since your departure； there are sonic speeches； which I will give Menocritus； not so very many； so don't be afraid！ I have also written… for I am now rather withdrawing from oratory and returning to the gentler Muses； which now give me greater delight than any others； as they have done since my earliest youthwell； then； I have written in the Aristotelian style； at least that was my aim； three books in the form of a discussion in dialogue 〃On the Orator；〃 which； I think； well be of some service to your Lentulus。 For they differ a good deal from the current maxims； and embrace a discussion on the whole oratorical theory of the ancients； both that of Aristotle and Isocrates。 I have also written in verse three books 〃On my own Times；〃 which I should have sent you some time ago； if I had thought they ought to be publishedfor they are witnesses； and will he eternal witnesses； of your services to me arid of my affectionhut I refrained because I was afraid； not of those who might think themselves attacked； for I have been very sparing and gentle in that respect； but of my benefactors； of whom it were an endless task to mention the whole list。 Nevertheless； the books； such as they are； if I find anyone to whom I can safely commit them； I will take care to have conveyed to you： and as far as that part of my life and conduct is concerned； I submit it entirely to your judgment。 All that I shall succeed in accomplishing in literature or in learningmy old favourite relaxationsI shall with the utmost cheerfulness place before the bar of your criticism； for you have always had a fondness for such things。 As to what you say in your letter about your domestic affairs； and all you charge me to do； I am so attentive to them that I don't like being reminded； can scarcely bear； indeed； to be asked without a very painful feeling。 As to your saying； in regard to Quintus's business； that you could not do anything last summer； because you were prevented by illness from crossing to Cilicia； but that you will now do everything in your power to settle it； I may tell you that the fact of the matter is that； if he can annex this property； my brother thinks that he will owe to you the consolidation of this ancestral estate。 I should like you to write about all your affairs； and about the studies and training of your son Lentulus （whom I regard as mine also） as confidentially and as frequently as possible； and to believe that there never has been anyone either dearer or more congenial to another than you are to me； and that I will not only make you feel that to be the case； but will make all the world and posterity itself to the latest generation aware of it。
Appius used some time back to repeat in conversation； and afterwards said openly； even in the senate； that if he were allowed to carry a law in the cornitia curiata； he vould draw lots with his colleague for their provinces； but if no curiatian law were passed； he would make an arralgement with his colleague and succeed you： that a curiatian law was a proper thing for a consul； but was not a necessity： that since he was in possession of a province by a decree of the senate； he should have imperiuns in virtue of the Cornelian law until such time as he entered the city。 I don't know what your several connexions write to you on the subject： I understand that opinion varies。 There are some who think that you can legally refuse to quit your province； because your successor is named without a curiatian law： some also hold that； even if you do quit it； you may leave some one behind you to conduct its government。 For myself； I do not feel so certain about the point of lawalthough there is not much doubt even about thatas I do of this； that it is for your greatest honour； dignity； and independence； which I know you always value above everything； to hand over your province to a successor without any delay； especially as you cannot thwart his greediness without rousing suspicion of your own。 I regard my duty as twofoldto let you know what I think； and to defend what you have done。
PS。I had written the above when I received your letter about the publicani； to whom I could not but admire the justice of your conduct。 I could have wished that you had been able by sonic lucky chance to avoid running counter to the interests and wishes of that order； whose honour you have always promoted。 For my part； I shall not cease to defend your decrees： but you know the ways of that class of men； you are aware how bitterly hostile they were to the famous Q。 Scaevola himself。 However； I advise you to reconcile that order to yourself； or at least soften its feelings； if you can by any means do so。 Though difficult； I think it is； nevertheless； not beyond the reach of your sagacity。
XVI
To C。 TREBATIUS TESTA （IN GAUL）
ROME （NOVEMBER）
IN the 〃Trojan Horse；〃 just at the end； you remember the words； 〃Too late they learn wisdom。〃 You； however； old man； were wise in time。 Those first snappy letters of yours were foolish enough； and then！ I don't at all blame you for not being over…curious in regard to Britain。 For the present； however； you seem to be in winter quarters somewhat short of warm clothing； and therefore not caring to stir out：
〃Not here and there； but everywhere； Be wise and ware： No sharper steel can warrior bear。〃
If I had been by way of dining out； I would not have failed your friend Cn。 Octavius； to whom； however； I did remark upon his repeated invitations； 〃Pray； who are you？〃 But； by Hercules； joking apart； be is a pretty fellow： I could have wished you had taken him with you！ Let me know for certain what you are doing and whether you intend coming to Italy at all this winter。 Balbus has assured me that you will be rich。 Whether he speaks after the simple Roman fashion； meaning that you will be well supplied with money； or according to the Stoic dictum； that 〃all are rich who can enjoy the sky and the earth；〃 I shall know hereafter。 Those who come from your part accuse you of pride； because they say you won't answer men who put questions to you。 However； there is one thing that will please you： they all agree in saying that there is no better lawyer than you at Samarobriva！
XVII
To ATTICUS （AT ROME）
MINTURNAE； MAY
YES； I saw well enough what your feelings were as I parted from you； what mine were I am my own witness。 This makes it all the mote incumbent on you to prevent an additional decree being passed； so that this mutual regret of ours may not last more than a year。 As to Annius Saturninus； your measures are excellent。 As to the guarantee； pray； during your stay at Rome； give it yourself。 You will find several guarantees on purchase； such as those of the estates of Memmius； or rather of Attilius。 As to Oppius； that is exactly what I wished； and especially your having engaged to pay him the 8oo sestertia （about 6；400 pounds）； which I am determined shall be paid in any case； even if I have to borrow to do so； rather than wait for the last day of getting in my own debts。
I now come to that last line of your letter written crossways； in which you give me a word of caution about your