letters of cicero-第19章
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！
cture to a man in business； which I refused to our friend Torquatus in the case of your prot？g？ Lamius； and to Pompey himself in the case of Sext。 Statius； without offending either of them； if； finally； he is annoyed at my recall of the cavalry； I shall indeed feel some distress at his being angry with me； but much greater distress at finding him not to be the man that I had thought him。 Thus much Scaptius will ownthat he had the opportunity in my court of taking away with him the whole sum allowed by my edict。 I will add a fact which I fear you may not approve。 The interest ought to have ceased to run （I mean the interest allowed by my edict）； but I induced the Salasninians to say nothing about that。 They gave in to me； it is true； but what will become of them if Paullus comes here？ However； I have granted all this in favour of Brutus； who writes very kind letters to you about me； but to me myself； even when he has a favour to ask； writes usually in a tone of hauteur； arrogance； and offensive superiority。 You； however； I hope will write to him on this business； in order that I may know how he takes what I have done。 For you will tell me。 I have； it is true； written you a full and careful account in a former letter； but I wished you clearly to understand that I had not forgotten what you had said to me in one of your letters： that if I brought home from this province nothing else except his goodwill； I should have done enough。 By all means； since you will have it so： but I assume my dealings with him to be without breach of duty on my part。 Well； then； by my decree the payment of the money to Statius is good at law： whether that is just you must judge for yourselfI will not appeal even to Cato。 But don't think that I have cast your exhortations to the winds： they have sunk deeply into my mind。 With tears in your eyes you urged me to be careful of my reputation。 Have I ever got a letter from you without the same subject being mentioned？ So； then； let who will be angry； I will endure it： 〃for the right is on my side；〃 especially as I have given six books as bail； so to speak； for my good conduct。 I am very glad you like them； though in one pointabout Cn。 Flavius； son of Anniusyou question my history。 He； it is true； did not live before the decemvirs； for he was curule aedile； an office created many years after the decemvirs。 What good did he do； then； by publishing the Fasti？ It is supposed that the tablet containing them had been kept concealed up to a certain date； in order that information as to days for doing business might have to be sought from a small coterie。 And indeed several of our authorities relate that a scribe named Cn。 Flavius published the Fasti and composed forms of pleadingso don't imagine that I； or rather Africanus （for he is the spokesman）； invented the fact。 So you noticed the remark about the 〃action of an actor；〃 did you？ You suspect a malicious meaning： I wrote in all simplicity。
You say that Philotimus told you about my having been saluted imperator。 But I feel sure that； as you are now in Epirus； you have received my own letters on the whole subject； one from Pindenissus after its capture； another from Laodicea； both delivered to your own messengers。 On these events； for fear of accidents at sea； I sent a public despatch to Rome in duplicate by two different letter…carriers。
As to my Tullia； I agree with you； and I have written to her and to Terentia giving my consent。 For you have already said in a previous letter to me； 〃and I could wish that you had returned to your old set。〃 There was no occasion to alter the letter you sent by Memnius： for I much prefer to accept this man from Pontidia； than the other from Servilia。 Wherefore take our friend Saufeius into council。 He was always fond of me； and now I suppose all the more so as he is bound to have accepted Appius's affection for me with the rest of the property he has inherited。 Appius often showed how much he valued me； and especially in the trial of Bursa。 Indeed you will have relieved me of a serious anxiety。
I don't like Furnius's proviso。 For； in fact； there is no state of things that alarms me except just that of which he makes the only exception。 But I should have written at great length to you on this subject if you had been at Rome。 I don't wonder that you rest all your hope of peace on Ponipey： I believe that is the truth； and in my opinion you must strike out your word 〃 insincerity。〃 If my arrangement of topics is somewhat random； blame yourself： for I am following your own haphazard order。
My son and nephew are very fond of each other。 They take their lessons and their exercise together； but as Isocrates said of Ephorus and Theopompus； the one wants the rein； the other the spur。 I intend giving Quintus the toga virilis on the Liberalia。 For his father commissioned me to do so。 And I shall observe th？ day without taking intercalation into account。 I am very fond of Dionysius： the boys； however； say that he gets into mad passions。 But after all there could not be a man of greater learning； purer character； or more attached to you and me。 The praises you hear of Thermus and Silius are thoroughly deserved： they conduct themselves in the most honourable manner。 You may say the same of M。 Nonius； Bibulus； and myself； if you like。 I only wish Scrofa had had an opportunity to do the same： for he is an excellent fellow。 The rest don't do much honour to Cato's policy。 Many thanks for commending my case to Hortensius。 As for Amianus； Dionysius thinks there is no hope。 I haven't found a trace of Terentius。 Maeragenes has certainly been killed。 I made a progress through his district； in which there was not a single living thing left。 I didn't know about this； when I spoke to your man Democritus。 I have ordered the service of Rhosian ware。 But； hallo！ what are you thinking of？ You generally serve us up a dinner of herbs on fern…pattern plates； and the most sparkling of baskets： what am I to expect you to give on porcelain？ I have ordered a horn for Phemius： one will be sure to turn up； I only hope he may play something worthy of it。
There is a threat of a Parthian war。 Cassius's despatch was empty brag： that of Bibulus had not arrived： when that is read I think the senate will at length be roused。 I am myself in serious anxiety。 If； as I hope； my government is not prolonged； I have only June and July to fear。 May it be so！ Bibulus will keep them in check for two months。 What will happen to the man I leave in charge； especially if it is my brother？ Or； again； what will happen to me； if I don't leave my province so soon？ It is a great nuisance。 However； I have agreed with Deiotarus that he should join my camp in full force。 He has thirty cohorts of four hundred men apiece； armed in the Roman fashion； and two thousand cavalry。 That will be sufficient to hold out till the arrival of Pompey； who in a letter he writes to me indicates that the business will be put in his hands。 The Parthians are wintering in a Roman province。 Orodes is expected in person。 In short； it is a serious matter。 As to Bibulus's edict there is nothing new； except the proviso of which you said in your letter； 〃that it reflected with excessive severity on our order。〃 I； however； have a proviso in my own edict of equivalent force； but less openly expressed （derived from the Asiatic edict of Q。 Mucius； son of Publius）〃 provided that the agreement made is not such as cannot hold good in equity。〃 I have followed Scaevola in many points； among others in thiswhich the Greeks regard as a charta of liberty。that Greeks are to decide controversies between each other according to their own laws。 But my edict was shortened by my method of making a division； as I thought it well to publish it under two heads： the first； exclusive。Iy applicable to a province； concerned borough accounts； debt； rate of interest； contracts； all regulations also referring to the publicani： the second； including what cannot conveniently be transacted without an edict； related to inheritances； ownership and sale； appointment of receivers； all which are by custom brought into court and settled in accordance with the edict： a third division； embracing the remaining departments of judicial business； I left unwritte
