letters of cicero-第9章
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mires are only worthy of contempt； and； though your health would have allowed of it； you yet were unwilling to come； then I rejoice at both factsthat you were free from bodily pain； and that you had the sound sense to disdain what others causelessly admire。 Only I hope that some fruit of your leisure may be forthcoming； a leisure； indeed； which you had a splendid opportunity of enjoying to the full； seeing that you were left almost alone in your lovely country。 For I doubt not that in that study of yours； from which you have opened a window into the Stabian waters of the bay； and obtained a view of Misenum； you have spent the morning hours of those days in light reading； while those who left you there were watching the ordinary farces half asleep。 The remaining parts of the day； too； you spent in the pleasures which you had yourself arranged to suit your own taste； while we had to endure whatever had met with the approval of Spurius Maecius。 On the whole； if you care to know； the games were most splendid； but not to your taste。 I judge from my own。 For； to begin with； as a special honour to the occasion； those actors had come back to the stage who； I thought； had left it for their own。 Indeed； your favourite； my friend Aesop； was in such a state that no one could say a word against his retiring from the profession。 On beginning to recite the oath his voice failed him at the words 〃If I knowingly deceive。〃 Why should I go on with the story？ You know all about the rest of the games； which hadn't even that amount of charm which games on a moderate scale generally have： for the spectacle was so elaborate as to leave no room for cheerful enjoyment； and I think you need feel no regret at having missed it。 For what is the pleasure of a train of six hundred mules in the 〃Clytemnestra；〃 or three thousand bowls in the 〃Trojan Horse；〃 or gay…colored armour of infantry and cavalry in some battle？ These things roused the admiration of the vulgar； to you they would have brought no delight。 But if during those days you listened to your reader Protogenes； so long at least as he read anything rather than my speeches； surely you had far greater pleasure than any one of us。 For I don't suppose you wanted to see Greek or Oscan plays； especially as you can see Oscan farces in your senate…house over there； while you are so far from liking Greeks； that you generally won't even go along the Greek road to your villa Why； again； should I suppose you to care about missing the athletes； since you disdained the gladiators？ in which even Pompey himself confesses that he lost his trouble and his pains。 There remain the two wild…beast hunts； lasting five days； magnificentnobody denies itand yet； what pleasure can it be to a man of refinement； when either a weak man is torn by an extremely powerful animal； or a splendid animal is transfixed by a hunting spear？ Things which； after all； if worth seeing； you have often seen before； nor did I； who was present at the games； see anything the least new。 The last day was that of the elephants； on which there was a great deal of astonishment on the part of the vulgar crowd； but no pleasure whatever。 Nay； there was even a certain feeling of compassion aroused by it； and a kitid of belief created that that animal has soniethirig in common with mankind。 However； for my part； during this day； while the theatrical exhibitions were on； lest by chance you should think me too blessed； I almost split my lungs in defending your friend Caninius Gallus。 But if the people were as indulgent to me as they were to Aesop； I would； by heaven； have been glad to abandon my profession and live with you and others like us。 The fact is I was tired of it before； even when both age and ambition stirred me on； and when I could also decline any defence that I didn't like； but now； with things in the state that they are； there is no life worth having。 For； on the one hand； I expect no profit of my labor； and； on the other； I am sometimes forced to defend men who have been no friends to me； at the request of those to whom I am under obligations。 Accordingly； I am on the look…out for every excuse for at last managing my life according to my own taste； and I loudly applaud and vehemently approve both you and your retired plan of life： and as to your infrequent appearances among us； I am the more resigned to that because； were you in Rome； I should be prevented from enjoying the charm of your society； and so would you of mine； if I have any； by the overpowering nature of my engagements； from which； if I get any relieffor entire release I don't expectI will give even you； who have been studying nothing else for many years； some hints as to what it is to live a life of cultivated enjoyment。 Only be careful to nurse your weak health and to continue your present care of it； so that you may be able to visit my country houses and make excursions with me in my litter。 I have written you a longer letter than usual； from superabundance； not of leisure； but of affection； because； if you remember； you asked me in one of your letters to write you something to prevent you feeling sorry at having missed the games。 And if I have succeeded in that； I am glad： if not； I yet console myself with this reflexion； that in future you will both come to the games and come to see me； and will not leave your hope of enjoyment dependent on my letters。
XIII
To His BROTHER QUINTUS （IN THE COUNTRY）
ROME （FEBRUARY）
YOUR note by its strong language has drawn out this letter。 For as to what actually occurred on the day of your start； it supplied me with absoutely no subject for writing。 But as when we are together we are never at a loss for something to say； so ought our letters at times to digress into loose chat。 Well then； to begin； the liberty of the Tenedians has received short shrift； no one speaking for them except myself； Bibulus； Calidius； and Favonius。 A complimentary reference to you was made by the legates from Magnesia and Sipylum； they saying that you were the man who alone had resisted the demand of L。 Sestius Pansa。 On the remaining days of this business in the senate； if anything occurs which you ought to know； or even if there is nothing； I will write you something every day。 On the 12th I will not fail you or Pomponius。 The poems of Lucretius are as you say with many flashes of genius； yet very technical。 But when you return； 。 。 。 if you succeed in reading the Empedoclea of Sallustius； I shall regard you as a hero； yet scarcely human。
XLV
To His BROTHER QUINTUS （IN BRITAIN）
ARPINUM AND ROME； 28 SEPTEMBER
AFTER extraordinary hot weatherI never remember greater heatI have refreshed myself at Arpinum； and enjoyed the extreme loveliness of the river during the days of the games； having left my tribesmen under the charge of Philotimus。 I was at Arcanum on the ioth of September。 There I found Mescidius and Philoxenus； and saw the water； for which they were making a course not far from your villa； running quite nicely； especially considering the extreme drought； and they said they were going to collect it in much greater abundance。 Everything is right with Herus。 In your Manilian property I came across Diphilus outdoing himself in dilatoriness。 Still； he had nothing left to construct； except baths； and a promenade； and an aviary。 I liked that villa very much； because its paved colonnade gives it an air of very great dignity。 I never appreciated this till now that the colonnade itself has been all laid open； and the columns have been polished。 It all dependsand this I will look toupon the stuccoing being prettily done。 The pavements seemed to be being well laid。 Certain of the ceilings I did not like； and ordered them to be changed。 As to the place in which they say that you write word that a small entrance hall is to be builtnamely； in the colonnadeI liked it better as it is。 For 1 did not think there was space sufficient for an entrance hall； nor is it usual to have one； except in those buildings which have a larger court； nor could it have bedrooms and apartments of that kind attached to it。 As it is； from the very beauty of its arched roof； it will serve as an admirable summer room。 However； if you think differently； write back word as soon as possi
