letters of cicero-第5部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


is　friends　the　latter。　The　consulars　led　by　Favonius　murmur：　I　hold　my　tongue；　the　more　so　that　the　pontifices　have　as　yet　given　no　answer　in　regard　to　my　house。　If　they　annul　the　consecration　I　shall　have　a　splendid　site。　The　consuls；　in　accordance　with　a　decree　of　the　senate；　will　value　the　cost　of　the　building　that　stood　upon　it；　but　if　the　pontifices　decide　otherwise；　they　will　pull　down　the　Clodian　building；　give　out　a　contract　in　their　own　name　（for　a　temple）；　and　value　to　me　the　cost　of　a　site　and　house。　So　our　affairs　are

〃For　happy　though　but　ill；　for　ill　not　worst。〃

In　regard　to　money　matters　I　am；　as　you　know；　much　embarrassed。　Besides；　there　are　certain　domestic　troubles；　which　I　do　not　intrust　to　writing。　My　brother　Quintus　I　love　as　he　deserves　for　his　eminent　qualities　of　loyalty；　virtue；　and　good　faith。　I　am　longing　to　see　you；　and　beg　you　to　hasten　your　return；　resolved　not　to　allow　me　to　be　without　the　benefit　of　your　advice。　I　am　on　the　threshold；　as　it　were；　of　a　second　life。　Already　certain　persons　who　defended　me　in　my　absence　begin　to　nurse　a　secret　grudge　at　me　now　that　I　am　here；　and　to　make　no　secret　of　their　jealousy。　I　want　you　very　much。

VIII

To　HIS　BROTHER　QUINTUS　（IN　SARDINIA）

ROME；　12　FEBRUARY

I　HAVE　already　told　you　the　earlier　proceedings；　now　let　me　describe　what　was　done　afterwards。　The　legations　were　postponed　from　the　1st　of　February　to　the　13th。　On　the　former　day　our　business　was　not　brought　to　a　settlement。　On　the　2nd　of　February　Milo　appeared　for　trial。　Pompey　came　to　support　him。　Marcellus　spoke　on　being　called　upon　by　me。　We　came　off　with　flying　colours。　The　case　was　adjourned　to　the　7th。　Meanwhile　（in　the　senate）；　the　legations　having　been　postponed　to　the　13th；　the　business　of　allotting　the　quaestors　and　furnishing　the　outfit　of　the　praetors　was　brought　before　the　house。　But　nothing　was　done；　because　many　speeches　were　interposed　denouncing　the　state　of　the　Republic。　Gaius　Cato　published　his　bill　for　the　recall　of　Lentulus；　whose　son　thereon　put　on　mourning。　On　the　7th　Milo　appeared。　Pompey　spoke；　or　rather　wished　to　speak。　For　as　soon　as　he　got　up　Clodius's　ruffians　raised　a　shout；　and　throughout　his　whole　speech　he　was　interrupted；　not　only　by　hostile　cries；　but　by　personal　abuse　and　insulting　remarks。　However；　when　lie　had　finished　his　speechfor　he　shewed　great　courage　in　these　circumstances；　he　was　not　cowed；　he　said　all　he　had　to　say；　and　at　times　had　by　his　commanding　presence　even　secured　silence　for　his　wordswell；　when　he　had　finished；　up　got　Clodius。　Our　party　received　him　with　such　a　shoutfor　they　had　determined　to　pay　him　outthat　he　lost　all　presence　of　mind；　power　of　speech；　or　control　over　his　countenance。　This　went　on　up　to　two　o　clockPompey　having　finished　his　speech　at　noonand　every　kind　of　abuse；　and　finally　epigrams　of　the　most　outspoken　indecency　were　uttered　against　Clodius　and　Clodia。　Mad　and　livid　with　rage　Clodius；　in　the　very　midst　of　the　shouting；　kept　putting　questions　to　his　claque：　〃Who　was　it　who　was　starving　the　commons　to　death？〃　His　ruffians　answered；　〃Pompey。〃　〃Who　wanted　to　be　sent　to　Alexandria　？〃　They　answered；　〃Pompey。〃　〃Who　did　they　wish　to　go　？〃　They　answered；　〃Crassus。〃　The　latter　was　present　at　the　time　with　no　friendly　feelings　to　Milo。　About　three　o　clock；　as　though　at　a　given　signal；　the　Clodians　began　spitting　at　our　men。　There　was　an　outburst　of　rage。　They　began　a　movement　for　forcing　us　from　our　ground。　Our　men　charged：　his　ruffians　turned　tail。　Clodius　was　pushed　off　the　rostra：　and　then　we　too　made　our　escape　for　fear　of　mischief　in　the　riot。　The　senate　was　summoned　into　the　Curia：　Pompey　went　home。　However；　I　did　not　myself　enter　the　senate…house；　lest　I　should　be　obliged　either　to　refrain　from　speaking　on　matters　of　such　gravity；　or　in　defending　Pompey　（for　he　was　being　attacked　by　Bibulus；　Curio；　Favonius；　and　Servilius　the　younger）　should　give　offence　to　the　loyalists。　The　business　was　adjourned　to　the　next　day。　Clodius　fixed　the　Quirinalia　（17th　of　February）　for　his　prosecution。　On　the　8th　the　senate　met　in　the　temple　of　Apollo；　that　Pompey　might　attend。　Pompey　made　an　impressive　speech。　That　day　nothing　was　concluded。　On　the　9th　in　the　temple　of　Apollo　a　degree　passed　the　senate　〃that　what　had　taken　place　on　the　7th　of　February　was　treasonable。〃　On　this　day　Cato　warmly　inveighed　against　Pompey；　and　throughout　his　speech　arraigned　him　as　though　he　were　at　the　bar。　He　said　a　great　deal　about　me；　to　my　disgust；　though　it　was　in　very　laudatory　terms。　When　he　attacked　Pompey's　perfidy　to　me；　he　was　listened　to　in　profound　silence　on　the　part　of　my　enemies。　Pompey　answered　him　boldly　with　a　palpable　allusion　to　Crassus；　and　said　outright　that　〃he　would　take　better　precautions　to　protect　his　life　than　Africanus　had　done；　whom　C。　Carbo　had　assassinated。〃　Accordingly；　important　events　appear　to　me　to　be　in　the　wind。　For　Pompey　understands　what　is　going　on；　and　imparts　to　me　that　plots　are　being　formed　against　his　life；　that　Gaius　Cato　is　being　supported　by　Crassus；　that　money　is　being　supplied　to　Clodius；　that　both　are　backed　by　Crassus　and　Curio；　as　well　as　by　Bibulus　and　his　other　detractors：　that　he　must　take　extraordinary　precautions　to　prevent　being　overpowered　by　that　demagoguewith　a　people　all　but　wholly　alienated；　a　nobility　hostile；　a　senate　ill…affected；　and　the　younger　men　corrupt。　So　he　is　making　his　preparations　and　summoning　men　from　the　country。　On　his　part；　Clodius　is　rallying　his　gangs：　a　body　of　men　is　being　got　together　for　the　Quirinalia。　For　that　occasion　we　are　considerably　in　a　majority；　owing　to　the　forces　brought　up　by　Pompey　himself：　and　a　large　contingent　is　expected　from　Picenum　and　Gallia；　to　enable　us　to　throw　out　Cato's　bills　also　about　Milo　and　Lentulus。

On　the　10th　of　February　an　indictment　was　lodged　against　Sestius　for　bribery　by　the　informer　Cn。　Nerius；　of　the　Pupinian　tribe；　arid　on　the　same　day　by　a　certain　M。　Tullius　for　riot。　He　was　ill。　I　went　at　once；　as　I　was　bound　to　do。　to　his　house；　and　put　myself　wholly　at　his　service：　and　that　was　more　than　people　expected；　who　thought　that　I　had　good　cause　for　being　angry　with　him。　The　result　is　that　my　extreme　kindness　and　grateful　disposition　are　made　manifest　both　to　Sestius　himself　and　to　all　the　world；　and　I　shall　be　as　good　as　my　word。　But　this　same　informer　Nerius　also　named　Cn。　Lentulus　Vatia　and　C。　Cornelius　to　the　commissioners。　On　the　same　day　a　decree　passed　the　senate　〃that　political　clubs　and　associations　should　be　broken　up；　and　that　a　law　in　regard　to　them　should　be　brought　in；　enacting　that　those　who　did　not　break　off　from　them　should　be　liable　to　the　same　penalty　as　those　convicted　of　riot。〃

On　the　10th　of　February　I　spoke　in　defence　of　Bestia　on　a　charge　of　bribery　before　the　praetor　Cn。　Domitius；　in　the　middle　of　the　forum　and　in　a　very　crowded　court；　and　in　the　course　of　my　speech　I　came　to　the　incident　of　Sestius；　after　receiving　many　wounds　in　the　temple　of　Castor；　having　been　preserved　by　the　aid　of　Bestia。　Here　I　took　occasion　to　pave　the　way　beforehand　for　a　refutation　of　the　charges　which　are　being　got　up　against　Sestius；　and　I　passed　a　well…deserved　encomium　upon　him　with　the　cordial　approval　of　everybody。　He　was　himself　very　much　delighted　with　it。　I　tell　you　this　because　you　have　often　advised　me　in　your　letters　to　retain　the　friendship　of　Sestius。　I　am　writing　this　on　the　12th　of　February　before　daybreak；　the　day　on　which　I　am　to　dine　with　Pomponius　on　the　occasion　of　his　wedding。

Our　position　in　other　respects　is　such　as　you　used　to　cheer　my　despondency　by　telling　me　it　would　beone　of　great　dignity　and　popularity：　this　is　a　return　to　old　times　for　you　and　me　effected；　my　brother；　by　your　patience；　high　character；　loyalty；　and；　I　may　also　add；　your　conciliatory　manners。　The　house　of　Licinius；　near　the　grove　of　Piso；　has　been　taken　for　you。　But；　as　I　hope；　in　a　few　months　　time；　after　the　1st　of　July；　you　will　move　into　your　own。　Some　excellent　tenants；　the　Lamiae；　have　taken　your　house　in　Carinie。　I　have　received　no　letter　from　you　since　the　one　dated　Olbia。　I　am　anxious　to　hear　how　you　are　and　what　you　find　to　amuse　you；　but　above　all　to　see　you　yourself　as　soon　as　possible。　Take　care　of　your　health；　my　dear　brother；　and　though　it　is　winter　time；　yet　reflect　that　after　all　it　is　Sardinia　that　you　are　in。

13　February。

IX

To　ATTICUS　（RETURNING　FROM　EPIRUS）

ANTIUM　（APRIL）

IT　will　be　delightful　if　you　come　to　see　us　here。　You　will　find　that　Tyrannio　has　made　a　wonderfully　good　arrangement　of　my　books；　the　remains　of　which　are　better　than　I　had　expected。　Still；　I　wish　you　would　send　me　a　couple　of　your　library　slaves　for　Tyrannio　to　employ　as　gluers；　and　in　other　subordinate　work；　and　tell　them　to　get　some　fine　parchment　to　make　title…pieces；　which　you　Greeks；　I　think；　call　〃sillybi。〃　But　all　this　is　only　if　not　inconvenient　to　you。　In　any　case；　be　sure　you　come　yourself；　if　you　can　halt　for　a　while　in　such　a　place；　and　can　persuade　Pilia　to　accompany　you。　For　that　is　only　fair；　and　Tulia　is　anxious　that　she　should　come。　My　word！　You　have　purchased　a　fine　troop！　Your　gladiators；　I　am　told；　fight　superbly。　If　you　had　chosen　to　let　them　out　you　would　have　cleared　your　expenses　by　the　last　two　spectacles。　But　we　will　talk　about　this　later　on。　Be　sure　to　come；　and；　as　you　love　me；　see　about　the　library　slaves。

X

To　L。　LUCCEIUS

ARPINUM　（APRIL）

I　HAVE　often　tried　to　say　to　you　personally　what　I　am　about　to　write；　but　was　prevented　by　a　kind　of　almost　clownish　bashfulness。　Now　that　I　am　not　in　your　presence　I　shall　speak　out　more　boldly：　a　letter　does　not　blush。　I　am　inflamed　with　an　inconceivably　ardent　desire；　and　one；　as　I　think；　of　which　I　have　no　reason　to　be　ashamed；　that　in　a　history　written　by　you　my　name　should　be　conspicuous　and　frequently　mentioned　with　praise。　And　though　you　have　often　shewn　me　that　you　meant　to　do　so；　yet　I　hope　you　will　pardon　my　impatience。　For　the　style　of　your　composition；　though　I　had　always　entertained　the　highest　expectations　of　it；　has　yet　surpassed　my　hopes；　and　has　taken　such　a　hold　upon　me；　or　rather　has　so　fired　my　imagination；　that　I　was　eager　to　have　my　achievements　as　quickly　as　possible　put　on　record　in　your　history。　For　it　is　not　only　the　thought　of　bei