DCXXXV (A XIII, 23)
TO ATTICUS (AT ROME)
Tusculum, 10 July
Your morning letter of yesterday I answered at once. I
will now answer your evening letter. I had rather that
Brutus had asked me to come to Rome. For it would have
been fairer, considering that a journey both unexpected and
long was before him. And, by heaven! nowadays, as the
state of our feelings forbids our getting on frankly together—for
I certainly need not tell you what constitutes being
"good company"—I should be glad if our meeting were
at Rome rather than at Tusculum.
The books dedicated to Varro[1] won't be long delayed. They are completed, as you have seen. There only remains the correction of the mistakes of the copyists. About these books you know that I had some hesitation, but I leave it to you. Also those I am dedicating to Brutus[2] the copyists have in hand. Yes, as you say in your letter, get my business through. However, Trebatius says that everybody makes that rebate you mention; what, then, do you suppose those fellows will do?[3] You know the gang. So settle the affair without any friction. You'd scarcely believe how indifferent I am about such things. I solemnly declare to you, and pray believe me, that those trumpery properties are more a bore than a pleasure to me. For I grieve more at not having anyone to whom to transmit them than at being in want of
- ↑ The Academica.
- ↑ The de Finibus.
- ↑ By the Iulian law, passed at the end of B.C. 49, mortgagers were not only allowed to satisfy their creditors by handing over property valued at the market price before the civil war, but were also authorized to deduct the amount of interest paid. It was only meant as a temporary measure to meet a temporary crisis, but Cicero says that of course his debtors will take advantage of it. For nosti domum Dr. Reid proposes nosti dominum: "You know their master (Cæsar), like master, like man." Tyrrell explains: "You know the house "—i.e., the house to be sold.
