actually haunting the forum, senatorial decrees are written out in the house of your admirer, my intimate friend.[1] And whenever it occurs to him, I am put down as backing a decree, and am informed of its having reached Armenia and Syria, professing to have been made in accordance with my vote, before any mention has been made of the business at all.[2] And, indeed, I would not have you think that I am joking about this; for I assure you I have had letters from kings at the other end of the earth, thanking me for having voted for giving them the royal title, as to whom I was not only ignorant of their having been called kings, but of their very existence even. What, then, am I to do? After all, as long as this friend of ours—this guardian of morals[3]—is here, I will follow your advice: but directly he goes away I am off to your mushrooms. If I have a house there, I will make the expenses allowed for a day by the sumptuary law last over ten days. But if I don't find anything to suit me, I have made up my mind to reside with you: for I know I could not please you more. I am beginning to despair of Sulla's house, as I told you in my last, but I have not, after all, quite given it up. Pray do what you suggest, inspect it with some builders. If there is no defect in walls or roof, the rest will meet my views very well.
CCCCLXXX (F XIII, 68)
TO P. SERVILIUS ISAURICUS (IN ASIA)
Rome (September)
I was exceedingly obliged by your letter giving me an account
of your voyages. For you indicated your recollection*
- ↑ Cæsar.
- ↑ Other references to falsifications of senatus consulta are de Domo, § 50; pro Sulia, § 40. In these cases here mentioned Cicero alleges that his name was placed on the back as having been one of the commitee to draw up the decree (esse ad scribendum, or adesse scribendo). See vol. ii, p. 194.
- ↑ The title of præfectus moribus had been given to Cæsar for three
