eminent services to me. I hope you remember the fact: I know that it is your habit to do so. Nevertheless, Cærellia's agents have written to me to say that, owing to the wide extent of your province and the multiplicity of your engagements, you need to be frequently reminded. I ask you, therefore, to remember that you promised me in the amplest terms that you would do everything your honour would allow. In my opinion—but it is a matter for yourself to consider and decide—you have now an excellent opportunity of obliging Cærellia in accordance with the decree of the senate passed in regard to the heirs of C. Vennonius. That decree you will interpret in the light of your own wisdom. For I know that the authority of that order has always been great in your eyes. For the rest, please believe that in whatever particulars you may have done kindnesses to Cærellia, you will be very greatly obliging me.
DX (F XII, 17)
TO SERVIUS SULPICIUS RUFUS (IN ACHAIA)
Rome
Manius Curius,[1] who has a bank at Patræ, has given me
many weighty reasons for being attached to him. My
friendship with him is of very old standing, dating from his
first entrance into public life: and at Patræ on many previous
occasions, and particularly during the late unhappy war, his
house was put entirely at my disposal, and if there had
been any occasion, I should have used it as my own. But
my strongest tie to him is of what I may call a more sacred
obligation—it is that he is a very close friend of my friend
Atticus, and distinguishes him above everybody by his
attentions and affection. If you are by any chance already
acquainted with him, I think that I am too late in doing
what I am now doing. For he is so cultivated and polite a
- ↑ For this man's services to Tiro in his illness at Patræ, see vol. ii. pp. 210-222