liberality he has been treated by you. His sons—quite worthy of their father and close friends of my own, occupying a special place in my affection—I recommend to you with an earnestness beyond which I cannot go in recommending anyone. Gaius Avianius is in Sicily; Marcus is with us. I beg you to promote the social standing of the former, who is with you, and to defend the property of both. You cannot oblige me more by anything you do in your province. I beg you warmly and repeatedly to do so.
DXXV (F VI, 8)
TO AULUS CÆCINA (IN SICILY)
Rome, December
Largus, who is devoted to you, having told me that the
1st of January was the limit fixed for you, and having myself
noticed that any ordinance made by Balbus and Oppius
in Cæsar's absence was usually ratified by him, I urged
upon them with warmth to grant me as a favour that you
should be permitted to remain in Sicily as long as we
wished. Though they have been in the habit of freely
promising me anything which was not calculated to hurt
the feelings of that party, or even of refusing it and giving a
reason for their refusal, to this request or rather demand of
mine they gave no immediate answer. However, they came
to see me again the same day: they granted me permission
for you to remain in Sicily as long as you chose: they said
that they would answer for your not prejudicing your interests
at all by doing so. Now, since you know what you
have licence to do, I think you ought to know what my
opinion is. After this business had been settled I received
a letter from you asking my advice as to whether you
should settle in Sicily, or go to look after the remains of your
- [Footnote: as to mutual entertainment, not necessarily implying intimacy. For
Cicero's view as to intimacy with Greeks, see vol. i., p. 127.]
