in accordance with your wishes or for the interests of yourself and your family. In doing so I shall imitate your goodness to me, I shall never equal your services.
DXL (F XV, 17)
TO C. CASSIUS LONGINUS (AT BRUNDISIUM)
Rome (January)
You have most unreasonable letter-carriers, though I am not
personally angry with them. But, after all, when they are
leaving me they demand a letter, when they come to me
they bring none. And even as to the former, they would have
consulted my convenience better if they had given me some
interval for writing; but they come to me with their travelling
caps on, declaring that their company is waiting for
them at the city gate. Therefore you must pardon me:
you shall have here another short note, but expect full
details presently. Yet why should I apologize to you, when
your men come to me with empty hands and return to you
with letters. Here—for after all I will write something to
you—we have the death of P. Sulla[1] the elder: according
to some from an attack of footpads, according to others
from an attack of indigestion. The people don't trouble
themselves, for they are assured that he is dead and burnt.
Your philosophy will enable you to bear this; though we
have lost a well-known "feature of the city." People think
that Cæsar will be vexed for fear of his auctions becoming
flat. Mindius Marcellus[2] and Attius the paintseller are
delighted at having lost a rival bidder.
There is no news from Spain, and a very great anxiety for some: the rumours are rather gloomy, but are not authenticated. Our friend Pansa left town in military
