DCXXXIII (A XIII, 22)
TO ATTICUS (AT ROME)
Arpinum (4 July)
As to Varro, I had my reasons for being so particular to
ascertain your opinion. Certain objections occur to me,
but of them when we meet. For yourself, I have introduced
your name with the greatest possible pleasure, and I shall
do it still more frequently; for from your last letter I have
for the first time satisfied myself that you are not unwilling
that it should be so. About Marcellus[1], Cassius had written to
me before; Servius sent details. What a melancholy thing!
To return to my subject. There are no hands in which I
would rather my writings were than yours: but I wish them
not to be published before we both agree upon doing so.
For my part, I absolve your copyists from all blame, nor do
I find any fault with you; and yet, after all, what I mentioned
in a previous letter was a breach of this understanding—that
Cærellia had certain of my writings which she could
only have had from you. As for Balbus, I quite understand
that it was necessary to gratify him: only I don't like either
Brutus being given anything stale, or Balbus anything unfinished.
I will send it to Varro as soon as I see you, if
you approve. Why I have hesitated about it, however, I will
tell you when we meet. I fully approve of your calling in
the money from the debtors assigned to me. I am sorry
that you are being troubled about Ovia's estate. It is a great
nuisance about our friend Brutus: but such is life! The
ladies, however, don't shew very good feeling in their hostile
attitude to each other—though both of them do all that propriety
requires[2]. There was nothing in the possession of*
