B.C. 48, ÆT. 58 (who was with the fleet at Corcyra) refused to join in continuing the war, and after staying some time at Patræ, returned to Brundisium, having, it appears, received Cæsar's permission through Dolabella to do so. At Brundisium, however, he waited many months, not venturing to approach Rome till Cæsar's will was known. It is during his residence at Brundisium that the next thirty-three letters are written. The dates are according to the unreformed calendar—in advance of the true time as much perhaps as two months.]
CCCCXIII (F XIV, 12)
TO TERENTIA (AT ROME)
Brundisium, 4 November
You say that you are glad of my safe arrival in Italy. I
only hope you may continue to be glad. But I am afraid
that, disordered as I was by mental anguish and the signal
injuries which I have received, I have taken a step involving
complications which I may find some difficulty in
unravelling[1]. Wherefore do your best to help me: yet what
you can do I cannot think. It is no use your starting on
a journey at such a time as this. The way is both long and
unsafe; and I don't see what good you can do me if you do
come. Good-bye.
Brundisium, 4 November.
- ↑ There is still a possibility of the ultimate success of the Pompeians, who are mustered in great force in Africa. Pompey's son Gnæus had threatened to kill Cicero at Corcyra, when he refused to go on with the war; and, if that party succeeded in the end, they would regard Cicero as having acted treasonably in returning to Italy. This was one of the "injuries"; another was the fact that his brother and nephew had turned against him, and, as he believed, were denouncing him to Cæsar.
