CCCCXXIV (A XI, 11)
TO ATTICUS (AT ROME)
Brundisium, 8 March
Worn out at length by the agony of my excessive sorrows,
even if I had anything that I ought to say to you, I should
not find it easy to write it; but as it is, I am still less able
to do so because there is nothing worth the trouble of
writing, especially as there is not even a gleam of hope of
things being better. Accordingly, I no longer look forward
to hearing even from you, though your letters always contain
something that I like to hear. Therefore pray do go on
writing, whenever you have a bearer at hand: though I have
nothing to say in answer to your last, which nevertheless I
received some time ago. For in the now long interval I
can see that there has been a general change: that the right
cause is strong; that I am being severely punished for my
folly.[1] The thirty sestertia which I received from Gnæus
Sallustius are to be paid to Publius Sallustius.[2] Please
see that they are paid without delay. I have written on
that subject to Terentia. Even this sum is now almost
used up: therefore concert measures with her to get me
money to go on with. I shall perhaps be able to raise some
even here, if I am assured that I shall have something to
my credit at Rome. But until I knew that I did not
venture to raise a farthing. You see my position all round:
there is no sort of misfortune which I am not both enduring
and expecting. For this state of things my grief is the
heavier in proportion as my fault is the greater. He in
- ↑ In coming to Italy, and so committing himself in the eyes of the Pompeians, who now seem likely to win.
- ↑ Gnæus Sallustius, a friend and client of Cicero's, has brought him the thirty sestertia (about £240) at Brundisium, having borrowed it from Publius Sallustius, whom Cicero now wishes to be paid.
