Achaia[1] never ceases maligning me. Clearly your letter has done no good. Good-bye.
8 March.
CCCCXXV (A XI, 12)
TO ATTICUS (AT ROME)
Brundisium, 8 March (Evening)
Cephalio delivered me a letter from you in the evening of
the 8th of March. Now on the morning of the same day I
had already despatched the letter-carriers, to whom I had
given a letter for you. However, after reading your letter I
thought I must write something in answer, more especially
as you shew that you are anxious as to what explanation I
intend to offer Cæsar of my journey at the time that I left
Italy. I have no need of any new explanation. For I have
repeatedly written to him, and have charged various people
to tell him, that I was unable, much as I wished it, to stand
out against people's talk; and much more to the same
effect. For there is nothing I should less like than that he
should think that in a matter of such importance I did not
act on my independent judgment.[2] I afterwards received
a letter from Cornelius Balbus the younger, saying that
Cæsar regarded my brother Quintus as having "sounded
the signal" for my retreat—for that was his expression. I
was not at the time aware of what Quintus had written
about me to many; but he had spoken and acted to my
face with great bitterness, in spite of which I yet wrote to
Cæsar in these words:
- ↑ Quintus, who was at Sicyon or Patræ.
- ↑ There seems at first sight a contradiction, but Cicero means: "I did not wish Cæsar to think that I acted under pressure from friends (e.g., Quintus), but that I came to the conclusion myself that I could not risk the severe remarks of the men of my party." If my view is right (see p. 1), that Cicero eventually resolved to go when it was believed that Cæsar had failed in Spain, no doubt the explanation to be given now was a delicate matter.
