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XVII
XVII
To Atticus (at Rome)
Minturnae, May, 51 B.C.
Yes, I saw well enough what your feelings were as I parted from you; what
mine were I am my own witness. This makes it all the more incumbent on you to
prevent an additional decree being passed, so that this mutual regret of ours
may not last more than a year. As to Annius Saturninus, your measures are
excellent. As to the guarantee, pray, during your stay at Rome, give it
yourself. You will find several guarantees on purchase, such as those of the
estates of Memmius, or rather of Attilius. As to Oppius, that is exactly what
I wished, and especially your having engaged to pay him the 800 sestertia
(about 6,400 pounds), which I am determined shall be paid in any case, even if
I have to borrow to do so, rather than wait for the last day of getting in my
own debts.
I now come to that last line of your letter written crossways, in which
you give me a word of caution about your sister. The facts of the matter are
these: On arriving at my place at Arpinum, my brother came to see me, and our
first subject of conversation was yourself, and we discussed it at great
length. After this I brought the conversation round to what you and I had
discussed at Tusculum, on the subject of your sister. I never saw anything so
gentle and placable as my brother was on that occasion in regard to your
sister: so much so, indeed, that if there had been any cause of quarrel on the
score of expense, it was not apparent. So much for that day. Next day we
started from Arpinum. A country festival caused Quintus to stop at Arcanum; I
stopped at Aquinum; but we lunched at Arcanum. You know his property there.
When we got there Quintus said, in the kindest manner, "Pomponia, do you ask
the ladies in; I will invite the men." Nothing, as I thought, could be more
courteous, and that, too, not only in the actual words, but also in his
intention and the expression of face. But she, in the hearing of us all,
exclaimed, "I am only a stranger here!" The origin of that was, as I think,
the fact that Statius had preceded us to look after the luncheon. Thereupon
Quintus said to me, "There, that`s what I have to put up with every day!" You
will say, "Well, what does that amount to?" A great deal, and, indeed, she had
irritated even me: her answer had been given with such unnecessary acrimony,
both of word and look. I concealed my annoyance. We all took our places at
table except her. However, Quintus sent her dishes from the table, which she
declined. In short, I thought I never saw anything better-tempered than my
brother, or crosser than your sister: and there were many particulars which I
omit that raised my bile more than they did that of Quintus himself. I then
went on to Aquinum; Quintus stopped at Arcanum, and joined me early the next
day at Aquinum. He told me that she had refused to sleep with him, and when on
the point of leaving, she behaved just as I had seen her. Need I say more? You
may tell her herself that in my judgment she shewed a marked want of kindness
on that day. I have told you this story at greater length, perhaps, than was
necessary, to convince you that you, too, have something to do in the way of
giving her instruction and advice.
There only remains for me to beg you to complete all my commissions
before leaving town; to give Pomptinus a push, and make him start; to let me
know as soon as you have left town, and to believe that, by heaven, there is
nothing I love and find more pleasure in than yourself. I said a most
affectionate good-bye to that best of men, A. Torquatus, at Minturnae, to
whom I wish you would remark, in the course of conversation, that I have
mentioned him in my letter.
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