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I
I
To Atticus (at Athens)
Rome, July, 65 B.C.
The state of things in regard to my candidature, in which I know that you
are supremely interested, is this, as far as can be as yet conjectured. The
only person actually canvassing is P. Sulpicius Galba. He meets with a good
old-fashioned refusal without reserve or disguise. In the general opinion
this premature canvass of his is not unfavourable to my interests; for the
voters generally give as a reason for their refusal that they are under
obligations to me. So I hope my prospects are to a certain degree improved by
the report getting about that my friends are found to be numerous. My
intention was to begin my own canvass just at the very time that Cincius tells
me that your servant starts with this letter, namely, in the campus at the
time of the tribunician elections on the 17th of July. My fellow candidates,
to mention only those who seem certain, are Galba and Antonius and Q.
Cornificius. At this I imagine you smiling or sighing. Well, to make you
positively smite your forehead, there are people who actually think that
Caesonius will stand. I don`t think Aquilius will, for he openly disclaims it
and has alleged as an excuse his health and his leading position at the bar.
Catiline will certainly be a candidate, if you can imagine a jury finding that
the sun does not shine at noon. As for Aufidius and Palicanus, I don`t think
you will expect to hear from me about them. Of the candidates for this year`s
election Caesar is considered certain. Thermus is looked upon as the rival of
Silanus. These latter are so weak both in friends and reputation that it seems
pas impossible to bring in Curius over their heads. But no one else thinks so.
What seems most to my interests is that Thermus should get in with Caesar. For
there is none of those at present canvassing who, if left over to my year,
seems likely to be a stronger candidate, from the fact that he is commissioner
of the via Flaminia, and when that has been finished, I shall be greatly
relieved to have seen him elected consul this election. Such in outline is the
position of affairs in regard to candidates up to date. For myself I shall
take the greatest pains to carry out all the duties of a candidate, and
perhaps, as Gaul seems to have a considerable voting power, as soon as
business at Rome has come to a standstill I shall obtain a libera legatio and
make an excursion in the course of September to visit Piso, but so as not to
be back later than January. When I have ascertained the feelings of the
nobility I will write you word. Everything else I hope will go smoothly, at
any rate while my competitors are such as are now in town. You must undertake
to secure for me the entourage of our friend Pompey, since you are nearer than
I. Tell him I shall not be annoyed if he doesn`t come to my election. So much
for that business. But there is a matter for which I am very anxious that you
should forgive me. Your uncle Caecilius, having been defrauded of a large sum
of money by P. Varius, began an action against his cousin A. Caninius Satyrus
for the property which (as he alleged) the latter had received from Varius by
a collusive sale. He was joined in this action by the other creditors, among
whom were Lucullus and P. Scipio, and the man who they thought would be
official receiver if the property was put up for sale, Lucius Pontius; though
it is ridiculous to be talking about a receiver at this stage in the
proceedings. Caecilius asked me to appear for him against Satyrus. Now,
scarcely a day passes that Satyrus does not call at my house. The chief object
of his attentions is L. Domitius, but I am next in his regard. He has been of
great service both to myself and to my brother Quintus in our elections. I was
very much embarrassed by my intimacy with Satyrus as well as that with
Domitius, on whom the success of my election depends more than on anyone else.
I pointed out these facts to Caecilius; at the same time I assured him that if
the case had been one exclusively between himself and Satyrus, I would have
done what he wished. As the matter actually stood, all the creditors being
concerned - and that two men of the highest rank, who, without the aid of
anyone specially retained by Caecilius, would have no difficulty in
maintaining their common cause - it was only fair that he should have
consideration both for my private friendship and my present situation. He
seemed to take this somewhat less courteously than I could have wished, or
than is usual among gentlemen; and from that time forth he has entirely
withdrawn from the intimacy with me which was only of a few day`s standing.
Pray forgive me, and believe that I was prevented by nothing but natural
kindness from assailing the reputation of a friend in so vital a point at a
time of such very great distress, considering that he had shewn me every sort
of kindness and attention. But if you incline to the harsher view of my
conduct, take it that the interests of my canvass prevented me. Yet, even
granting that to be so, I think you should pardon me, "since not for sacred
beast or oxhide shield." You see in fact the position I am in, and how
necessary I regard it, not only to retain but even to acquire all possible
sources of popularity. I hope I have justified myself in your eyes; I am at
any rate anxious to have done so. The Hermathena you sent I am delighted with:
it has been placed with such charming effect that the whole gymnasium seems
arranged specially for it. I am exceedingly obliged to you.
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