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XXX
XXX
To Atticus (at Rome)
Matius` Suburban Villa, 7 April, 44 B.C.
I have come on a visit to the man, of whom I was talking to you this
morning. His view is that "the state of things is perfectly shocking: that
there is no way out of the imbroglio. For if a man of Caesar`s genius failed,
who can hope to succeed?" In short, he says that the ruin is complete. I am
not sure that he is wrong; but then he rejoices in it, and declares that
within twenty days there will be a rising in Gaul: that he has not had any
conversation with anyone except Lepidus since the Ides of March: finally that
these things can`t pass off like this. What a wise man Oppius is, who regrets
Caesar quite as much, but yet says nothing that can offend any loyalist! But
enough of this. Pray don`t be idle about writing me word of anything new, for
I expect a great deal. Among other things, whether we can rely on Sextus
Pompeius; but above all about our friend Brutus, of whom my host says that
Caesar was in the habit of remarking: "It is of great importance what that man
wishes; at any rate, whatever he wishes he wishes strongly": and that he
noticed, when he was pleading for Deiotarus at Nicaea, that he seemed to speak
with great spirit and freedom. Also - for I like to jot down things as they
occur to me - that when on the request of Sestius I went to Caesar`s house,
and was sitting waiting till I was called in, he remarked: "Can I doubt that I
am exceedingly disliked, when Marcus Cicero has to sit waiting and cannot see
me at his own convenience? And yet if there is a good-natured man in the
world it is he; still I feel no doubt that he heartily dislikes me." This and
a good deal of the same sort. But to my purpose: Whatever the news, small as
well as great, write and tell me of it. I will on my side let nothing pass.
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