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VII
VII
To Atticus (in Epirus)
Rome, September, 57 B.C.
Directly I arrived at Rome, and there was anyone to whom I could safely
intrust a letter for you, I thought the very first thing I ought to do was to
congratulate you in your absence on my return. For I knew, to speak candidly,
that though in giving me advice you had not been more courageous or far -
seeing than myself, nor - considering my devotion to you in the past - too
careful in protecting me from disaster, yet that you - though sharing in the
first instance inlmy mistake, or rather madness, and in my groundless terror -
had nevertheless been deeply grieved at our separation, and had bestowed
immense pains, zeal, care, and labour in securing my return. Accordingly, I
can truly assure you of this, that in the midst of supreme joy and the most
gratifying congratulations, the one thing wanting to fill my cup of happiness
to the brim is the sight of you, or rather your embrace; and if I ever forfeit
that again, when I have once got possession of it, and if, too, I do not exact
the full delights of your charming society that have fallen into arrear in the
past, I shall certainly consider myself unworthy of this renewal of my good
fortune.
In regard to my political position, I have resumed what I thought there
would be the utmost difficulty in recovering - my brilliant standing at the
bar, my influence in the senate, and a popularity with the loyalists even
greater than I desired. In regard, however, to my private property - as to
which you are well aware to what an extent it has been crippled, scattered,
and plundered - I am in great difficulties, and stand in need, not so much of
your means (which I look upon as my own), as of your advice for collecting and
restoring to a sound state the fragments that remain. For the present, though
I believe everything funds its way to you in the letters of your friends, or
even by messengers and rumour, yet I will write briefly what I think you would
like to learn from my letters above all others. On the 4th of August I started
from Dyrrachium, the very day on which the law about me was carried. I arrived
at Brundisium on the 5th of August. There my dear Tulliola met me on what was
her own birthday, which happened also to be the name - day of the colony of
Brundisium and of the temple of Safety, near your house. This coincidence was
noticed and celebrated with warm congratulations by the citizens of
Brundisium. On the 8th of August, while still at Brundisium, I learnt by a
letter from Quintus that the law had been passed at the comitia centuriata
with a surprising enthusiasm on the part of all ages and ranks, and with an
incredible influx of voters from Italy. I then commenced my journey, amidst
the compliments of the men of highest consideration at Brundisium, and was met
at every point by legates bearing congratulations. My arrival in the
neighbourhood of the city was the signal for every soul of every order known
to my nomenclator coming out to meet me, except those enemies who could not
either dissemble or deny the fact of their being such. On my arrival at the
Porta Capena, the steps of the temples were already thronged from top to
bottom by the populace; and while their congratulations were displayed by the
loudest possible applause, a similar throng and similar applause accompanied
me right up to the Capitol, and in the forum and on the Capitol itself there
was again a wonderful crowd. Next day, in the senate, that is, the 5th of
September, I spoke my thanks to the senators. Two days after that - there
having been a very heavy rise in the price of corn, and great crowds having
flocked first to the theatre and then to the senate-house, shouting out, at
the instigation of Clodius, that the scarcity of corn was my doing - meetings
of the senate being held on those days to discuss the corn question, and
Pompey being called upon to undertake the management of its supply in the
common talk not only of the plebs, but of the aristocrats also, and being
himself desirous of the commission, when the people at large called upon me by
name to support a decree to that effect, I did so, and gave my vote in a
carefully worded speech. The other consulars, except Messalla and Afranius,
having absented themselves on the ground that they could not vote with safety
to themselves, a decree of the senate was passed in the sense of my motion,
namely, that Pompey should be appealed to to undertake the business, and that
a law should be proposed to that effect. This decree of the senate having been
publicly read, and the people having, after the senseless and newfangled
custom that now prevails, applauded the mention of my name, I delivered a
speech. All the magistrates present, except one praetor and two tribunes,
called on me to speak. Next day a full senate, including all the consulars,
granted everything that Pompey asked for. Having demanded fifteen legates, he
named me first in the list, and said that he should regard me in all things as
a second self. The consuls drew up a law by which complete control over the
corn-supply for five years throughout the whole world was given to Pompey. A
second law is drawn up by Messius, granting him power over all money, and
adding a fleet and army, and an imperium in the provinces superior to that of
their governors. After that our consular law seems moderate indeed: that of
Messius is quite intolerable. Pompey professes to prefer the former; his
friends the latter. The consulars led by Favonius murmur: I hold my tongue,
the more so that the pontifices have as yet given no answer in regard to my
house. If they annul the consecration I shall have a splendid site. The
consuls, in accordance with a decree of the senate, will value the cost of the
building that stood upon it; but if the pontifices decide otherwise, they will
pull down the Clodian building, give out a contract in their own name (for a
temple), and value to me the cost of a site and house. So our affairs are
"For happy though but ill, for ill not worst."
In regard to money matters I am, as you know, much embarrassed. Besides,
there are certain domestic troubles, which I do not intrust to writing. My
brother Quintus I love as he deserves for his eminent qualities of loyalty,
virtue, and good faith. I am longing to see you, and beg you to hasten your
return, resolved not to allow me to be without the benefit of your advice. I
am on the threshold, as it were, of a second life. Already certain persons who
defended me in my absence begin to nurse a secret grudge at me now that I am
here, and to make no secret of their jealousy. I want you very much.
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