The translation is by W.G. Williams (1929). Click on the L symbols to go to the Latin text of each section. Click on ** to go to the translator's footnotes.
CONTENTS:
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39 to Acilius ;
40 to Q. Ancharius ;
41
42 to L. Culleolus ;
43
44 to Quintius Gallus ;
45
46 to Appuleius ;
47 to Silius ;
48 to C. Sextilius Rufus ;
49 to Curius ;
50 to Acilius ;
51 to P. Caesius ;
52 to Q. Marcius Rex ;
53
54
55
56
57 to Thermus ;
58 to C. Titius Rufus ;
59 to C. Curtius ;
60 to C. Munatius ;
61
62
63
64
65 to P. Silius ;
66
67
68
69
70
71
72 to P. Servilius ;
73
74 to Q. Philippus ;
75 to T. Titius ;
76 to a municipium ;
77 to P. Sulpicius ;
78
79 to Allienus
CICERO TO ACILIUS, PROCONSUL ** , GREETING
There is a certain L. Manlius Sosis. He was formerly a citizen of Catina, but together with the other Neapolitans he was made a Roman citizen, and is in the Senate at Naples, having been enrolled in that municipality before the citizenship was granted to allies and Latins. ** This man's brother has lately died at Catina. I do not think that he will find that there is any dispute about the inheritance here, and he is to-day in full possession of his goods. But since he has besides business matters of long standing to attend to in his native Sicily, I commend to your notice both this inheritance from his brother, and all his interests, and in particular the man himself, as a most excellent fellow and a most intimate friend of mine, blessed too with those tastes in literature and learning which give me most pleasure.
2 I beg of you then to recognise that, whether he is on the spot or has not yet arrived in Sicily, the man is among my most intimate and closest associates, and so to treat him as to give him reason to believe that my recommendation has been of material assistance to him.
CICERO TO ACILIUS, PROCONSUL, GREETING
I am on very familiar terms with C. Flavius, ** an honourable and distinguished Roman knight ; for he was a very intimate friend of my son-in-law, C. Piso, ** and both he himself and his brother L. Flavius show me most marked respect. For that reason I should like you, as a compliment to myself, to treat C. Flavius in the most complimentary and generous maimer possible, in whatever respect you can do so without prejudice to your honour and position. That will give me more pleasure than anything you could possibly do.
2 But I further assure you (and this I do impelled by no interested motive, but by our close intimacy and friendship, and even by truth itself) that C. Flavius's obliging and respectful demeanour, and moreover his distinction and popularity among his own friends, will be a source of great pleasure to you.
CICERO TO ACILIUS, PROCONSUL, GREETING
In the community of Halesa ** - and a highly refined and distinguished community it is - I am closely united by bonds of both hospitality and intimacy with the two Clodii, M. Archagathus and C. Philo. But I am afraid that, because I am most particularly recommending so many people to you, I may be suspected of making all my recommendations equally strong as a sort of bid for popularity - though indeed, as far as you are concerned, both I and all my friends are abundantly satisfied with what you do. **
2 But I would really have you believe that this family, and these members of it, are very closely bound to me by long-standing friendship, and mutual services, and goodwill. For that reason I beg of you with more than ordinary earnestness to do all you can for them in every possible way, so far as your honour and position permit. If you do so, I shall be extremely grateful.
CICERO TO ACILIUS, PROCONSUL, GREETING
I am on very familiar terms with Cn. Otacilius Naso - indeed as much so as with any member of that order. ** I am immensely delighted both with his kindliness and his integrity in our daily intercourse. So now there is no need for your waiting to see what words I use in commending to you one with whom I am on such terms as I have just set down. He has some business affairs in your province which are being attended to by his freedmen, Hilarus, Antigonus, and Demostratus ; and them I commend to you, and also all Naso's affairs, precisely as if they were my own. You will have gratified me extremely if I have reason to think that this recommendation of mine has had great weight with you.
CICERO TO ACILIUS, PROCONSUL, GREETING
I am bound by ties of hospitality, dating from the days of his grandfather, with Lyso of Lilybaeum ** ; he pays me marked attention, and I have found him worthy both of his father and of his grandfather; for he comes of a very noble family. That is why I commend him to you, and his household also, with more than ordinary earnestness, and I beg of you very particularly to give him reason to know that my recommendation has been of great assistance as well as a great compliment to him.
CICERO TO ACILIUS, PROCONSUL, GREETING
C. Avianius Philoxenus ** is an old friend and guest of mine, and apart from the ties of hospitality, he is very intimate with me ; it was as a favour to me that Caesar enrolled him among the citizens of Novum Comum. ** He has however adopted the name of Avianius, because he was on more intimate terms with nobody than with Flaccus Avianius, who is, as I believe you are aware, a very dear friend of mine. I have put together all these details to convince you that this recommendation of mine is something out of the common.
2 I therefore beg of you to do all you can for him in every respect, so far as you may without inconvenience to yourself to count him as one of your friends, and to convince him without fail that this letter of mine has been of material service to him. Your doing so will give me more than ordinary pleasure.
CICERO TO ACILIUS, PROCONSUL, GREETING
I have ties of hospitality of long standing with Demetrius Megas, and I am more intimate with him than with any other Sicilian. It was for him that Dolabella, at my request, obtained the citizenship from Caesar, and I myself took part in the transaction, so now he goes by the name of P. Cornelius. ** And when, on account of certain disreputable persons, who used to sell his favours, Caesar gave orders that the tablet on which were engraved the names of those presented with citizenship should be torn down, Caesar assured that same Dolabella in my hearing that there was no reason why he should be apprehensive about Megas, adding that the favour he had conferred upon him held good.
2 I was anxious that you should know this, so that you might count him among the citizens of Rome, and in all other respects I commend him to you with as much earnestness as I have ever commended anybody. You will give me extreme pleasure if you so treat him as to make him feel that my recommendation has conferred great distinction upon him.
CICERO TO ACILIUS, PROCONSUL, GREETING
I commend to you with more than ordinary warmth Hippias of Calacte,** son of Philoxenus, as being closely bound to me by ties of hospitality. His property, as the matter has been reported to me, is being held by the State, in contravention of the laws of Calacte, on account of a debt for which he is not responsible. If that is so, the circumstances themselves, even without any recommendation of mine, ought to prevail upon a man with your sense of justice to give him your assistance. But howsoever the matter stands, I beg of you for my credit's sake to release him from his difficulties, and to oblige him both in this and in every other respect so far as is compatible with your honour and position. Your doing so will give me extreme pleasure.
CICERO TO ACILIUS, PROCONSUL, GREETING
L. Bruttius, a Roman knight and in every respect a distinguished young man, is among my most intimate friends, and is most punctilious in his attentions to me ; and I have been great friends with his father ever since my Sicilian quaestorship. ** To be sure Bruttius himself is at Rome with me, but I none the less commend to you him, his house, his estate, and his agents, with as much warmth as I could put into any recommendation. It will give me extreme pleasure if you make a point of convincing Bruttius (and I have pledged my word to him that it will be so) that this recommendation of mine has been of material assistance to him.
CICERO TO ACILIUS, PROCONSUL, GREETING
I have a close connexion of long standing with the Titurnian family, and the only survivor of that family is M. Titurnius Rufus, whom it is my duty to support with all the assiduity and civility I possibly can. It is within your power then to make him believe that the protection he looks for in me is adequate. For that reason I recommend him to you with more than ordinary warmth, and beg of you so to act as to convince him that this recommendation of him has been of material assistance to him. Your doing so will give me no little pleasure.
M. CICERO TO Q. ANCHARIUS Q.f., PROCONSUL ** , GREETING
I recommend to you with more than ordinary warmth Lucius and Gaius Aurelius, the sons of Lucius, with whom, as with their father, a most excellent man, I am exceedingly intimate ; they are young men distinguished in all the best accomplishments, very closely associated with myself, and in every way worthy of your friendship. If any recommendation of mine has ever had any influence with you - and, as to that, I know that many have had the greatest influence - I ask you to let this do so. If you treat them honourably and handsomely, you will not only win the attachment of two very grateful and excellent young men, but you will also give me the greatest possible pleasure.
CICERO TO CULLEOLUS , [PROCONSUL] ** , GREETING
As regards what you have done for L. Lucceius, ** I wish you distinctly to understand that you have obliged the most grateful of men ; and while all you have done gives great pleasure to Lucceius himself, Pompey also, whenever he sees me (and he sees me often), thanks you with quite unusual warmth. This much too I may add - and I am perfectly sure you will be delighted to hear it - that your generosity to Lucceius is a very great pleasure to myself.
2 As to what remains, although I have no doubt that as previously for my sake, so now on behalf of your own consistency also you will persevere in the same generosity, none the less I earnestly beg of you again and again to prove your desire that the promises you originally made, and in due course fulfilled, should by your efforts be even improved upon and brought to a completely successful issue. That this will be highly gratifying to both Lucceius and Pompey, and that you will be making a brilliant investment in them, I solemnly pledge my word. As to the political situation and the business going on here, and our reflections thereon, I wrote to you fully and painstakingly a few days ago, and handed the letter to your servants. Farewell.
M. CICERO TO L. CULLEOLUS, PROCONSUL, GREETING
My friend L. Lucceius, the most grateful of men, expressed to me his amazingly cordial gratitude to you when he told me that you had promised everything to his agents with quite unbounded generosity. Seeing that your words gave him such pleasure, what pleasure do you suppose your acts will give him, when, as I hope, you have fulfilled your promises ? The inhabitants of Bullis at all events have indicated that they will satisfy Lucceius's claims according to Pompey's award. **
2 But there is pressing need for our having the additional advantage of your goodwill, and of your personal and official influence, and I beg you again and again not to refuse us that. It is also extremely gratifying to me that Lucceius's agents have learnt, and Lucceius himself has inferred from the letter you sent him, that there is nobody in the world who carries more weight with you, or is personally more acceptable to you, than myself. I beg you once more, and repeatedly, to give him practical proof of that.
CICERO TO QUINTIUS GALLUS ** , GREETING
Although there are numberless circumstances in which I hope I may have clear proof - and indeed I have long since had proof enough - of your affection for me, yet here you have a case offered you in which you can easily make manifest your kindly feeling for me. Lucius Oppius, ** the son of Marcus, is a banker at Philomelium ** and an intimate friend of mine. I commend him to you most particularly, and all the more because not only do I esteem him for himself, but he is also in charge of the affairs of L. Egnatius Rufus, a man with whom I am on more familiar terms than with any other single Roman knight, and who is closely associated with me both by daily intercourse and by services as numerous as they are important.
2 I therefore beg of you to make much of Oppius, who is with you, and to protect the interests of Egnatius, ** who is not, just as much as if his affairs were my own. To assist your memory, I should be glad if you would send him ** something in the shape of a letter to be handed back to you in the province, but please draw it up in such a way that, when you read it, you can at once recall the care I have taken in writing this recommendation. This I earnestly beg of you again and again to do.
CICERO TO GALLUS, GREETING
Although your own letter and that of my very dear friend L. Oppius have convinced me that you have not been forgetful of my recommendation (and I am not in the least surprised at that, considering your extremely kind feeling for me and the closeness of our connexion), still I commend to you again and again L. Oppius, who is with you, and the affairs of my very dear friend L. Egnatius, who is not. So close is my connexion and intimacy with him that I should not feel more anxious if the business were my own. That is why you will do me a very great favour if you make a point of giving him reason to know that your affection for me is as sincere as I myself believe it to be. Nothing that you can do would give me greater pleasure, and I earnestly beg of you to do so.
CICERO TO APPULEIUS, PROQUAESTOR ** , [GREETING]
Of all the Roman knights the one man I am most intimate with is L. Egnatius. It is his slave Anchialus, together with his banking business in Asia, that I commend to you with no less warmth than if the business I commend to you were my very own. For I would have you believe not only that our daily intercourse is of the closest nature, but that we are bound together by important mutual services. For that reason I beg of you again and again to make a point of satisfying him that I have written to you with no lack of careful elaboration ; for of your goodwill towards me he has never entertained a doubt. I ask you again and again to do so.
CICERO TO APPULEIUS, GREETING
L. Nostius Zoilus ** is co-heir with me, but also the heir of his patron. My reasons for telling you these two facts are firstly, to let you know that there are grounds for my friendship with him, and secondly, to convince you that he is a man of integrity, seeing that he has been so complimented by the deliberate act of his patron. I therefore commend him to you as warmly as if he were of my own household. It will give me great pleasure if you make a point of satisfying him that my recommendation has been of material assistance to him.
CICERO TO SILIUS ** , GREETING
Why should I commend to you a man whom you like on your own account ? But anyhow the reason I write thus to you is to let you know that I not only like but even love him. Of all your services to me (and they are many and great) what will give me most pleasure is your so treating Egnatius as to make him feel that I love him and you love me. This I earnestly beg of you again and again to do. Oh yes, those plans of ours have fallen through. ** Let us then comfort ourselves with the well-known formula "Perhaps it is all for the best." But of this when we meet. It is for you to see to it (and you do) that you love me, and are assured that I love you.
CICERO TO C. SEXTILIUS RUFUS, QUAESTOR ** , GREETING
I commend to you all the inhabitants of Cyprus, and more particularly those of Paphos, and whatever favours you bestow upon them will be most gratifying to myself ; and I do so with all the more pleasure - I mean commend them to you - because I think that it will conduce to your own reputation also (which I always have at heart), if when you reach that island as its first quaestor, you set precedents for others to follow ; and this I hope you will the more easily accomplish if you decide to follow the code of your relative P. Lentulus, ** and the regulations I instituted myself. ** Such a policy will, I am confident, do you much credit.
CICERO TO CURIUS, PROCONSUL ** , GREETING
There are many reasons of long standing for the close attachment of Q. Pompeius, son of Sextus, to myself. As in the past it is in my recommendations that he has got into the habit of finding support for his fortunes, his reputation, and influence, he certainly ought just now, when you are governor of the province, to profit by my letter so far as to be assured that there is nobody to whom he has ever been more highly commended. For that reason I beg of you with exceptional earnestness, since in view of our close association it is incumbent upon you to show my friends as much respect as your own, to admit this gentleman to your special friendship in such a way as to convince him that nothing could possibly have been of more service or more of a distinction to him than my recommendation. Farewell.
CICERO TO ACILIUS, ** GREETING
In view of your respect for me, of which I had convincing proof all the time I was at Brundisium, I have presumed so far as to address you with familiarity, and as though I had the right to do so, if there were anything that caused me serious anxiety.
M'. Curius, who has a banking business at Patrae, is so intimate with me that no association could possibly be closer. His services to me have been many, and so have mine been to him, and (what is most important of all) our affection for each other is as sincere as it is mutual.
2 That being so, if you have anything to hope for from my friendship, if you would even enhance my gratitude, profound as it already is, for the cordial kindnesses you heaped upon me at Brundisium, if you observe that all your friends regard me with affection, then I say, grant me of your bounty this one favour - keep M'. Curius "water-tight and weather-proof " ** as they say, free from the slightest taint and touch of disaster, damage, or distress. I myself guarantee, and all your friends will pledge themselves to you on my behalf, that you will find the combination of my friendship for you with your kindness to me a source of immense profit and infinite pleasure to you.
CICERO TO P. CAESIUS, GREETING
P. Messenius is a Roman knight, possessed of every accomplishment, and a very dear friend of mine ; I commend him to you, and my recommendation is as strong as the strongest that can be. I beg of you in the name of our own friendship and that of our fathers to admit him into your confidence, and to protect his interests and reputation. You will have won the attachment of a good man and one worthy of your friendship, and at the same time earned my most sincere gratitude.
CICERO TO REX ** , GREETING
Aulus Licinius Aristoteles of Melita is a friend of mine by virtue of very long-standing ties of hospitality, and he is moreover attached to me by constant and familiar association. Such being the case, I have no doubt that he is already sufficiently commended to you ; for I have been told by many that a recommendation from me has very great influence with you. He is the man whose freedom I secured from Caesar ; he had been associated with us on many occasions, and indeed maintained his adherence to the cause ** even longer than I did, and I imagine you will think all the better of him for that. Be sure then, my dear Rex, to give him the impression that this letter has proved of invaluable service to him.
CICERO TO THERMUS ** , PROPRAETOR, GREETING
I have for long been on the most intimate terms with L. Genucilius Curvus, a most excellent man, and a very grateful fellow. I commend him to you most heartily, and I introduce him to you first of all in order that you may serve him in every respect, so far as your honour and position permit (and they will permit you in every respect) ; for there is no demand he wall ever make of you that is incompatible with your character - and, I may add, with his own.
2 Especially, however, do I commend to you his business affairs on the Hellespont, first so that you should ensure his maintaining those rights in regard to land which the community of Parium ** granted him by decree, and which he has always maintained without dispute ; and secondly, should he have anything in the nature of a dispute with a Hellespontian, you should refer the matter to the above-mentioned department. But seeing that I have commended the man to you so very earnestly in his entirety, it does not seem to me necessary to set out his claims piecemeal. Let me sum up thus ; whatever obligation, kindness, or honour you bestow upon Genucilius, I shall consider you to have bestowed upon myself and my interests.
CICERO TO THERMUS, PROPRAETOR, GREETING
While I am grateful for much that you have been induced to do by my recommendation, I am especially so for your most generous treatment of M. Marcilius, ** the son of my friend and interpreter. ** He visited me at Laodicea and expressed the warmest gratitude to you in my presence, and to me also because of you. So there remains just this much - that I beg of you. since those in whom you are investing your generosity are a grateful set of people, to oblige them all the more readily, and to make every effort, compatible with your honour, to prevent the threatened prosecution of the young man's mother-in-law. While I was previously enthusiastic in my recommendation of him, I am now far more enthusiastic, because, during his long spell of service as my official servant, I have appreciated the extraordinary and almost inconceivable trustworthiness, and disinterested and unassuming character, of Marcilius's father.
CICERO TO THERMUS, PROPRAETOR, GREETING
Although I seem to have gathered from our conversation at Ephesus on the matter of my legate, M. Anneius, ** that you were extremely anxious to further his interests in every way for his own sake, still, so highly do I esteem M. Anneius that I think I should omit nothing which is of importance to him, and I think too that you esteem me highly enough to make me feel sure that my recommendation will add enormously to your good wishes for him. For though my liking for M. Anneius was of long standing, and my previous opinion of him is abundantly proved by my having conferred upon him the post of legate, without his asking for it, after refusing it to many who did, yet, ever since he was associated with me in the war and in military affairs, I discovered in him such courage, sagacity, and loyalty, and such goodwill towards myself, that there is now nobody in the world I esteem more highly Well, as you are aware, he has a dispute with the people of Sardis ** ; the merits of the case I explained to you at Ephesus ; you will investigate it, however, more easily and thoroughly in person.
2 For the rest, I declare to you that I have long been in doubt as to just what it would be best to put in a letter to you. Your administration of justice is brilliant ; it is a matter of common knowledge, and greatly to your credit. In this case, however, we have need of nothing but that you should administer justice according to your established usage. But for all that, since I do not forget how much influence is vested in a praetor, especially in one of such integrity , firmness, and leniency, as you are known by everybody to possess, I beg of you in view of our very close association and the numberless good services we have rendered each other with equal advantage to both, so to manage matters by your kind feeling, influence, and devotion, as to convince M. Anneius not only of your existing friendship for him - of that, as he has often told me, he has no doubt - but also of the enhancement of that friendship by this letter of mine. In the whole sphere of your official authority and of your province there is nothing you can do that would give me more pleasure. And now I do not think you can doubt how profitably you will be investing your cordial kindness in one who is himself a most grateful fellow and a very excellent man.
CICERO TO THERMUS, PROPRAETOR, GREETING
Cluvius of Puteoli ** is exceedingly devoted to me and exceedingly intimate with me. He is under the conviction that he will have to reckon as lost and hopeless whatever interests he has in your province, unless he secures them through a commendatory letter from me, while you are governor of the province. Just now then, having so heavy a burden laid upon me by my most obliging friend, I too shall lay a burden upon you, counting upon the signal services you have already done me - though indeed I should be sorry to be a nuisance to you.
The people of Mylasa ** and Alabanda ** owe money to Cluvius. Euthydemus told me, when I was at Ephesus, that he would see that ecdici ** were sent by the people of Mylasa to Rome. That was not done, and now I hear that legates have been sent, but I prefer ecdici, so that something definite may be done. And that is why I beg of you to order them, and the people of Alabanda, to send ecdici to Rome.
2 Furthermore Philotes of Alabanda has given Cluvius a mortgage, and that mortgage has lapsed. I should be glad if you would see that he either surrenders the mortgaged property and hands it over to Cluvius's agent, or else pays the money ; and moreover that the people of Heraclea ** and Bargylia, ** who are also his debtors, should either pay him the money owed, or else satisfy his claims by allowing him a charge on their income.
2 The people of Caunus ** are also in his debt but they declare that they have the money lying on deposit. Please inquire into the matter, and if you arrive at the conclusion that they have not had the money deposited either by edict or by decree, ** do your best by your ruling to secure the interest thereon for Cluvius. I am the more worried on account of all this because the interests of our friend Cn. Pompeius are at stake, and because he strikes me as being even more worried than even Cluvius himself, and I am most anxious that we should satisfy his claims. I earnestly beg of you again and again to attend to these matters.
CICERO TO THERMUS, PROPRAETOR, GREETING
The more clearly I recognise day after day that there is a great war on in Syria, the more urgently do I implore you in the name of our close association to send my legate M. Anneius ** back to me at the first possible opportunity. For I realise that by his activity, shrewdness, and skill in military affairs he can be of the very greatest assistance to the Republic and myself. Had not such important interests of his been at stake, neither could he himself have ever been induced to leave me, nor I to let him go. My own intention is to set out for Cilicia about May 1st. It is imperative that Anneius should rejoin me before that date.
2 What I most pressingly pleaded with you to do, both in person and by letter, that I now beg of you again and again to do - to make it your business to enable him to conclude his negotiation with the people of Sardis in a manner befitting the justice of his case and his own position. I understood from what you said when I talked to you at Ephesus that you were anxious to promote M. Anneius's interests in every way on his own account. But none the less I would have you believe that you can do nothing that would please me more than to convince me that he has settled his business to his own satisfaction through your instrumentality ; and I beg of you to get that done as soon as possible.
M. CICERO TO C. TITIUS L.f. RUFUS, PRAETOR URBANUS, GREETING
L. Custidius is a fellow-tribesman, a fellow-townsman, and an intimate friend of mine. He has a case at law, and that case he will lay before you. I commend the man to you, but only, as your probity and my modesty demand, so far as to ask you to let him have easy access to you, to grant him without reluctance his reasonable demands, and to make him feel that my friendship, even when I am very far away, is of benefit to him, especially with you.
M. CICERO TO C. CURTIUS PEDUCAEANUS **, PRAETOR, GREETING
I am exceptionally fond of M. Fadius ** ; I have constant intercourse with him, and our intimacy is of very long standing. In his various suits I make no request as to your decisions (you will, as your credit and position demand, observe your edict ** and your established rule of administration) but this I do ask you - to let him have as easy access to you as is possible, to grant him without reluctance such requests as are right and proper, and to make him feel that my friendship, even though I am far away, is of service to him, especially with you. That is what I beg of you again and again to do.
M. CICERO TO C. MUNATIUS C.f., GREETING
L. Livineius Trypho is, in any case, ** the freedman of my very intimate friend L. Regulus, whose misfortune ** makes me more ready than ever to serve him ; more friendly in my feeling for him than I always have been I cannot be. But I esteem this freedman of his for his own sake ; his services to me were conspicuous at that crisis in my life when I was able most easily to appraise the goodwill and loyalty of my fellow-men.
2 I therefore commend him to you as men who are grateful and not forgetful are bound to commend those who have deserved well of them. You will have done me a great kindness if he is led to believe that by frequently risking his own safety for mine, and often taking ship in the depth of winter, he did what was acceptable to you also, since you wish me well.
M. CICERO TO P. SILIUS, ** PROPRAETOR, GREETING
I believe that you are aware that I was on very intimate terms with T. Pinnius, and indeed he showed that plainly by his will, since he made me not only his trustee, but also his heir in the second degree. ** His son, a remarkably studious, erudite, and unassuming youth, is owed a large sum of money (about eight million sestertii), by the people of Nicaea ** ; and, according to what I hear, they are desirous of paying him among their first creditors. You will therefore do me a great kindness (and the other trustees who know how highly you esteem me, as well as the youth himself, are fully persuaded that there is nothing you will not do for me), if you make every effort, so far as your integrity and position permit, to get as much of the money as possible ** paid to Pinnius on behalf of the people of Nicaea.
M. CICERO TO P. SILIUS, PROPRAETOR, GREETING
I blessed you for what you did in the business of Atilius ** (for though I came late, I was yet able, thanks to your kindness, to save an honourable Roman knight), and as a matter of fact I have always taken it for granted that I had you "in my pocket," ** since our friend Lamia ** had bound us together in so peculiarly close an association. So in the first place I thank you for freeing me from all awkwardness, and then I go further in shamelessness (but I shall make it good ** ; for I shall always honour and uphold you more conscientiously than anybody). It is about my brother Quintus ; if you have any regard for me, see that you put him in the same category of regard as you do myself. So will you enhance your already great kindness by a great and crowning addition.
M. CICERO TO P. SILIUS, PROPRAETOR, GREETING
I never thought it could happen that words would fail me, but they do fail me nevertheless in commend ing M. Laenius. ** I shall therefore explain the matter to you in a few words, and yet in such a way as to give you a clear appreciation of my friendly feeling for him. You cannot believe how highly both my brother, who is very dear to me, and myself esteem M. Laenius. It is the result not only of his numerous services to me, but also of his unimpeachable integrity, and singularly unassuming demeanour. I parted with him with the greatest reluctance, not only on account of our intimacy and the charm of our intercourse, but also because it was a pleasure to me to avail myself of his counsel, as honest as it was sound.
2 But I fear you will think I have a superfluity of words after saying that I should run short of them. Well, I commend the man to you as heartily as I am bound to commend one of whom I have written such words as the above ; and I earnestly beg of you again and again to expedite such business as he has in your province, and to give him personally such information as you think proper. You will find him a most affable and gentlemanly fellow. And so I ask you to send him back to me as soon as you can, free and unencumbered, with all his business settled as far as you are concerned in it. Your doing so will greatly gratify my brother and myself.
M. CICERO TO P. SILIUS, PROPRAETOR, GREETING
My friend Nero ** has expressed to me his gratitude to you in terms of amazing, nay, absolutely unimaginable warmth, declaring that no honour could possibly have been done him which you omitted to do him. You will gain much by personal intercourse with him, for that young man is the most grateful fellow in the world. But I positively assure you that you have done me too the greatest favour ; for there is nobody among the aristocracy I esteem more highly. If, therefore, you do what he wished to get done through my pleading with you, you will have done me the greatest possible favour. First then, as to Pausanias of Alabanda, hold the matter open until Nero arrives. I gathered that he was extremely anxious to promote Pausanias's interests ; so this is a request I strongly urge upon you. In the next place regard the Nysaeans ** as warmly commended to you, for Nero regards them as his particular friends, and supports and protects them with the utmost devotion. Do this to make that state believe that their main defence lies in the patronage of Nero. Strabo Servilius I have often commended to you ; I do so now all the more emphatically because Nero has taken up his case. All I ask of you is to press the business on so as not to leave an innocent man to the mercies of some avaricious governor unlike yourself. Not only will that be a favour to me, but I shall also consider that you have exhibited your customary kindness.
2 The whole point of this letter is, that you should promote Nero's honour in every respect, as indeed you have done from the beginning. Your province, unlike this of mine, affords a prominent stage for the applause and glorification of a youth of high birth, ability, and unselfish character. If, therefore, he has the advantage of your patronage, as he assuredly will have, and has had in the past, it will enable him to strengthen, and by his acts of kindness to oblige, highly influential bodies of clients bequeathed to him by his ancestors. If in this connexion you assist him with that devotion you have shown him in the past, you will have made a brilliant investment as regards the young man himself, but more than that, you will have done me too a special favour.
M. CICERO TO P. SILIUS, PROPRAETOR , GREETING
P. Terentius Hispo, ** who is employed in the collection of grazing-dues as deputy-manager, ** is a man with whom I am on the most familiar terms and in constant communication, and we have done each other many a good service, with equal advantage to each of us. His reputation mainly depends upon his settling his contracts with the rest of the states. It does not slip my memory that we experienced that difficulty at Ephesus, and that we could elicit no response whatever from the Ephesians. But now that, as everybody believes and I am convinced, you have so managed matters by your perfect integrity as well as by your exceptional courtesy and gentleness that you can obtain whatever you desire by a single nod with the heartiest consent of the Greeks, I beg of you with more than ordinary earnestness, out of compliment to myself, to be good enough to let Hispo have the benefit of this praiseworthy achievement.
2 There is this too ; I am myself closely associated with the partners in the grazing company, not only because I am the confidential adviser of the whole body, but also because I am on the most familiar terms with the majority of the partners. You will thus have conferred distinction on my friend Hispo at my intercession, and bound the company more closely to me, and you yourself will reap a rich reward in the respectful regard of this most grateful of men, as well as in the gratitude of partners who are men of the highest position, while you will have done me the greatest possible kindness. Indeed, I would have you believe that in the whole of your province and in the whole sphere of your provincial government there is nothing you could do that would give me greater pleasure.
M. CICERO TO P. SERVILIUS ** , GREETING
Being well aware how loyal to your friends and how merciful to those who have lost their civil rights you have always been, I should not think it necessary to commend to you A. Caecina, ** a client in a very special sense of your own family, were it not that the memory of his father, a very intimate friend of mine, as well as his own ill-fortune, affected me in such a way as the ill-fortune of one so closely connected with me by every sort of common interest and service was bound to affect me. This is what I implore you with all possible urgency to do (and I could make no appeal with greater sincerity or more solicitude of soul) that over and above all you would do of your own accord, without any extraneous recommendation, for one so eminent and so deserving, now that he is under a cloud you should allow my letter to add a sort of stimulus to your generosity, and induce you to assist him even more assiduously in whatever way you can.
2 Now had you been at Rome, we should have actually brought about the recall of A. Caecina (as I am inclined to think) through your instrumentality. Of that, however, I am still very hopeful, because I believe in your colleague's ** clemency. Now that, attracted by the beacon of your justice, he has decided that he can find no safer haven than your province, I ask and implore you again and again not only to help him in gathering together what is left of his old business, but also to shield and protect him in all other respects. There is nothing you can do that will give me greater pleasure.
M. CICERO TO P. SERVILIUS, PROPRAETOR, GREETING
In all my province of Cilicia - and you are aware that three Asiatic dioceses ** have been assigned to it - I have been more intimate with nobody than with Andro of Laodicea, the son of Artemo, and in that community I found in him not only a hospitable friend, but a man extraordinarily well suited to my habitual scheme of life ; though it is true that since I quitted my province I have begun to value him a great deal more highly, having had many proofs of his gratitude and mindfulness of what I had done for him. It follows that it was a great pleasure to me to see him at Rome. For you cannot have failed to notice (you who have shown generosity to such numbers of people in your province) what proportion of them are found to be grateful. **
2 I have a double object in writing thus - so that you may understand that I have good reason for taking the trouble, and so that you yourself may deem the man worthy of your hospitality. You will therefore do me the greatest favour if you make it manifest to him how highly you value me - in other words, if you take him under your protection and assist him in whatever way you can consistently with your honour and convenience. That will give me extreme pleasure, and I ask you again and again to do so.
M. TULLIUS CICERO TO P. SERVILIUS ISAURICUS, PROCONSUL, HIS COLLEAGUE ** , MANY GREETINGS
I was exceedingly pleased with your letter which gave me the routes of your various voyages ; for you implied thereby that you had not forgotten our close association, which was the greatest joy of my life. As to the future, it will give me even greater pleasure if you write and tell me in a friendly way all about public affairs, - in other words, about the situation in your province, and the particulars of your administration ; and although, celebrated man as you are, I shall be told all this by many others, I should like best of all to get the information out of a letter from you.
2 For my own part, I shall not often write and tell you what I think about politics in general, since a letter of that sort has its dangers ; but about what is actually going on, I shall write more often. In spite of all, I am not, I think, without hope that our colleague Caesar will be, and indeed is, anxious that we should have a constitution worthy of the name: and it was of great importance that you should play your part in his deliberations But if it is more to your advantage, by which I mean, more to your honour and glory, that you should be governor of Asia and look after that part of the Republic, a part which has suffered so cruelly, I too ought to pray preferably for just that which is likely to be of benefit both to yourself and to your reputation.
3 I shall attend with the utmost zeal and assiduity to whatever I consider affects your prestige, and most particularly shall I uphold in all reverence the dignity of that most distinguished man, your father ** ; and indeed it is no less than my duty to do so, considering our long-standing friendship, the kindnesses you have both done me, and the honour due to your father himself.
CICERO TO P. SERVILIUS, HIS COLLEAGUE, MANY GREETINGS
C. Curtius Mithres is, of course, as you are aware, the freedman of my very dear friend Postumus, but he has as much respect and regard for me as he has for his patron himself. At Ephesus, whenever I happened to be there, I was as much at home in his house as in my own, and many things have occurred to afford me proof of his kindly feeling and loyalty towards me. And so, if either I or any of my friends want anything done in Asia, I have got into the habit of writing to him, and of availing myself of his services and devotion, and indeed of his house and purse, as though they were my own. I have written all this to you at greater length than usual in order to impress upon you that I am not writing in a conventional sort of way or with any interested motives, but simply on behalf of a man with whom I am very intimate and very closely associated.
2 I therefore beg of you, in the lawsuit he has on hand with a certain Colophonian about some landed property, to serve his interests (and it will be a compliment to myself also) so far as you possibly can compatibly with your probity, and without trouble to yourself ; though, from what I know of his propriety of conduct, you will not find him at all burdensome. If through my recommendation and his own integrity he succeeds in winning your good opinion, he will think that he has got all he wants. I therefore earnestly urge you again and again to take him under your wing, and count him among the number of your friends. As for myself, I shall attend devotedly and punctiliously to whatever I think you desire, or whatever concerns your interests.
M. CICERO TO P. SERVILIUS, HIS COLLEAGUE, MANY GREETINGS
Because your friendly feeling for me is manifest to all, it naturally follows that many people desire that I should be the medium of their recommendation to you. Now I do sometimes confer this favour indiscriminately, but I do so for the most part on my particular friends, as on the present occasion. I am extremely familiar and closely associated with T. Ampius Balbus ** ; his freedman T. Ampius Menander, a sterling and unassuming fellow, is greatly esteemed both by his patron and myself, and I commend him to you with more than ordinary warmth. You will do me a particular favour if you serve his interests in whatever way you can without inconveniencing yourself, and I earnestly beg you again and again to do so.
M. CICERO TO P. SERVILIUS, HIS COLLEAGUE, MANY GREETINGS
Now that our intimacy and your goodwill towards me is a matter of common knowledge, I find myself obliged to recommend ever so many people to you. But although all whom I recommend ought to have my best wishes, I have not the same reason for such wishes in every case. T. Agusius was not only my companion during the most miserable period of my life, but also shared with me all my journeys, voyages, troubles, and dangers ; nor would he have left my side at the present time, had I not given him permission. That is the reason I recommend him to you as being one of my own household, and one of those most closely attached to me. You will do me a very great favour by so treating him as to convince him that this recommendation has been of material service and assistance to him.
M. CICERO TO P. SERVILIUS, HIS COLLEAGUE, GREETING
As regards the estate, investments, and Asiatic possessions of my intimate friend Caerellia, ** I commended them to you as particularly as I could when I was with you in your pleasure-garden ; and you, in accordance with your custom, and your unfailing and substantial services to me, most handsomely guaranteed that you would do everything you could. I hope you remember that ; I know you don't often forget. But, be that as it may, Caerellia's agents have written to me that, on account of the size of your province, and your numerous business engagements, you have to be reminded of that promise again and again.
2 I therefore beg of you to remember that you guaranteed to me that you would do everything compatible with your honour without any reserve whatever. Now I believe you have an excellent opportunity (though it is a matter for your own deliberation and judgment) of obliging Caerellia, arising out of that decree of the Senate which was passed in reference to the heirs of C. Vennonius. ** In the interpretation of that decree you will use your own wisdom. I know that the authority of that order has always been of importance in your eyes. As to what remains to be done, I would have you believe that in whatever respects you prove your kindness to Caerellia you will do me the greatest possible favour.
M. CICERO TO Q. PHILIPPUS, PROCONSUL ** , GREETING
I congratulate you on your safe return from your province with your reputation unimpaired and the commonwealth intact. But had I seen you at Rome, I should have thanked you in person for having shown a kindly interest in my very intimate friend, L. Egnatius, ** who was not on the spot, and in L. Oppius, who was,
2 With Antipater of Derbe ** I have ties not only of mutual hospitality but also of the closest intimacy. I am told that you have been exceedingly angry with him, and it distressed me. As for the facts, I am not in a position to pass any judgment, but of this I am very sure, that being the man you are, you have done nothing without due consideration. Anyhow, in view of our long-standing association, I beg of you again and again, as a special favour to myself, to refrain from taking any action against his sons, who are at your mercy - unless of course you think that to do so involves an outrage upon your reputation. If I thought so, I should never make this request, and your fair name would weigh far more with me than the association I have mentioned. But I try to persuade myself (it is possible that I may be mistaken) that your doing so will prove a credit to you rather than a handle for abuse.
As to what can be done, and what you can do for me (of your willingness I have no doubt), I should like you, if it will be no trouble to you, to send me word.
M. CICERO TO Q. PHILIPPUS, PROCONSUL, GREETING
Although I doubt not, considering the deference you show me and our close association, that you bear my recommendation in mind, yet I commend to you again and again, my dear friend, that same L. Oppius who is with you, as also the business affairs of my dear friend, L. Egnatius, who is not. So close is my association and intimacy with him that I could not be more anxious if it were my own affair. On that account you will do me the greatest favour if you make a point of giving him the impression that your affection for me is as sincere as I myself believe it to be. There is nothing you can do that would please me more ; and so I earnestly beg of you to do it.
M. CICERO TO T. TITIUS T.f, LEGATE **, GREETING
Although I doubt not that my first recommendation carries quite enough weight with you, I am nevertheless acceding to the request of C. Avianius Flaccus ** with whom I am on most intimate terms, and I wish him every success, as indeed I am bound to do. It was about him that I urgently pleaded with you in person, when you replied to me with the utmost courtesy, and in a previous letter to you I gave you full particulars ; but he imagines it to be of importance to him that I should write to you as frequently as possible. So please forgive me if in thus complying with his wishes I lead you to suspect that my recollection of your constancy is not as clear as it should be.
2 I also make this further request of you - to accommodate Avianius as regards both the place and the time at which he is to discharge his corn. ** It was through me also that he secured both these privileges for a term of three years, when Pompey was in chief charge of that business. The main point is this (and you might greatly oblige me in that respect), that you should make it your object to convince Avianius, since he already assumes my affection for him, of your affection for me. That will give me great pleasure.
M. CICERO TO THE QUATTUORVIRI AND DECURIONS, GREETING **
So strong are the reasons for my association with Q. Hippius that nothing could be closer than the ties which bind us. Were it not so, I should observe my usual practice and avoid giving you the slightest trouble. Indeed, you yourselves can best testify to the fact that, though I was convinced I could make no request of you which you would not grant, it has never been my wish to impose a burden upon you.
2 I therefore earnestly beg you again and again to pay me the compliment of treating C. Valgius Hippianus as handsomely as you can, and so arrange matters with him that his tenure of the estate which he holds after purchase from you in the territory of Fregellae may be free of charge and clear of obligations. If you accede to this request of mine, I shall consider that you have done me a very great kindness.
M. CICERO TO P. SULPICIUS, IMPERATOR **, GREETING
Although in these days I am not very regular in my attendance at the Senate, yet, after reading your letter, I did not think I could possibly fail to support your claims to honour without prejudice to our long-standing friendship and our many mutual services. That being so, I took my place, and it gave me pleasure to vote for a supplicatio in your honour ; and on no occasion in the future shall I fail to support your interests, reputation, or position. Moreover, so that your relatives may be assured of this feeling I have for you, I should like you to write and tell them so, in order that, if you have any need of help, they may not hesitate to give me a clear intimation to that effect, as they have a perfect right to do.
2 M. Bolanus ** is a person I warmly commend to you, as being a good and gallant man, possessing every accomplishment, and an old friend of mine. You will do me a favour if you take care to make him feel that this recommendation has proved of material service to him. And you will find the man himself too an excellent fellow and full of gratitude. I promise you that you will get no little pleasure out of your friendship with him.
3 There is this too ; I beg of you more earnestly than usual, in the name of our friendship and your unvarying devotion to me, to take particular pains in the following matter also : my slave Dionysius, who had the charge of my very costly library, having stolen a lot of books, and thinking that he would be punished for the theft, has absconded. He is in your province. Both my friend Bolanus and several others saw him at Narona, ** but when he declared that I had given him his freedom, they took his word for it. If you charge yourself with the business of getting him back for me, I cannot tell you how delighted I shall be. It is a small thing in itself, but my annoyance is great. Bolanus will inform you where he is, and what can be done. If you are the means of my getting the rascal back, I shall consider that you have done me a very great kindness.
M. CICERO TO ALLIENUS, [PROCONSUL] **, GREETING
Democritus of Sicyon is not only on hospitable terms, but also (and this does not happen in many such cases, especially if they are Greeks) on very intimate terms with me ; for he is exceedingly honourable, exceedingly conscientious, and exceedingly generous and deferential in the dispensing of hospitality, and, as for myself, he venerates, respects, and esteems me more than he does anybody else. You will find him to be the chief man, not only among his fellow- citizens, but almost in the whole of Achaia.
2 Such is the man for whom I am merely opening the door and paving the way to your acquaintance ; when you know him, you will, with your innate sense of justice, pronounce him worthy of your friendship and hospitality on your own account.
I therefore beg of you, when you have perused this letter, to take him under your protection, and promise to do all you can for him for my sake. For the rest, if, as I am confident you will, you find that he is likely to be worthy of your friendship and hospitality, I beg of you to give him a hearty welcome, make much of him, and count him among your friends. That will give me more than ordinary pleasure.
M. CICERO TO ALLIENUS, PROCONSUL, GREETING
I believe you know how highly I have always esteemed C. Avianius Flaccus, ** and besides I have heard from his own lips, excellent and grateful man that he is, how generously he has been treated by you. It is his sons I now commend to you as being most worthy of such a father, and close friends of my own, of whom I am particularly fond, and there are no men I could commend to you with greater enthusiasm. C. Avianius is in Sicily, Marcus is with us. I ask you to advance the claims of the former, whom you have with you, and to protect the interests of both. There is nothing you can do in your province that would please me better, and I earnestly beg of you again and again to do so.
73. He was a legatus of Caesar, and was in command at Oricum in 48. Some time between 48 and 45 (it is not clear when) he was proconsul of Sicily. Cicero refers with gratitude to Acilius's kindness to him during his unhappy year at Brundisium ; but Acilius had reason to be grateful to Cicero for having twice successfully defended him de capite (vii. 30.3).
74. i.e., before 90 B.C., when the full Roman citizenship was offered them by L. Julius Caesar.
75. M. Brutus's praefectus fabrum, who was killed at Philippi. It was this Flavius who suggested to Atticus that the equites should raise a fund in support of the tyrannicides, and Brutus blamed Atticus for refusing to accept the suggestion, See Ad Brut. i. 17. 3 and i. 6. 4.
76. C. Piso Frugi, Tullia's first husband.
77. In the middle of the N. coast of Sicily. Having been the first Sicilian state to join the Romans in the First Punic War, it was favourably treated in the settlement of the island.
78. i.e., "I meant no reflection upon you in what I have just said ; no, you always regard my recommendations as genuine, and respond accordingly."
79. i.e., the equestrian order.
80. Cicero was quaestor of Lilybaeum in 75 - 74 B.C. under the praetor Sext. Peducaeus.
81. As Philoxenus seems to have been made a Roman citizen at Cicero's request, he should have taken the name of M. Tullius ; but as Cicero had probably been actuated by Avianius's advice, Philoxenus preferred to take the name of the latter. (Cf. xiii. 79.)
82. Novum Comum was a colony established by Caesar, who regarded it as being specially under his protection.
83. i.e, Megas took Dolabella's name just as Phiioxenus (see the preceding letter) had taken that of Avianius, and now called himself P. Cornelius Megas.
84. Kalē Aktē on the N. coast of Sicily, east of Halesa.
85. See note on letter 34 above.
86. Tribune of the plebs in 59, when he opposed Caesar. He was praetor in 56, and proconsul of Macedonia in 55.
87. Tyrrell remarks that the title of proconsul does not necessarily imply that Culleoius had been consul. It was sometimes given to a provincial governor in command of an army.
88. This is the Lucceius whom Cicero urged to write an account of the Catilinian conspiracy (v. 12).
89. It appears that the inhabitants of Bullis (a town on the coast of Illyria, S. of Apollonia) owed money to Lucceius, and had promised to pay it, but Culleolus's official authority would increase the prospects of its being paid,
90. Probably a legatus of Marcius Philippus, who seems to have been governor of Asia, but in what year it is not known.
91. See ii. 16. 7.
92. A town between Synnada and Iconium.
93. Both Marcus and Quintus Cicero had money dealings with Egnatius. (Att. vii. 18. 4.)
94. Sc. Oppius.
95. i.e., to Marcius Philippus (see note at start of letter 43).
96. Zoilus was a freedman of L. Nostius, whose name he took according to the usual practice.
97. Probably P. Silius Nerva, propraetor of Bithynia and Pontus in 51.
98. Probably some efforts of Cicero to escape from provincial government.
99. Rufus seems to have been sent out to Cyprus as proquaestor by Caesar in 49. We hear of him later as commander of the fleet of Cassius in 43.
100. P. Lentulus Spinther, governor of Cilicia 56-53 (see note on i. 1. 1).
101. When governor of Cilicia (in 51 and 52), for at that time Cyprus was part of the province of Cilicia, and remained so until 47, when it was handed over to Arsinoe and Ptolemy, son of Ptolemy Auletes (Dio Cass. xiii. 35. 5),
102. See ii. 19 2. It is not known what province he governed, or when.
103. See note on letter 30 above.
104. The stock phrase for a building in good repair.
105. Q. Marcius Rex, propraetor of Sicily in 46.
106. i.e., the Pompeian cause.
107. A thorough-going optimate, who was tribune of the plebs in 62, and praetor between that year and 57. He was governor of Asia in 51 and 50.
108. A town a little E. of Lampsaciis in the dioikēsis (department) of the Hellespont. It was made a colony by Augustus.
109. Nothing more is known of him.
110. It is interesting to note that Cicero had to employ an interpreter in his province.
111. One of Cicero's legati, and a distinguished military officer. The legati were officers who accompanied Roman generals on their campaigns as brigadiers or aides-de-camp, and in later times the governors of provinces also to be employed in either a civil or a military capacity. Pompey, when in Asia, had 15 legati ; Cicero had 4.
112. In Lydia.
113. The Cluvii were a Campanian family, one of whom (cf. Livy XXVI. 33. 8) supplied Roman captives with provisions in 215. This Cluvius (M.) was a wealthy banker of Puteoli. He made Cicero one of his heirs.
114. Mylasa (or Mylassa) was an inland town of Caria, and a free town under the Romans.
115. Alabanda was also a free town in Caria.
116. Ecdici were counsel sent by a provincial town to defend their cause at Rome. They were generally preferred to legati, as the latter could only make a request, whereas ecdici could plead at law, but the cost of sending them was almost prohibitive. See note on letter 36 § 3 above.
117. The inhabitants of Heraclea (also called Salbace) in Caria.
118. Also in Caria.
119. An unhealthy town in Caria, famous for its figs.
120. An edict was in general terms, a decree more specific.
121. See note on letter 55 § 1 above.
122. One of the Peducaei, adopted into the Curtian family.
123. M. Fadius Gallus, a great friend of Cicero, who addressed to him vii. 23-36.
124. The customary public announcement of a praetor on entering office, in which he specified the rules by which he would be guided in administering justice. Out of such edicts was evoked an important part of the body of Roman law.
125. Or, "to say the least of it," whatever other claims he may have upon me. Shuckburgh translates it "to begin with."
126. Probably exile, but the circumstances are not known.
127. Propraetor of Bithynia and Pontus in 51. For a law suit in which he was engaged see vii. 21.
128. i.e., the next heir, in the event of the first heir dying. Cf. Hor. Sat. ii. 5. 45-50.
129. Nicaea was one of the twelve townships into which Bithynia was divided.
130. Reading 'quam plurimum pecuniae' with MH. Another reading is 'quam primum pecunia' (D and Cratander), "that the money should be paid at the earliest possible date," which is borne out by 'in primis' above.
131. It is not known what this was ; it was probably the recovery of some heavy debt.
132. i.e., "entirely at my disposal," lit. "part of my own property."
133. For Lamia see xi. 16. 2 and xii. 29.
134. Lit. " patch it up."
135. See xiv. 4. 2.
136. Tiberius Claudius Nero, father of the emperor Tiberius, impeached Gabinius in 54 (Q.F. iii, 1. 15, and 2. 1). He visited Cicero in Cilicia to arrange a marriage with Tullia, but she had already become betrothed to Dolabella. Nero afterwards married Livia Drusilla, whom he had to resign in later life to be the wife of Augustus,
137. The people of Nysa in Caria.
138. A connexion of Cicero's through his wife Terentia.
139. Such part of the ager publicus as could not be cultivated was let out for grazing. It was let out by the censors to the grazing company of the publicani, called scripturarii, from scriptura, as the tax was called, paid by provincials for the right of grazing, since they had to register {scribere} their names and the number and kind of animals. All such companies of the publicani had a chairman at Rome {manceps, or princeps societatis}, an annually elected managing director {magister societatis} at Rome, and a deputy-manager {promagistro} in the provinces or where the scriptura was collected. - Tyrrell.
140. P. Servilius Vatia Isauricus, son of the Servilius who gained the title by his victory over the pirates of Isauria in 78, was in his earlier days an aristocrat and a follower of Cato. He was praetor in 54, and in 48 he was consul with Caesar and opposed the revolutionary projects of Caelius Rufus. In 46 he was governor of Asia.
141. For A. Caecina see vi. 5-9.
142. Caesar, who was Servilius's colleague, both as augur, and in 48 as consul.
143. Viz. Synnada, Cibyra, and Apamea. cf, iii, 8, 5. dioikēsis was an assize-district.
144. i.e. "how few."
145. Cicero, Servilius, and Caesar were colleagues in the College of Augurs ; cf. § 2.
146. Consul in 79 ; he gained the title of Isauricus in the following year. See note on letter 66 § 1 above.
147. The 'tuba belli civilis' ; see ii. 16. 3.
148. A rich and accomplished lady frequently mentioned by Cicero in his letters to Atticus. She copied out the De Finibus. It appears from Att. xii. 51. 3 that Cicero once borrowed money from her, which Atticus considered unworthy
149. Tyrrell thinks this was a senatus consultum passed to meet a special case in violation of the laws, another instance to which is described in Att, v. 21. 12.
150. Q. Marcius Philippus appears to have been governor of Asia, though in what year is unknown.
151. Both he and L. Oppius were bankers in Philippus's province. See letters 44 and 45 above.
152. Derbē was in Lycaonia. Nothing more is known of Antipater.
153. This Titius was a legatus of Pompey, when the latter was praefectus annonae (Minister of the Corn Supply).
154. Avianius was apparently a corn-factor who had enjoyed under Pompey certain privileges as to the time and place for the delivery of corn, which privileges Cicero asks Titius to enable Avianius to retain.
155. The time and place of the delivery was of course of the utmost importance, and Avianius seems to have been given carte blanche in both respects.
156. That this letter is addressed to some municipium or other is evident from the terms used, IVviri and decuriones, the latter being the senators of a municipium; but we know no more. Tyrrell suggests that it might have been Fabrateria, a restoration of Fregellae (on the Liris in Latium), under a new name.
157. The son of the distinguished jurist (for whom see note on iv. 1. 1). This Sulpicius was commander-in-chief of the forces in lllyricum during 46, as Vatinius was in 45 and 43 (v. 9 sqq.).
158. Nothing more is known of him.
159. On the coast of Illyria, between Histria and Dyrrachium.
160. Of Sicily. In 60 Allienus was one of Cicero's legati in Asia, and in 49 was a praetor. In 43 he was a legatus of Dolabella, but surrendered to Cassius. See xii. 11. 1 and 12 . 1 .
161. See letters 35 and 75 in this book.
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