Latin Texts & Translations

DXXIX (F xv, 18)

TO C. CASSIUS LONGINUS (AT BRUNDISIUM) ROME (JANUARY ?)

^[Note] MY letter would have been longer, had not the messenger come for it when he was just on the point of starting for you. It would have been longer also if it had any persiflage in it, for we cannot be serious with safety. "Can we laugh, then?" you will say. No, by Hercules, not very easily. Yet other means of distraction from our troubles we have none. "Where, then," you will say, "is your philosophy?" Yours indeed is in the kitchen, mine in the schools. ^[Note] For I

am ashamed of being a slave. Accordingly, I pose as being busy about other things, to avoid the reproach of Plato. ^[Note] We have no Certain intelligence from Spain as yet—in fact, no news at all. For my sake I am sorry that you are out of town, for your own I am glad. But your letter-carrier is getting clamorous. Good-bye then, and love me as you have done from boyhood.