Latin Texts & Translations

DCCLI (F XVI, 23)

TO TIRO (AT ROME) TUSCULUM (21 JUNE)

WELL, settle about the tax-return if you can: though this particular money is not properly liable to such a return. However—no matter! Balbus writes to say that he has such a violent catarrh that he has lost his voice. As to Antonius and his law-it's all one. ^[Note] Let them only leave me my country life. I have written to Bithynicus. ^[Note] I must leave you to make your own reflexions on Servilius ^[Note] —for you rather want to live to be an old man. As for me, our dear Atticus, having once noticed that I was in a panic, thinks that it is always so with me, and does not see with what a panoply of philosophy I am now armed. In fact he creates alarm by being frightened himself. After all I really do wish to keep up my friendship with Antony, ^[Note] which has now lasted a long time without a quarrel, and I will write to him, but not till I have seen you. Yet I don't want to call you off from looking after your bond-every man for himself! ^[Note]

I am expecting Lepta ^[Note] ...tomorrow. To qualify the bitter rue of his talk I shall want the sweet marjoram of yours. Good-bye.