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 liberality he has been treated by you. His sons—quite worthy of their father and close friends of my own, occupying a special place in my affection—I recommend to you with an earnestness beyond which I cannot go in recommending anyone. Gaius Avianius is in Sicily; Marcus is with us. I beg you to promote the social standing of the former, who is with you, and to defend the property of both. You cannot oblige me more by anything you do in your province. I beg you warmly and repeatedly to do so.

DXXV (F VI, 8)

TO AULUS CÆCINA (IN SICILY)

Largus, who is devoted to you, having told me that the 1st of January was the limit fixed for you, and having myself noticed that any ordinance made by Balbus and Oppius in Cæsar's absence was usually ratified by him, I urged upon them with warmth to grant me as a favour that you should be permitted to remain in Sicily as long as we wished. Though they have been in the habit of freely promising me anything which was not calculated to hurt the feelings of that party, or even of refusing it and giving a reason for their refusal, to this request or rather demand of mine they gave no immediate answer. However, they came to see me again the same day: they granted me permission for you to remain in Sicily as long as you chose: they said that they would answer for your not prejudicing your interests at all by doing so. Now, since you know what you have licence to do, I think you ought to know what my opinion is. After this business had been settled I received a letter from you asking my advice as to whether you should settle in Sicily, or go to look after the remains of your

Cicero's view as to intimacy with Greeks, see vol. i., p. 127.]
 * [Footnote: as to mutual entertainment, not necessarily implying intimacy. For