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meet Cæsar—anything in fact that I ought to know. If you can, call on Piso: you see how pressing it is. Yet only if it is no inconvenience to you.

DCXXIII (A XIII, 12)

TO ATTICUS (AT ROME)



Your letters about our dear Attica stung me to the heart. However, they also healed the wound. For the fact that you consoled yourself in the same letter gave me sufficient assurance to alleviate my distress. You have given my speech for Ligarius a famous start. Henceforth, whenever I write anything, I shall intrust the advertising to you. As to what you say in your letter about Varro, you are aware that heretofore my speeches and writings of that nature have been composed in a way that made the introduction anywhere of Varro impossible. But when I began these more literary works, Varro had already announced to me a dedication of an important treatise. Two years have passed, and that "Callippides," though perpetually on the move, has not advanced a yard. I, on the other hand, am preparing to return anything he sent me, "measure and all and even better"—if I had but the power: for even Hesiod adds the proviso "if you can." As things stand at present

"From neighbour take full measure, and pay him back no lower, Measure and all or better still, if thou but hast the power." ]