Page:The Letters of Cicero Shuckburg III.pdf/354

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I don't know. About his mother, how truly filial! "I had wished," he says, "to be with you as much as possible, and that a house should be taken for me; and I wrote to you to that effect. You have neglected to do it. Therefore we shall see much less of each other: for I cannot bear the sight of your house; you know why." The reason to which he alludes, his father tells me, is hatred of his mother. Now my dear Atticus, assist me with your advice:

"Scale the high-built wall shall I By justice pure and verity?"

That is, shall I openly renounce and disown the fellow, or shall I proceed "by crooked wiles"? For as was the case with Pindar, "My mind divided cannot hit the truth." On the whole the former is best suited to my character, the latter to the circumstances of the time. However, consider me as accepting whatever decision you have come to. What I am most afraid of is being caught at Tusculum. In the crowd of the city these things would be less difficult. Shall I go to Astura then? What if Cæsar suddenly arrives? Help me with your advice, I beg. I will follow your decision, whatever it may be..

"Whether it is by justice that the race of men upon the earth mount a lofty wall or by crooked wiles, my mind is divided in pronouncing the truth."]