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 Tigellius. For instance, I should much like to know how much he got—yet, after all, I don't care a straw. Where do you think I ought to go, if it is not to be Alsium? And in fact I have written to Murena to ask him to put me up, but I think he has started with Matius. Sallustius therefore shall have the burden of my entertainment.

After I had written the above line, Eros informed me that Murena had answered him with the greatest kindness. Let him be our host, therefore. For Silius has no cushions: while Dida, I believe, has given up his whole villa to guests.

DCLXV (, 25)

TO M. FADIUS GALLUS (AT ROME)

You lament having torn up the letter: don't vex yourself, it is all safe. You can get it from my house whenever you please. For the warning you give me I am much obliged, and I beg you will always act thus. For you seem to fear that, unless I keep on good terms with him, I may laugh "a real Sardinian laugh." But look out for yourself. Hands off: our master is coming sooner than we thought. I fear we Catonian blockheads may find ourselves on the block. My dear Gallus, don't imagine that anything could be better than that part of your letter which begins: "Everything else is slipping away." This in your ear in confidence: keep it to yourself: don't tell even your freedman Apelles. Besides us two no one talks in that tone.). Others read catonium, explaining it to mean the "world below" ([Greek: katô]), "Hades." The "master" is, of course, Cæsar; and the metaphor of a school is kept by manus de tabula, (perhaps) "No more scribbling—here comes the schoolmaster," i.e., we had better stop writing "Catos" now Cæsar is back home.]