Page:The Letters of Cicero Shuckburg III.pdf/380

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would have you shew wisdom and courage, in order that the moderation and dignity of your bearing may throw discredit on the unfair treatment you have met with from others.

DCLXXVIII (A XIII, 42)

TO ATTICUS (AT ROME)



He has been to see me and with a very dejected air. Said I to him: "Why so gloomy?" "Can you ask," said he, "when I am about to start on a journey, and a journey to the seat of war—a journey, too, that is not only dangerous, but discreditable as well?" "What is the compulsion, then?" said I. "Debt," said he, "and yet I haven't even money enough for the journey." At this point I took a hint from your kind of eloquence. I held my tongue. He went on: "But what gives me most pain is my uncle." "Why is that?" said I. "Because he is angry with me," said he. "Why do you allow him to be so," said I—for I prefer using that word to "Why do you incur it?" "I won't allow it," said he, "for I will remove the reason." "Excellent!" said I; "but if it won't be disagreeable to you, I should like to know what the reason is." "Because, while hesitating as to whom to marry, I vexed my mother, and consequently him too. However, nothing can make up for doing that in my eyes. I will do what they wish." "I wish you good luck," I said, "and I commend your resolution. But when is it to be?" "Oh, I don't care about the time," he said, "since I accept the thing." "Well, my