Page:The Letters of Cicero Shuckburg III.pdf/61

 Achaia never ceases maligning me. Clearly your letter has done no good. Good-bye.

8 March.

CCCCXXV (, 12)

TO ATTICUS (AT ROME)

Cephalio delivered me a letter from you in the evening of the 8th of March. Now on the morning of the same day I had already despatched the letter-carriers, to whom I had given a letter for you. However, after reading your letter I thought I must write something in answer, more especially as you shew that you are anxious as to what explanation I intend to offer Cæsar of my journey at the time that I left Italy. I have no need of any new explanation. For I have repeatedly written to him, and have charged various people to tell him, that I was unable, much as I wished it, to stand out against people's talk; and much more to the same effect. For there is nothing I should less like than that he should think that in a matter of such importance I did not act on my independent judgment. I afterwards received a letter from Cornelius Balbus the younger, saying that Cæsar regarded my brother Quintus as having "sounded the signal" for my retreat—for that was his expression. I was not at the time aware of what Quintus had written about me to many; but he had spoken and acted to my face with great bitterness, in spite of which I yet wrote to Cæsar in these words: