Translation:Letters to Friends/15.18

Rome, December 46 BC
M. Cicero says hello to C. Cassius

The letter would have been longer if it had not been sought from me at the very moment he was going to you, even longer if I had had some 'silly talk'; for we can hardly 'be serious' without danger. 'So,' you'll say, 'can we laugh?' By Hercules, not very easily; but nevertheless, we have no other relief from troubles. 'So,' you'll say, 'where's philosophy?' Yours is in the kitchen, mine's annoying; for I'm ashamed to be a slave. Accordingly, I'm pretending to do other things, lest I hear Plato's abuse.

Concerning Spain, there's still nothing certain, nothing new at all. For my sake I'm annoyed that you're away, for yours I'm glad. But the courier is becoming impatient. So, you will be well and, as you have done since childhood, love me.