Diiungere me ab illo volo. Merus est φυρατής, germanus Lartidius. Ἀλλὰ τὰ μὲν προτετύχθαι ἐάσομεν ἀχνύμενοί περ. Reliqua expediamus, hoc primum, quod accessit cura dolori meo. Sed tamen hoc, quicquid est, Precianum cum iis rationibus, quas ille meas tractat, admisceri nolo. Scripsi ad Terentiam, scripsi etiam ad ipsum, me, quicquid possem nummorum, ad apparatum sperati triumphi ad te redacturum. Ita puto ἄμεμπτα fore; verum ut lubebit. Hanc quoque suscipe curam, quem ad modum experiamur. Id tu et ostendisti quibusdam litteris ex Epiro an Athenis datis, et in eo ego te adiuvabo. * * * * * Page 11 I come back to Hirrus. You have begun to reconcile him to me; accomplish it. Scrofa and Silius are on your side. I have already written to them and to Hirrus himself. For Hirrus had told them in a friendly way that he could easily have prevented the decree, but was reluctant; that, however, he had sided with Cato, my very good friend, when the latter recorded a vote complimenting me in the highest terms. Hirrus added that I had omitted to write to him, though I had sent letters to every one else. He was right. It was only to him and to Crassipes that I did not write. So much for public life. Let us come home. I wish to dissociate myself from that fellow Philotimus. He is a veritable muddler, a regular Lartidius[8]. [8] Taken by the older commentators to be a Latin form of Λαερτιάδης (i.e. Ulysses); but the sense does not seem to warrant the comparison, which could only mean "as wily as Ulysses." "A truce to what is past for all our pain."[9] [9] _Iliad_ xviii, 112; xix, 65, "Let bygones be bygones." Let us settle what remains; and first this point, which adds anxiety to my sorrow. This sum, I mean, whatever it is, which comes from Precius, I do not want mixed up with the accounts of mine of which that fellow has the handling. I have written to Terentia and to Philotimus himself that I shall deposit with you any moneys I may collect, for the equipment of the triumph I anticipate. So I fancy there will be no _amour propre_ wounded: but as they like. Here is another matter for your consideration--the steps I am to take to arrange this business. You outlined them in a letter dated from Epirus or Athens, and I will support your plan. * * * * * Page 12 II CICERO ATTICO SAL. [Sidenote: _Scr. Brundisi V K. Dec., ut videtur, a. 704_] Brundisium venimus VII Kalend. Decembr. usi tua felicitate navigandi; ita belle nobis "Flavit ab Epiro lenissimus Onchesmites."