I hope I may see the day when I shall thank you for having compelled me to remain alive! At present I thoroughly repent it. But I beg you to come and see me at Vibo at once, to which town I have for several reasons directed my journey.[299] But if you will only come there, I shall be able to consult you about my entire journey and exile. If you don't do so, I shall be surprised, but I feel sure you will. [Footnote 299: Mod. _Monte Leone_, on the road to Rhegium, from which at this time Cicero meant to cross to Sicily, and thence to Malta.] LVI (A III, 2) TO ATTICUS (AT ROME) NARES LUCANÆ,[300] APRIL [Sidenote: B.C. 58, ÆT. 48] The reason for having come this journey is that there was no place where I could be independent except on Sica's estate,[301] especially till the bill is emended,[302] and at the same time because I find that from this spot I can reach Brundisium, if you were only with me, but without you I cannot stay in those parts owing to Autronius.[303] At present, as I said in my previous letter, if you will come to me, we shall be able to form a plan for the whole business. I know the journey is troublesome, but the whole calamity is full of troubles. I cannot write more, I am so heart-broken and dejected. Take care of your health. From Nares Lucanæ, 8 April. [Footnote 300: Nares Lucanæ (_Monte Nero_), near the River Silarus, and on the _via Popilia_ (south-western branch of the _Appia_). Cicero has therefore come north again from Vibo, having given up the idea of Rhegium and Sicily, and making for Beneventum, and so by the _via Appia_ for Brundisium.] [Footnote 301: A friend of Cicero's, of whose death at Brundisium we afterwards hear (_Fam._ xiv. 4, § 6).] [Footnote 302: The bill originally named 500 miles as the distance from Italy. Before passing it had to be put up in public three weeks (_trinundinæ_), and meanwhile might be amended, and was amended to 400.] [Footnote 303: P. Autronius Pætus, one of Catiline's confederates, who would injure Cicero if he could. Cicero would not be able to reach Epirus without coming within his reach; for he had been condemned for _ambitus_, and was in exile there or in Achaia. _Illas partes_=Epirus.] LVII (A III, 4) TO ATTICUS (AT ROME) NEAR VIBO, APRIL [Sidenote: B.C. 58, ÆT. 48]