In all my letters to Cæsar or Balbus there is a sort of statutory appendix containing a recommendation of you, and not one of the ordinary kind, but accompanied by some signal mark of my warm feeling towards you. See only that you get rid of that feeble regret of yours for the city and city ways, and carry out with persistence and courage what you had in your mind when you set out. We, your friends, shall pardon your going away for that purpose as much as "The wealthy noble dames who held the Corinthian peak" pardoned Medea, whom, with hands whitened to the utmost with chalk, she persuaded not to think ill of her for being absent from her fatherland: for "Many have served themselves abroad and served the state as well; Many have spent their lives at home to be but counted fools." In which latter category you would have certainly been, had I not forced you abroad. But I will write more another time. You who learnt to look out for others, look out, while in Britain, that you are not yourself taken in by the charioteers; and, since I have begun quoting the _Medea_, remember this line: "The sage who cannot serve himself is vainly wise I ween." Take care of your health.[590] [Footnote 590: Trebatius is going to join Cæsar, who is about to sail to Britain; hence the jest about the _essedarii_, drivers of Gallic and British war-chariots. Letter CXXXIII recommended him to Cæsar. The lines quoted are from the _Medea_ of Ennius, adapted or translated from Euripides. I date these two letters from Cumæ, because he speaks of writing to Balbus, who was at Rome (p. 267).] CXXXVI (F VII, 7) TO C. TREBATIUS TESTA (ON HIS WAY TO GAUL) CUMÆ (APRIL OR MAY) [Sidenote: B.C. 54, ÆT. 52] For my part, I never cease recommending you, but I am eager to know from you how far my recommendation is of service. My chief hope is in Balbus, to whom I write about you with the greatest earnestness and frequency. It often excites my wonder that I don't hear from you as often as from my brother Quintus. In Britain I am told there is no gold or silver. If that turns out to be the case, I advise you to capture a war-chariot and hasten back to us at the earliest opportunity. But if--letting Britain alone--we can still obtain what we want, take care to get on intimate terms with Cæsar. In that respect my brother will be of much use to you, so will Balbus, but most of all, believe me, your own modesty and industry. You have an _imperator_ of the most liberal character, your age is exactly the best one for employment, and your recommendation at any rate is quite unique, so that all you have to fear is not doing yourself full justice. CXXXVII (A IV, 14) TO ATTICUS (ON A JOURNEY) CUMÆ (MAY) [Sidenote: B.C. 54, ÆT. 52]