not fared quite so badly. Cæsar was able to read a few words of it, and wrote in reply as follows: "I see that you have written something about Cicero; I could not make it all out, but so far as I can decipher the meaning it was something so good that I could wish for it, but hardly hope for it." On receiving another copy, Cæsar joyfully accepted the proposal, modestly, however, warning Cicero that he feared his brother would be disappointed if he expected he was coming to a rich province.
Cicero was not the man to resist such constant and flattering attentions. He was completely dazzled alike by the splendour of Cæsar's exploits, and by the friendship which he displayed towards himself. To his brother in Cæsar's camp he expresses himself very warmly. "l have taken Cæsar to my bosom and will never let him slip."[1] "Like a belated traveller, I must make up for lost time. I have been too much behindhand in availing myself of his friendship; now I will put my best foot forward."[2] "I can have no reserve when I deal with Cæsar. He comes next to you and to our children in my affection, and not far behind."[3] Perhaps it is not safe to take these letters, which were to travel in Cæsar's despatch-boxes, as absolutely confidential.[4] But even in the letters to Atticus, "in which
- ↑ Ad Q. F., ii., 11, 1.
- ↑ Ad Q. F., ii., 13, 2.
- ↑ Ad Q. F., iii., 1, 18.
- ↑ Cicero believed that his letters might be opened and read on the road (Ad Q. F., iii., 1, 21, and 8, 2, and 9, 3). The Romans were not very exact in their code of honour in this matter. Cicero several times opened letters of members of his family under circumstances which would not to our notions justify the action.
