316
Eve of the Civil War.
[50 B.C.
villa. "I consented willingly," he writes to Atticus,[1] "for I shall hear much excellent discourse on affairs of State, and likewise get valuable hints May, 51 B.C.for my provincial business." A few days later he writes,[2] "I am just leaving that admirable man, who is fully prepared for resistance to all that we have to fear." In contrast to this grave and sententious approval, it is worth while to note the observations of the irreverent Cælius:[3] "If you have come across Pompey, as you hoped you would, pray write me what impression he made on you, what he said to you, and what sort of intentions he manifested; for his habit is to say one thing and mean another, and yet not to have wit enough to conceal what his real purpose is."
Cicero, during the whole of his year in Cilicia, seems to have remained under the same illusion as to the nature of the danger that was to be apprehended, and his Roman correspondents did little to enlighten him. Atticus with strange self-deception writes to him[4] about the end of the year 51, that all his hopes of peace and quiet are placed on Pompey, and Cicero in answer expresses his full agreement. Even as late as June, 50, on the news of the desertion of the cause by Curio and the consul Paullus, who were both bought by Cæsar, Cicero writes to Atticus,[5] "not that I fear any danger, while Pompey stands firm,