Chapter text=A:book=12:letter=2

TO ATTICUS (IN THE COUNTRY) ROME (APRIL)

Well, all the same, there are reports here that Statius Murcus has been lost at sea, that Asinius reached land to fall into the hands of the soldiers, that fifty ships have been carried ashore at Utica by the contrary wind now prevailing, that Pompeius is nowhere to be seen and has not been in the Balearic isles at all, as Paciaecus asserts. But there is absolutely no confirmation of any single thing. I have told you what people have been saying in your absence. Meanwhile, there are games at Praeneste. Hirtius and all that set were there. Indeed, the games lasted eight days. What dinners! what gaiety! Meantime, perhaps the great question has been settled. What astonishing people! But—you say—Balbus is actually building; for what does he care? But, if you ask my opinion, is not life all over with a man who makes only pleasure, and not right, his aim? You meanwhile slumber on. The time has come to solve the problem, if you mean td do anything. If you want to know what I think—I think "enjoy while you can." But why run on? I shall see you soon, and indeed I hope you will come straight to me when you get back. For I will arrange a day for Tyrannio at the same time, and anything else suitable. (Horace, Od. ii. i). He had been with Caesar from the first. In B.C. 47, while Caesar was at Alexandria, he was tribune, but was now again with him in Africa.