DCCLI (F XVI, 23)
[16.23] [Sh.751] TO TIRO (AT ROME)
TUSCULUM (21 JUNE)
WELL, settle about the tax-return if you can: though this particular money is not properly liable to such a return. However—no matter! Balbus writes to say that he has such a violent catarrh that he has lost his voice. As to Antonius and his law-it's all one. [678] Let them only leave me my country life. I have written to Bithynicus. [679] I must leave you to make your own reflexions on Servilius [680] —for you rather want to live to be an old man. As for me, our dear Atticus, having once noticed that I was in a panic, thinks that it is always so with me, and does not see with what a panoply of philosophy I am now armed. In fact he creates alarm by being frightened himself. After all I really do wish to keep up my friendship with Antony, [681] which has now lasted a long time without a quarrel, and I will write to him, but not till I have seen you. Yet I don't want to call you off from looking after your bond-every man for himself! [682] I am expecting Lepta [683]...tomorrow. To qualify the bitter rue of his talk I shall want the sweet marjoram of yours. Good-bye.