2 September 44 BCE: To Quintus Cornificius from Cicero (in the Senate)
Cicero, in the Senate, casually: 'I find responses easier than provocations.'
Thank you for your letter, although you didn’t have to snub my little lodge near Sinuessa! My poor little villa will not take the insult well, unless you repent entirely at Cumae and Pompeii.1 So please do, and remain fond of me, and challenge me with whatever you’ve written. I find responses easier than provocations. But if you hold back, as you do now, I shall challenge you—and your laziness will not make me idle. More when I am not busy (I’ve scrawled this down while in the Senate).
Read Ad Familiares 12.20 in Latin here | Check the glossary here
1
Cornificius was probably on his way to take up governorship of the province of Africa. Cicero was offering to let him stay in his various villas on the way there.