21 June 44 BCE: To Atticus (at Rome) from Cicero (at Tusculum)
Cicero gets the not-at-all-fanciful scoop on his nephew
[This is the first of two letters from June 21st.]
I tell you, the elder Quintus is ecstatic with joy. His son writes that he wanted to escape to Brutus because, when Antony gave him the task of making him Dictator and occupying a garrison, he refused to; and he said he refused to so that he wouldn’t hurt his father’s feelings.1 For this reason, that man is now his enemy. ‘Then’, he said, ‘I composed myself, fearing that in his anger at me, he might harm you. So I calmed him down. And I got 400,000 for definite, and hope of more.’2 Statius also writes that he wants to live with his father (this truly is remarkable)—and Quintus is delighted. Has there ever been anyone more utterly worthless?
I approve of your suspension of judgement about Canus’ situation; it needs consideration.3 I had no suspicions about the accounts—I thought everything had been payed back in full. I shall wait to hear in person what you are delaying telling me. Hang on to the letter-carriers for as long as you like; you really are busy. It’s good that you have written to Xeno. I will send you what I’m writing when I’ve finished it off. You wrote to Quintus that you had sent him a letter. No-one delivered one.
Tiro says that you don’t like Brundisium at the moment, and even that you are saying something about soldiers. But I have already set my mind on Hydrus. Those five hours of yours convinced me. It’s such a journey from here! But we’ll see how it goes. No letter from you on the 21st. Of course, for what news is there? So come as soon as you can. I am hurrying, in case Sextus gets here first. They say he is on his way.
Read Ad Atticum 15.21 in Latin here | Check the glossary here
Footnote borrowed from Shackleton Bailey: ‘There was no legal way by which Quintus Junior could [make Antony Dictator]. He had no office in 44, though he may probably have held the Quaestorship in 43. The notion current in commentaries that he had the Tribunate in view is very unlikely, for, apart from the improbability of his being considered eligible for that office, Antony would scarcely have been interested in a prospect six months distant. Besides, praesidium occuparet [occupying a garrison] implies a coup-de-main. [Cicero] obviously thought the whole story cock and bull.’ Antony himself had passed a law abolishing the Dictatorship in April 44 BCE.
And then everyone clapped.
Quintus Gellius Canus was a friend of Atticus. Quintus Jr. had been considering marrying his daughter Cana.
AND THEN EVERYONE CLAPPED...