I received two letters from you yesterday. From the first, I learnt about the theatre and Publilius—positive signs of the favour of the common people. Indeed, the applause given to Lucius Cassius seemed funny, at least to me.1 The other letter was written about Baldy,2 who has no […] as you think. I was delayed by the conversation […].3
But that which I had written to you about, incomprehensibly maybe, is something like this: he said that at the time when I visited him at the request of Sestius, when I was sitting waiting, Caesar said to him ‘I would now be stupid to think that this easy-going man is my friend, who has to sit so long waiting at my convenience.’ So there you have him: bald-head is most unfriendly to peace, that is, to Brutus.
I’m at Tusculum today, Lanuvium tomorrow, and after that, I’m thinking Astura. Everything is prepared for Pilia’s stay, but I wish Attica was coming. I forgive you though. Health to them both.
Read Ad Atticum 14.2 in Latin here | Check the glossary here
Lucius Cassius had sided with Caesar in the civil war, but joined the side of the Liberatores at some point after the assassination of Caesar. Cicero interprets the applause as supportive of the assassination, but it is unclear whether it came before or after Lucius Cassius’ change in allegiance, and whether or not it was sincere.
Gaius Matius. Cicero calls him other names that mean bald, in both Latin and Greek, elsewhere.
The text of this sentence is too corrupt to translate.