ate, will value the cost of the building that
stood upon it; but if the pontifices decide otherwise, they will pull
down the Clodian building, give out a contract in their own name (for a
temple), and value to me the cost of a site and house. So our affairs
are

"For happy though but ill, for ill not worst."[383]

In regard to money matters I am, as you know, much embarrassed. Besides,
there are certain domestic troubles, which I do not intrust to writing.
My brother Quintus I love as he deserves for his eminent qualities of
loyalty, virtue, and good faith. I am longing to see you, and beg you to
hasten your return, resolved not to allow me to be without the benefit
of your advice. I am on the threshold, as it were, of a second life.
Already certain persons who defended me in my absence begin to nurse a
secret grudge at me now that I am here, and to make no secret of their
jealousy. I want you very much.

[Footnote 378: Reading _ab infimo_.]

[Footnote 379: As backing the decree. The phrase was _aderat scribendo
M. Tullius Cicero_, etc.]

[Footnote 380: _Dederunt_, _i.e._, _contionem_; lit. gave me a meeting,
_i.e._, the right of addressing the meeting, which only magistrates or
those introduced by magistrates could do.]

[Footnote 381: C. Messius, a tribune of the year.]

[Footnote 382: Clodius had consecrated the site of Cicero's house for a
temple of Liberty. The pontifices had to decide whether that
consecration held good, or whether the site might be restored to Cicero.
Hence his speech _de Domo sua ad Pontifices_.]

[Footnote 383: The origin of the Latin line is not known. The English is
Milton's, _P. L._ ii. 224.]

XC (A IV, 2)

TO ATTICUS (IN EPIRUS)

ROME (OCTOBER)

[Sidenote: B.C. 57, AET. 49]

If by any chance you get letters less frequently from me than from
others, I beg you not to put it down to my negligence, or even to my
engagements; for though they are very heavy, there can be none
sufficient to stop the course of our mutual affection and of the
attention I owe to you. The fact is that, since my return to Rome, this
is only the second time that I have been told of anyone to whom I could
deliver a letter, and accordingly this is my second letter to you. In my
former I described the reception I had on my return, what my political
position was, and how my affairs were.

"For happy though but ill, for ill not worst."

The despatch of that letter was followed by a great c