=

letter, sometimes alone (iv., xxii.), sometimes preceded by data (x.-xiii.) agreeing with epistola understood. It is written according to the whim of the writer in the longer form a. d. vi. Kal. Dec. ante diem sextum Kalendas Decembris (xx., xxi.), or the shorter vi. Kal. Dec.sexto [die ante] Kalendas Decembris (iv., x., xii.). The § 9. year is occasionally given (iv.). When the place is mentioned it usually follows the date in the form required to answer the question "where?" from the standpoint of the writer (xiii., xv., xxi.), or the question "whence?" from the standpoint of the receiver (xii., xiv., xx.); sometimes, of course, the case is ambiguous (x.). Finally both date and place may be less formally expressed (xviii., xix.) in the body of the letter.

§ 10.

The SALUTATION and SIGNATURE are combined as in our 'society form:' Mr. John Doe presents his compliments to Mr. Richard Roe. The writer placed his cognomen first in the nominative case, then that of the person addressed in the dative, and finally the letters S. D. (salutem dicit): CICERO PAETO S. D. This formula was capable of alteration to correspond with the tone of the letter; the fulness of both names and greeting varying inversely with the intimacy of § 11. the correspondents. Politeness required that in formal letters the praenomen of the person addressed or of both should be given. CICERO (or M. CICERO) C. CAESARI S. D.; still greater formality required the descent upon the father's side and official titles (i., ii.): M. TULLIUS M (arci) F (ilius) M (arci) N (epos) CICERO IMP (erator) s. D. C. CAELIO L (uci) F (ilio) C (= Gai) N (epoti) CALDO § 12. QUAEST (ori). On the other hand in friendly letters the S.D. may become the more cordial SAL (iii., iv., vii-xiii.), or SAL (utem ) PLURIMAM, or may be omitted altogether as if too frigid. Then, too, more or less endearing adjectives may be added to the name of the correspondent, as suus (xiv., xxi.),SUAVISSIMUS, DULCISSIMUS, etc., or a tender diminutive employed (xx., xxi.), or the praenomen (vi.), or nomen (xiv.), may be substituted for the cognomen of the writer.

§ 13.

The BODY of the letter does not differ essentially from the modern form. The writer, as a rule, plunges abruptly into his subject in the straightforward fashion peculiar to the Romans. In his official and formal letters, however, Cicero sometimes uses certain old-fashioned phrases that had once been strictly insisted upon: SI VALES BENE EST, or to a general in the field (i) SI TU EXERCITUSQUE valetis, BENE EST, often with the addition EGO (or EGO QUIDEM) VALEO, all indicated by the initial letters only. The close of the letter is as abrupt as the beginning, though we find a few stock phrases of leave-taking: VALE or VALETE (iv., xiv., xx., xxii.), CURA (or FAC) UT VALEAS (v., x., xiii.).

§ 14. The STYLE of the letters shows the ordinary conversational Latin of the refined and polished circles in which the writer moved. The

sentences are much shorter than in literary Latin, the order of words is less studied and artificial, and the connection is often loose and obscure. Colloquialisms and ellipses abound, the personal pronouns and such verbs as agere, esse, facere, ferre, ire, and venire being omitted with great freedom. The pluperfect is often used for the § 15. imperfect and perfect, and these in turn for the present, owing to the writer's projecting himself into the time of the reading of the letter and describing present actions as past. Exaggerated and pleonastic expressions are especially common, Greek words and phrases are frequently used (iii., iv.). just as some persons nowadays interlard English letters with French and German, and postscripts are not uncommon (xx.).

IV. SEALING and OPENING the LETTER. For sealing the letter § 16. thread (linum), wax (cera), and a seal (signum) were necessary. The seal not only secured the letter against improper inspection, but also attested the genuineness of those written by the librarii, as autograph signatures seem not to have been thought of. Each man's seal had some device peculiar to it, and was affixed to all documents which he wished to acknowledge as his own. The tabellae (§ 4) having been § 17. put together face to face, the thread was passed around them and through small holes bored through them, and was then securely tied. Upon the knot softened wax was dropped, and to this the seal was applied. The chartae (§ 5) were rolled longitudinally and secured in the same way. The letter bore upon the outside merely the name of the person addressed. Cicero in Cat. iii. § 10 describes the process of § 18. opening the letter. The seal was first examined, and then the thread was cut in order to leave the seal uninjured. If the letter was preserved, the seal was kept attached to it in order to attest its genuineness.

EPISTOLAE SELECTAE.

I.

(AD FAM. v. 7.)

M. TULLIUS M. F. CICERO S. D. CN. POMPEIO CN. F.

MAGNO IMPERATORI.

1 S. T. E. Q. V. B. E. Ex litteris tuis, quas publice misisti, cepi una cum omnibus incredibilem voluptatem; tantam enim spem otii ostendisti, quantam ego semper omnibus te uno fretus pollicebar;

I.

SALUTATION: Formal or familiar? Explain the abbreviations, Exc. V. §§ 10, 11. Magno, a title said to have been conferred upon Pompeius by Sulla in 81.

§ 1. 1-4. S. T., etc: see Exc. V.

INTRODUCTORY NOTE: Written from Rome to Pompeius in Asia in 62. Soon after the execution of the conspirators Cicero had written a long and exultant letter § 13. litteris, an official (publice) to Pompeius (Sull. § 67), to which despatch received at Rome in the latter had sent a very cold November, 63 (cf. Mur. § 34), anreply not now extant. To this nouncing the death of Mithrareply of Pompeius we here have dates. Cicero had immediately Cicero's answer. For the cam- had a ten days' thanksgiving depaign of Pompeius against Mith-clared in honor of Pompeius. radates see Creighton, pp. 71, 72; spem otii, i.e., abroad, by the Allen, pp. 195, 196; Myers, p. ending of the war. te: for case 97; Pennell, p. 121. On the gen- A. 254 b 2; G. 373 R 1; H. 425 II. eral form of the letter read Exc. 1 (1) note; B. 2183. pollicebar : V. For Cicero's Correspondence e.g., in the oration for the Manilp. 15, § 7. ian law, p. 20, § 23.

sed hoc scito, tuos veteres hostes, novos amicos 5 vehementer litteris perculsos atque ex magna spe deturbatos iacere. Ad me autem litteras quas mi- 2 sisti, quamquam exiguam significationem tuae erga me voluntatis habebant, tamen mihi scito iucundas fuisse; nulla enim re tam laetari soleo quam meo- 10 rum officiorum conscientia, quibus si quando non mutue respondetur, apud me plus officii residere facillime patior: illud non dubito, quin, si te mea summa erga te studia parum mihi adiunxerunt, res publica nos inter nos conciliatura coniuncturaque 15 sit. Ac, ne ignores, quid ego in tuis litteris desi- 3 derarim, scribam aperte, sicut et mea natura et nostra amicitia postulat: res eas gessi, quarum aliquam in tuis litteris et nostrae necessitudinis et rei publicae causa gratulationem exspectavi, quam ego 20 abs te praetermissam esse arbitror, quod vererere, ne cuius animum offenderes; sed scito ea, quae nos pro salute patriae gessimus, orbis terrae iudicio ac testimonio comprobari, quae, cum veneris, tanto

.. patior, 'I am well content that the balance of services rendered should be in my favor.' studia, as shown by supporting the Manilian law and proposing the thanksgiving.

5-7. scito: for form see on II. non mutue respondetur, 'no 23. 31, used three times in this fair return is made.' apud me letter. veteres hostes, novos amicos, the democrats, who had opposed Pompeius up to 71, but had made him consul in 70 (p. 19, § 18), and had given him in 66 the command in Asia (p. 21, § 24). Cicero represents them as alarmed § 3. 16-22. desiderarim, 'have by the good feeling now existing missed.' postulat: for number (or supposed to exist) between see on Sull. 44. 22. litteris, the Pompeius and the senate. iacere, despatch, 1. 1. as in II. 2. 21.

§ 2. 7-14. litteras, the personal letter to which this is the answer. significationem, 'expression.' quibus = et iis: cf. III. 27. 14.

ne...

vererere: for mood see on II. 2. 25. offenderes: cf. Caes. I. 19. 2. animum: see on Sull. 1. 10.

23, 24. iudicio ac testimonio, 'the expressed judgment.'

25 consilio tantaque animi magnitudine a me gesta esse cognosces, ut tibi multo maiori, quam Africanus fuit, me non multo minorem quam Laelium facile et in re publica et in amicitia adiunctum esse patiare.

II.

(AD FAM. v. 5.)

M. CICERO S. D. C. ANTONIO M. F. IMP.

1 Etsi statueram nullas ad te litteras mittere nisi commendaticias non quo eas intelligerem satis

26, 27. Africanus and Laelius are frequently mentioned by Cicero as ideal friends, the former a great general (see on IV. 21. 15; Mur. 75. 5), the latter a wise statesman. Mur. 66. 31. quam Laelium: cf. quam Africanus, 1. 26, and see for case A. 336 a 1 R.; G. 647 R. 1 (last example); H. 524 1. (1).

II.

nius to aid Titus Pomponius Atticus in certain business matters in the province.

SALUTATION: More or less formal than in Ep. I? Antonio: on his early career, connection with Catilina, election to the consulship with Cicero, and change of politics, see p. 24, §§ 34–36 and p. 28, § 42. He is damned with faint praise, III. 14. 10 f., and his operations against Catilina are deINTRODUCTORY NOTE: Writ- scribed in Exc. IV. and p. 38, ten from Rome to Antonius in § 68. Imp. He received the title Macedonia in 61. Antonius, said for the defeat of Catilina, and govreport, had hinted that Cicero was erned Macedonia as proconsul in to share the plunder of Macedonia, 62 and 61. In 59 he was prosethus giving the lie direct to Cice- cuted for misgovernment, and in ro's often-repeated boast of patri- spite of Cicero's defence was conotic motives in declining a province victed and went into exile. (cf. IV. § 23). Cicero writes to § 1. 2-8. commendaticias, ' of remonstrate against this unwar-introduction,' for friends going to ranted slander, and to ask Anto- Macedonia. non quo ... sed