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may so call it) of my term of office. What you can effect in that connexion it is for you to judge; I earnestly beg you to do what occurs to you as being of importance to me. I should write to you at greater length, if your kindly feeling looked for a longer appeal, or our friendship permitted any such formality, or if the situation called for any words and did not speak for itself. I should like you to convince yourself of this, that if I am satisfied that you have made provision for my interests, the result will be a rich and never-ending harvest of satisfaction to yourself. Farewell.

¹ When I arrived at Brundisium on May 22 your legate Q. Fabius Vergilianus was on the spot to receive me; and, in accordance with your instructions, he brought to my notice what had suggested itself not only to myself, who was most concerned, but to the whole Senate—that there was need of a stronger garrison for your province. For practically all were of opinion that reinforcements should be enrolled in Italy for my legions and those of Bibulus.^[1] When Sulpicius as consul declared that he would not allow it, we protested, it is true, on many grounds, but so unanimous was the Senate on the point of our early departure that we had to comply, and we did so. As matters stand—and this is the request I made of you in the letter I put in the hands of your letter-carriers at Rome—I should be glad if you would make it your concern, in view of the close