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myself I will explain to you. On July 31, I think I shall be at Laodicea, where I shall stay for a very few days, while I receive some money due to me on the Treasury Bill of Exchange.[1] After that I shall make my way to the army, so that about August 13 I expect to be in the neighbourhood of Iconium. But if I make any mistake at the moment of writing (for I am far from what is now going on and the places I mention), as soon as I begin to advance, by as speedy and frequent communications as possible I shall ensure your being apprised of the whole programme of my dates and routes. As for laying any burden on your shoulders, I have not the courage, nor is it my duty, to do so. But so far as is possible without inconvenience to yourself, it is of great importance to each of us that I should see you before you leave. Even if any accident snatches the opportunity out of our grasp, still my every duty to you will be performed as punctiliously as if I had seen you. It is not my intention to send you any message by letter concerning my affairs until I have abandoned all hope of being able to confer with you in person.
5 You say that you requested Scaevola[2] to take command of the province in your absence until my arrival; well, I saw him myself at Ephesus, and he was my intimate companion during the three days I stayed at Ephesus, and I got nothing out of him indicating that you had given him any commission at all. And I could have heartily wished that he had been able to comply with your desire; for I do not suppose he would have had any objection.