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much am I influenced by the promptings of my heart, and, I emphatically add, my friendly feeling towards Pompey, that what is expedient to him and what he desires, now appear to me in every case right and proper; and, to my thinking, even his opponents would make no mistake, if, seeing they could be no match for him, they were to call a truce.

³ I have myself this further consolation, that I am the kind of man whose decision would be accepted by everybody with the warmest approval, whether it were to support what Pompey advocates, or to keep silent, or even (as is my particular inclination) to return to my former literary pursuits, and this last I shall undoubtedly do, if my friendship for Pompey permits me. For what had once been my aim and object after I had discharged the most honourable public offices and completed my very arduous labours—the dignified deliverance of my opinions in the Senate, and an independent position in dealing with public affairs—that I have lost for ever, and I not more than anybody else; for we must either utterly humiliate ourselves by agreeing with a minority, or disagree with them to no purpose.

⁴ I write thus to you chiefly for this reason, that it 4 may lead you to reflect at last on your own scheme of life. The senate, the law-courts, and the whole state have undergone a complete change. Tranquillity is what I must pray for, and that those who are at the head of affairs seem likely to guarantee me, if certain persons^[1] prove themselves less intolerant of their supremacy; as for that consular dignity of the intrepid and consistent senator, I have no grounds for wasting a thought on it; it has been lots for ever by