text=A:book=12:letter=9
YES, indeed, I should have been very comfortable here, and more so every day, had it not been for the reason which I mentioned to you in my previous letter Nothing could be pleasanter than the solitude of this place, except for the occasional inroads of the "son of Amyntas." L. Marcius Philippus, step-father of Augustus. He calls him in jest the "son of Amyntas," the name of the father of Philip king of Macedonia. See pp.202, 203. What a bore he is with his endless babble! In other respects don't imagine that anything could be more delightful than this villa. But all this doesn't deserve a longer letter, and I have nothing else to say and am very sleepy.
text=A:book=12:letter=10
GOOD heavens, how sad about Athamas! As for your sorrow, it shews a kind heart, but it must be firmly kept within bounds. There are many ways to arrive at consolation, but the straightest is this: let reason secure what time is certain to secure. Let us however take care of Alexis, the living image of Tiro—whom I have sent back to Rome ill; and if "the hill " The house of Atticus was on the Collis Quirinalis, that of Cicero on the Mons Palatinus. So Cicero talks of "the hill" in referring to Atticus's house, as people living, e.g., in Grosvenor Place speak of those living "in the Square," i.e., in Grosvenor Square. is infected with some epidemic let us transfer him to my house along with Tisamenus. The whole upper story of my house is vacant, as you know. I think this is very much to the purpose.