certainly magnificent.  Yet, after all, how can a person of any refinement enjoy seeing a helpless man torn by a wild beast of enormous strength, or a noble animal dying under a spear thrust?  If there is anything worth seeing in exhibitions of that kind, you have often seen it; there was nothing new to me in all I saw.  On the last day the elephants were brought out, and though the populace were mightily astonished they were not by any means pleased.  On the contrary, a wave of pity went through them, and there was a general impression that these great creatures have something in common with man.

To Atticus, in Rome Laodicea, B.C. 51

I reached Laodicea on July 31, so you may reckon the year of my government of the province from that day.  Nothing could be more eagerly awaited or more warmly welcomed than my arrival.  But you would hardly believe how the whole affair bores me.  The wide scope of my mind has no sufficient field, and my well-known industry is wasted here.  Imagine!  I administer justice at Laodicea, while A. Plotius presides in the courts of Rome!  And while our friend is at the head of so great an army, I have, in name only, two miserable legions!  But all that is nothing; what I miss is the glamour of life, the Forum, the city, my own house, and—­you.  But I will bear it as best I can, so long as it is for one year only.  If my term is extended, it is all over with me.  But this may easily be prevented, if only you will stay in Rome.

You ask about my doings.  Well, I am living at enormous expense, and am wonderfully pleased with my way of life.  My strict abstinence from all extortion, based on your counsels, is such that I shall probably have to raise a loan to pay off what you lent me.  My predecessor, Appius, has left open wounds in the province; I refrain from irritating them.  I am writing on the eve of starting for the camp in Lycaonia, and thence I mean to proceed to Mount Taurus to fight Maeragenes.  All this is no proper burden for me; but I will bear it.  Only, as you love me, let it not exceed the year.

To Atticus, a Few Days Later Cilicia

The couriers of the tax-farmers are just going, and, though I am actually travelling on the road, I must steal a moment to assure you that I have not forgotten your injunctions.  I am sitting by the roadside to jot down a few notes about matters which really need a long letter.  I entered, on July 31, with a most enthusiastic reception, into a devastated and utterly ruined province.  During the three days at Laodicea, three at Apamea, and three at Synnada, I heard of nothing but the actual inability of the people to pay the poll-tax; everywhere they have been sold up; the towns were filled with groans and lamentations.  They have been ravaged rather by a wild beast than by a man.  They are tired of life itself.