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³ Now you congratulate me upon the step I have taken;^[1] well, I am quite sure you mean it; but I assure you that in these unhappy days I should not have made any change in my life had I not found on my return, that my domestic affairs were in no less evil plight than those of the state. For when those very persons in whose eyes my welfare and all I possessed should have been most precious, considering the imperishable benefits I had bestowed upon them, had behaved so wickedly that I could find no safety within the walls of my own house, no corner of it without its ambush,—then I thought it about time to protect myself by new and trustworthy alliances against the treachery of the old. But enough, or even too much, about my own affairs.

⁴ As to yours, I should be glad to see you no more anxious than you ought to be, in other words, not imagining that you have anything special to fear. If there is to be any sound basis of any constitution of whatever nature, I can see that you will be free of all danger; for I take it that you have already appeased one party, while the other has never been angry with you. But as regards my own wishes for your welfare, I should like you to assure yourself, that for my part whatever steps I may find it necessary to take, though I am quite aware what my position is and how little I can do at the present juncture, I shall none the less be at hand to support your interests, your reputation, and your restoration by my efforts and advice, and, at any rate, you may be sure, by my eagerness to serve you. I should be glad if you, on your part, would take every care to let me know both what you are doing, and what you think you are likely to do. Farewell.