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such designs against me, it is but right that you should draw the inference that your brother has kept you in the dark about matters of the gravest moment; but if, on the other hand, he has let you to some extent into the secret of his policy, I deserve that you should regard me as a man of mild and indulgent disposition for not remonstrating with you in reference to these very matters.

And if you are satisfied that it was not the "mere phrase," as you describe it, of Metellus, but his whole policy and the extreme bitterness of his animosity towards myself that distressed me, I would have you now at last recognize my kindness—if indeed "kindness" is the word for slackness and indifference of mind under so exasperating an outrage. Never once did I express an opinion in the Senate unfavourable to your brother; whenever there was any proposal about him, I agreed, without rising, with those whose proposals seemed to me to be the least drastic. I will add this too, that though I need not have troubled myself in the matter after what had occurred, still, so far from resenting the measure, I did my very best to help its being carried—I mean that a release from his penalties^[1] should be granted by a decree of the Senate to my assailant, all because he was your brother.

¹⁰ This proves that I did not "attack" your brother, but merely repelled your brother's attacks; nor have I been "fickle-hearted" towards you (I quote your letter), but so constant at heart as to remain ever true to my kindly feeling for you, although I am no longer the recipient of your favours. And even at this very moment when you are, I might almost