reach Cumæ, there will have to be added at once five more for your return journey to Rome. I mean to be at Formiæ on the 30th: be sure, my dear Tiro, that I find you there strong and well. My poor studies, or rather _ours_, have been in a very bad way owing to your absence.
However, they have looked up a little owing to this letter from you brought by Acastus. Pompey is staying with me at the moment of writing this, and seems to be cheerful and enjoying himself. He asks me to read him something of ours, but I told him that without you the oracle was dumb. Pray prepare to renew your services to our Muses. My promise shall be _performed_ on the day named: for I have taught you the etymology of _fides_.[734] Take care to make a complete recovery. I shall be with you directly. Good-bye.
19 May.
[Footnote 734: From _fio_, according to Cicero, _credamusque quia "fiat" quod dictum est, appellatam fidem_ (_de Off._ i. § 23). He is referring to his promise to emancipate Tiro on a particular day.]
V (F XVI, 16) Q. CICERO TO HIS BROTHER (GAUL?)
As I hope to see you again, my dear Marcus, and my own son Cicero, and your Tulliola and your son, I am delighted about Tiro. He was much too good for his position, and I am truly glad that you preferred that he should be our freedman and friend rather than our slave. Believe me, when I read your letter and his I jumped for joy, and I both thank and congratulate you: for if the fidelity and good character of my own Statius is a delight to me, how much more valuable must those same qualities be in your man, since there is added to them knowledge of literature, conversational powers, and culture, which have advantages even over those useful virtues! I have all sorts of most conclusive reasons for loving you: and here is another one, either for what you have done, or, if you choose, for your perfect manner of announcing it to me. Your letter shewed me your whole heart. I have promised Sabinus's servants all they asked, and I will perform my promise.
END OF VOL. I.