ROME,5DECEMBER
Your letter,in which you inclose copies of his letters,has made me realize that my brother Quintus's feelings have undergone many alternations,and that his opinions and judgments have varied widely from time to time.This has not only caused me all the pain which my extreme affection for both of you was bound to bring,but it has also made me wonder what can have happened to cause my brother Quintus such deep offence,or such an extraordinary change of feeling.And yet I was already aware,as I saw that you also,when you took leave of me,were beginning to suspect,that there was some lurking dissatisfaction,that his feelings were wounded,and that certain unfriendly suspicions had sunk deep into his heart.On trying on several previous occasions,but more eagerly than ever after the allotment of his province,to assuage these feelings,I failed to discover on the one hand that the extent of his offence was so great as your letter indicates;but on the other I did not make as much progress in allaying it as I wished.
However,I consoled myself with thinking that there would be no doubt of his seeing you at Dyrrachium,or somewhere in your part of the country:and,if that happened,I felt sure and fully persuaded that everything would be made smooth between you,not only by conversation and mutual explanation,but by the very sight of each other in such an interview.For I need not say in writing to you,who knows it quite well,how kind and sweet-tempered my brother is,as ready to forgive as he is sensitive in taking offence.But it most unfortunately happened that you did not see him anywhere.For the impression he had received from the artifices of others had more weight with him than duty or relationship,or the old affection so long existing between you,which ought to have been the strongest influence of all.And yet,as to where the blame for this misunderstanding resides,I can more easily conceive than write:since I am afraid that,while defending my own relations,I should not spare yours.For I perceive that,though no actual wound was inflicted by members of the family,they yet could at least have cured it.But the root of the mischief in this case,which perhaps extends farther than appears,I shall more conveniently explain to you when we meet.As to the letter he sent to you from Thessalonica,and about the language which you suppose him to have used both at Rome among your friends and on his journey,I don't know how far the matter went,but my whole hope of removing this unpleasantness rests on your kindness.For if you will only make up your mind to believe that the best men are often those whose feelings are most easily irritated and appeased,and that this quickness,so to speak,and sensitiveness of disposition are generally signs of a good heart;and lastly--and this is the main thing--that we must mutually put up with each other's gaucheries (shall I call them?),or faults,or injurious acts,then these misunderstandings will,I hope,be easily smoothed away.Ibeg you to take this view,for it is the dearest wish of my heart (which is yours as no one else's can be)that there should not be one of my family or friends who does not love you and is not loved by you.
