Cicero to Atticus, written from Astura on the sixth day before the Ides of April 709 AUC — 8 April 45 BC (the manuscript dateline: Scr.\ Asturae vi Id.\ Apr.\ a.\ 709 (45)). The shortest of the Astura letters: Cicero opens by saying he is hunting for something to write and finding nothing, “the same things every day,” and that line is the truest report of his state of mind in this stretch. The substance is practical housekeeping — Atticus is to visit Lentulus and attach whatever household slaves seem suitable; he is to keep working with Egnatius on the Silius gardens, and (with Cicero’s consent) speak with Clodius himself rather than asking Cicero to write.

The second section returns to two stalled errands from earlier in the cluster: the Castricius slaves are again routed through Egnatius, and the business with Ovia is to be finished off. The closing line — “since, as you write, night had come on, I am expecting more in today’s letter” — is a glimpse of the daily rhythm of these exchanges: Atticus had broken off the previous day’s letter at nightfall, and Cicero is waiting for the continuation by the next courier.