Cicero to Atticus, written from Astura on the seventh day before the Kalends of April 709 AUC — 26 March 45 BC (the manuscript dateline: Scr.\ Asturae vii K.\ Apr.\ a.\ 709 (45)). A brief continuation of the estate search begun the day before in 12.29. If Silius proves as unyielding as Atticus suspects, and Drusus is not obliging either, then Damasippus is to be tried: he has, by Cicero’s recollection, broken up his river-bank property into iugera-lots at fixed prices — though those prices are unknown to Cicero himself.

The second paragraph turns abruptly to Attica, Atticus’ daughter, who is ill. Cicero confesses he is so disturbed that he half suspects the household of some neglect, then catches himself: the tutor, the doctor, the whole household are careful in every way. The closing line — “take care of her, then; I cannot manage more” — is the characteristic Astura collapse, the letter snapped off at the first edge of feeling.