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One anecdote puts Marcus before us in a new light:[35]

[35] Ad M. Caes ii. 12.

'When my father returned home from the vineyards, I mounted my

horse as usual, and rode on ahead some little way. Well, there on

the road was a herd of sheep, standing all crowded together as

though the place were a desert, with four dogs and two shepherds,

but nothing else. Then one shepherd said to another shepherd, on

seeing a number of horsemen: 'I say,' says he, 'look you at those

horsemen; they do a deal of robbery.' When I heard this, I clap

spurs to my horse, and ride straight for the sheep. In

consternation the sheep scatter; hither and thither they are

fleeting and bleating. A shepherd throws his fork, and the fork

falls on the horseman who came next to me. We make our escape.'

We like Marcus none the worse for this spice of mischief.

Another letter[36] describes a visit to a country town, and shows

the antiquarian spirit of the writer:-

'M. CAeSAR to his MASTER M. FRONTO, greeting.