This business of farming the taxes had been their rich privilege for at any rate more than a century, and as Cicero says, farther on in his letter, it was impossible not to know with what hardship the Greek allies would be treated by them when so many stories were current of their cruelty even in Italy.

Were Quintus to take a part against these tax-gatherers, he would make them hostile not only to the Republic but to himself also, and also to his brother Marcus; for they were of the equestrian order, and specially connected with these "publicani" by family ties.

He implies, as he goes on, that it will be easier to teach the Greeks to be submissive than the tax-gatherers to be moderate.

After all, where would the Greeks of Asia be if they had no Roman master to afford them protection?
He leaves the matter in the hands of his brother, with advice that he should do the best he can on one side and on the other.
If possible, let the greed of the "publicani" be restrained; but let the ally be taught to understand that there may be usage in the world worse even than Roman taxation.

It would be hardly worth our while to allude to this part of Cicero's advice, did it not give an insight into the mode in which Rome taxed her subject people.
After this he commences that portion of the letter for the sake of which we cannot but believe that the whole was written.