Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 51 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
I received a bundle of letters from Rome without a letter from you. If you were well and in Rome, I put the blame on Philotimus, not on you. I dictated this letter while sitting in my carriage on the way to the camp, from which I was two days distant. In a few days I would have reliable men to whom I could give letters, so I saved myself for then.
Still, although I would rather you hear this from others, I cannot help saying that in the province, as far as restraint is concerned, I am conducting myself so that not a penny is spent on anyone. This is also due to the diligence of my legates, tribunes, and prefects; all of them are wonderfully eager to share in my reputation. Our Lepta is extraordinary. But I am in a hurry now. In a few days I will write you everything in detail.
The younger Deiotarus, who has been called king by the Senate, has taken our two Ciceros with him into his kingdom. While I was in the summer camp, I thought that was the best place for the boys.
Sestius wrote to me about what he had discussed with you concerning my most urgent private concern, and what you thought. Please, I beg you, throw yourself into that matter and write me what can be done and what you advise. He also wrote that Hortensius had said something or other about prolonging my province. At Cumae Hortensius had promised me most carefully that he would defend my one-year term. If you care anything for me, fortify this point. I cannot describe how unwillingly I am away from you. At the same time, I hope this glory of justice and restraint will be more brilliant if I leave quickly, as happened to Scaevola, who governed Asia for only nine months.
When our friend Appius saw that I was approaching, he left Laodicea and went all the way to Tarsus. There he is holding court while I am in the province. I am not pursuing this insult of his. I have enough work healing the wounds that have been inflicted on the province, and I am trying to do that with as little disgrace to him as possible. But please tell our friend Brutus that his father-in-law did not behave well in going as far away as he could when I arrived.
I got a bundle of letters from Rome without one from you. Supposing you are well and in town, I imagine the fault was Philotimus’ and not yours. This letter is dictated as I sit in my carriage on my road to the camp, from which I am distant two days’ journey. In a few days’ time I have trusty messengers: so I reserve myself for that time. I should like you to hear the news from others; but I can’t help saying that I am conducting myself in the province with such restraint that not a halfpenny is spent on any of us. For that I have to thank the conduct of the legates, tribunes and praetors. For all of them take a surprising pride in maintaining my good name. Our friend Lepta is wonderful. I am in a hurry now, and will write everything in a few days’ time. The younger Deiotarus, who was styled king by the Senate, has taken the two boys to his court. So long
as I am in my summer camp, I fancied that would be the best place for them.
Sestius wrote me an account of his conversation with you about my pressing domestic affairs, and of your opinion. Please devote yourself to the business and write to me what can be done and what you think. Sestius told me that Hortensius has said something or other about extending my term of office. He undertook at Cumae to take good care that it should not outlast a year. If you have any regard for me, get that point fixed up squarely. I cannot describe my dislike to being away from you. Moreover I hope that my justice and restraint may become more famous, if I leave soon: for it was so in the case of Scaevola, who governed Asia only nine months.
On seeing that I was about to arrive, our friend Appius left Laodicea and went up to Tarsus. I am not offended at the slight he has done me by holding court while I am in the province, for I have enough business to heal the wounds that he has inflicted on it: and I try to do this with as little reflection on him as possible. But please tell our friend Brutus, that his father-in-law has not acted well in going away as far as he could on my arrival.
accepi Roma sine epistula tua fasciculum litterarum; in quo, si modo valuisti et Romae fuisti, Philotimi duco esse culpam, non tuam. haud epistulam dictavi sedens in raeda, cum in castra proficiscerer a quibus aberam bidui. paucis diebus habebam certos homines quibus darem litteras. itaque eo me servavi. [2] nos tamen, etsi hoc te ex aliis audire malo, sic in provincia nos gerimus, quod ad abstinentiam attinet, ut nullus terruncius insumatur in quemquam. id fit etiam et legatorum et tribunorum et praefectorum diligentia; nam omnes mirifice sumphilodoxousin gloriae meae. Lepta noster mirificus est. sed nunc propero. perscribam ad te paucis diebus omnia. [3] Cicerones nostros Deiotarus filius, qui rex ab senatu appellatus est, secum in regnum. dum in aestivis nos essemus, illum pueris locum esse bellissimum duximus. [4] Sestius ad me scripsit quae tecum esset de mea domestica et maxima cura locutus et quid tibi esset visum. amabo te, incumbe in eam rem et ad me scribe quid et possit et tu censeas. idem scripsit Hortensium de proroganda nostra provincia dixisse nescio quid. mihi in Cumano diligentissime se ut annui essemus defensurum receperat. si quicquam me amas, hunc locum muni. dici non potest quam invitus a vobis absim; et simul hanc gloriam iustitiae et abstinentiae fore inlustriorem spero si cito decesserimus, id quod Scaevolae contigit qui solos novem mensis Asiae praefuit. [6] Appius noster cum me adventare videret, profectus est Tarsum usque Laodicea. ibi forum agit, cum ego sim in provincia. quam eius iniuriam non insector. satis enim habeo negoti in sanandis vulneribus quae sunt imposita provinciae; quod do operam ut faciam quam minima cum illius contumelia. sed hoc Bruto nostro velim dicas, illum fecisse non belle qui adventu meo quam longissime potuerit discesserit.
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I received a bundle of letters from Rome without a letter from you. If you were well and in Rome, I put the blame on Philotimus, not on you. I dictated this letter while sitting in my carriage on the way to the camp, from which I was two days distant. In a few days I would have reliable men to whom I could give letters, so I saved myself for then.
Still, although I would rather you hear this from others, I cannot help saying that in the province, as far as restraint is concerned, I am conducting myself so that not a penny is spent on anyone. This is also due to the diligence of my legates, tribunes, and prefects; all of them are wonderfully eager to share in my reputation. Our Lepta is extraordinary. But I am in a hurry now. In a few days I will write you everything in detail.
The younger Deiotarus, who has been called king by the Senate, has taken our two Ciceros with him into his kingdom. While I was in the summer camp, I thought that was the best place for the boys.
Sestius wrote to me about what he had discussed with you concerning my most urgent private concern, and what you thought. Please, I beg you, throw yourself into that matter and write me what can be done and what you advise. He also wrote that Hortensius had said something or other about prolonging my province. At Cumae Hortensius had promised me most carefully that he would defend my one-year term. If you care anything for me, fortify this point. I cannot describe how unwillingly I am away from you. At the same time, I hope this glory of justice and restraint will be more brilliant if I leave quickly, as happened to Scaevola, who governed Asia for only nine months.
When our friend Appius saw that I was approaching, he left Laodicea and went all the way to Tarsus. There he is holding court while I am in the province. I am not pursuing this insult of his. I have enough work healing the wounds that have been inflicted on the province, and I am trying to do that with as little disgrace to him as possible. But please tell our friend Brutus that his father-in-law did not behave well in going as far away as he could when I arrived.
AI-assisted translation - This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek below for scholarly use.
Latin / Greek Original
accepi Roma sine epistula tua fasciculum litterarum; in quo, si modo valuisti et Romae fuisti, Philotimi duco esse culpam, non tuam. haud epistulam dictavi sedens in raeda, cum in castra proficiscerer a quibus aberam bidui. paucis diebus habebam certos homines quibus darem litteras. itaque eo me servavi. [2] nos tamen, etsi hoc te ex aliis audire malo, sic in provincia nos gerimus, quod ad abstinentiam attinet, ut nullus terruncius insumatur in quemquam. id fit etiam et legatorum et tribunorum et praefectorum diligentia; nam omnes mirifice sumphilodoxousin gloriae meae. Lepta noster mirificus est. sed nunc propero. perscribam ad te paucis diebus omnia. [3] Cicerones nostros Deiotarus filius, qui rex ab senatu appellatus est, secum in regnum. dum in aestivis nos essemus, illum pueris locum esse bellissimum duximus. [4] Sestius ad me scripsit quae tecum esset de mea domestica et maxima cura locutus et quid tibi esset visum. amabo te, incumbe in eam rem et ad me scribe quid et possit et tu censeas. idem scripsit Hortensium de proroganda nostra provincia dixisse nescio quid. mihi in Cumano diligentissime se ut annui essemus defensurum receperat. si quicquam me amas, hunc locum muni. dici non potest quam invitus a vobis absim; et simul hanc gloriam iustitiae et abstinentiae fore inlustriorem spero si cito decesserimus, id quod Scaevolae contigit qui solos novem mensis Asiae praefuit. [6] Appius noster cum me adventare videret, profectus est Tarsum usque Laodicea. ibi forum agit, cum ego sim in provincia. quam eius iniuriam non insector. satis enim habeo negoti in sanandis vulneribus quae sunt imposita provinciae; quod do operam ut faciam quam minima cum illius contumelia. sed hoc Bruto nostro velim dicas, illum fecisse non belle qui adventu meo quam longissime potuerit discesserit.