Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 49 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
Several of your letters reached me all at once. Even though I was hearing more recent news from people who came to see me, the letters were still a pleasure, because they showed your devotion and goodwill. I am worried about your health, and I understand that Pilia's attack of the same illness adds to your anxiety. Please do everything you can, both of you, to get well.
I see that Tiro is in your care. When he is well, he gives me astonishing help in every part of my business and my studies. Yet it is not for my own use that I want him safe, but for his kindness and modesty.
Philogenes has never said a word to me about Luscenius. For everything else, you have Dionysius. I am surprised your sister did not come to Arcanum. I am not sorry that you approve my plan about Chrysippus.
I am not going to Tusculum at this time. It is off the route of everyone I need to meet, and it has other inconveniences. From Formiae I go to Tarracina on December 31; from there to the upper end of the Pomptine Marshes; from there to Pompey's Alban villa; and so to the city on January 3, my birthday.
Every day I am more afraid for the republic. The so-called good men are not in agreement. How many Roman knights, how many senators I have seen, sharply criticizing everything, but especially this journey of Pompey's. We need peace. Victory will bring many evils, and certainly a tyrant. But we will soon discuss this face to face.
I have nothing left to write. We both know the same public news, and our family matters are known to us both. All that remains is to joke, if Caesar will let us. For I am one of those who think it would be more useful to grant him what he asks than to join battle. We have resisted too late, after feeding him for ten years against ourselves.
You ask, then, what opinion I will give. None, of course, except in line with yours, and not even that until we have either completed or abandoned my own business. So look after your health. Use that extraordinary diligence of yours at last to shake off this quartan fever.
A number of your letters have reached me at the same time: and, although visitors bring me later news, they are delightful, as they show your affection and good will. I am concerned about your illness, and I suppose Pilia's attack of the same complaint will increase
your trouble. Both of you do your best to get well. As for Tiro I see you are attending to him. Though when in health, he is marvellously useful to me in every department of business and literature, it is not a selfish motive, but his own charming character and modest bearing that prompts my hope for his recovery. Philogenes has never said anything to me about Luscenius. As for other matters Dionysius is with you. I am astonished your sister has not come to Arcanum. I am glad you approve my plan about Chrysippus. I shall not go to Tusculum at such a time as this, not I. It is out of the way for chance rencontres and has other drawbacks. But from Formiae I go to Tarracina on the last of December. Thence to the upper end of the Pomptine marsh: thence to Pompey's Alban villa: and so to Rome on the 3rd, my birthday.
The political crisis is causing me greater fear every day. The loyalists are not, as is imagined, in agreement. I have met numbers of Roman knights, and numbers of Members, ready to inveigh bitterly against everything and especially this journey of Pompey's. Peace is our want. Victory will bring many evils, and without doubt a tyrant. But this we shall soon discuss together. I have no news at all now: each of us knows as much as the other about political affairs, and domestic details are for us common knowledge.
All one can do is to jest—if he will allow it. For I am one who thinks it better to agree to his demands than to enter upon war. It is late to resist him, when for ten years we have nurtured this viper in our bosom. Then you ask my view. It is the same as yours; and I shall express none till my own affairs
are concluded or abandoned. So be sure to get well. Apply some of your wonderful capacity for taking pains to shaking off the fever.
multas uno tempore accepi epistulas tuas; quae mihi, quamquam recentiora audiebam ex iis qui ad me veniebant, tamen erant iucundae; studium enim et benevolentiam declarabant. valetudine tua moveor et Piliam in idem genus morbi delapsam curam tibi adferre maiorem sentio. [2] date igitur operam ut valeatis. de Tirone video tibi curae esse. quem quidem ego, etsi mirabilis utilitates mihi praebet, cum valet, in omni genere vel negotiorum vel studiorum meorum, tamen propter humanitatem et modestiam malo salvum quam propter usum meum. [3] Philogenes mecum nihil umquam de Luscenio locutus est; de ceteris rebus habes Dionysium. sororem tuam non venisse in Arcanum miror. de Chrysippo meum consilium probari tibi non moleste fero. ego in Tusculanum nihil sane hoc tempore; devium est tois apantosin et habet alia duschresta. sed de Formiano Tarracinam pridie Kal. Ian. Inde Pomptinam summam, inde (in) Albanum Pompei. ita ad urbem iii Nonas natali meo. [4] de re publica cotidie magis timeo. non enim boni, ut putantur, consentiunt. quos ego equites Romanos, quos senatores vidi, qui acerrime cum cetera tum hoc iter Pompei vituperarent! pace opus est. ex victoria cum multa mala tum certe tyrannus exsistet. sed haec propediem coram. iam plane mihi deest quod ad te scribam; nec enim de re publica quod uterque nostrum scit eadem, et domestica nota sunt ambobus. reliquum est iocari, si hic sinat. nam ego is sum qui illi concedi putem utilius esse quod postulat quam signa conferri. sero enim resistimus ei quem per annos decem aluimus contra nos. 'quid senties igitur? ' inquis. nihil scilicet nisi de sententia tua nec prius quidem quam nostrum negotium aut confecerimus aut deposuerimus. cura igitur ut valeas. aliquando apotripsai quartanam istam diligentia quae in te summa est.
◆
Several of your letters reached me all at once. Even though I was hearing more recent news from people who came to see me, the letters were still a pleasure, because they showed your devotion and goodwill. I am worried about your health, and I understand that Pilia's attack of the same illness adds to your anxiety. Please do everything you can, both of you, to get well.
I see that Tiro is in your care. When he is well, he gives me astonishing help in every part of my business and my studies. Yet it is not for my own use that I want him safe, but for his kindness and modesty.
Philogenes has never said a word to me about Luscenius. For everything else, you have Dionysius. I am surprised your sister did not come to Arcanum. I am not sorry that you approve my plan about Chrysippus.
I am not going to Tusculum at this time. It is off the route of everyone I need to meet, and it has other inconveniences. From Formiae I go to Tarracina on December 31; from there to the upper end of the Pomptine Marshes; from there to Pompey's Alban villa; and so to the city on January 3, my birthday.
Every day I am more afraid for the republic. The so-called good men are not in agreement. How many Roman knights, how many senators I have seen, sharply criticizing everything, but especially this journey of Pompey's. We need peace. Victory will bring many evils, and certainly a tyrant. But we will soon discuss this face to face.
I have nothing left to write. We both know the same public news, and our family matters are known to us both. All that remains is to joke, if Caesar will let us. For I am one of those who think it would be more useful to grant him what he asks than to join battle. We have resisted too late, after feeding him for ten years against ourselves.
You ask, then, what opinion I will give. None, of course, except in line with yours, and not even that until we have either completed or abandoned my own business. So look after your health. Use that extraordinary diligence of yours at last to shake off this quartan fever.
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
multas uno tempore accepi epistulas tuas; quae mihi, quamquam recentiora audiebam ex iis qui ad me veniebant, tamen erant iucundae; studium enim et benevolentiam declarabant. valetudine tua moveor et Piliam in idem genus morbi delapsam curam tibi adferre maiorem sentio. [2] date igitur operam ut valeatis. de Tirone video tibi curae esse. quem quidem ego, etsi mirabilis utilitates mihi praebet, cum valet, in omni genere vel negotiorum vel studiorum meorum, tamen propter humanitatem et modestiam malo salvum quam propter usum meum. [3] Philogenes mecum nihil umquam de Luscenio locutus est; de ceteris rebus habes Dionysium. sororem tuam non venisse in Arcanum miror. de Chrysippo meum consilium probari tibi non moleste fero. ego in Tusculanum nihil sane hoc tempore; devium est tois apantosin et habet alia duschresta. sed de Formiano Tarracinam pridie Kal. Ian. Inde Pomptinam summam, inde (in) Albanum Pompei. ita ad urbem iii Nonas natali meo. [4] de re publica cotidie magis timeo. non enim boni, ut putantur, consentiunt. quos ego equites Romanos, quos senatores vidi, qui acerrime cum cetera tum hoc iter Pompei vituperarent! pace opus est. ex victoria cum multa mala tum certe tyrannus exsistet. sed haec propediem coram. iam plane mihi deest quod ad te scribam; nec enim de re publica quod uterque nostrum scit eadem, et domestica nota sunt ambobus. reliquum est iocari, si hic sinat. nam ego is sum qui illi concedi putem utilius esse quod postulat quam signa conferri. sero enim resistimus ei quem per annos decem aluimus contra nos. 'quid senties igitur? ' inquis. nihil scilicet nisi de sententia tua nec prius quidem quam nostrum negotium aut confecerimus aut deposuerimus. cura igitur ut valeas. aliquando apotripsai quartanam istam diligentia quae in te summa est.