Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 66 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
You have heard that Asia has fallen by lot to Quintus [Cicero's brother], my most charming brother. For I do not doubt that rumor has reported this to you more swiftly than any of our letters. Now, since we have always been most eager for praise, and beyond all others we both are and are reputed to be lovers of the Greeks, and have taken upon ourselves the hatreds and enmities of many for the sake of the commonwealth, "be mindful of every kind of excellence," and take care to bring it about that we are both praised and loved by all. About these matters I shall write more to you in that letter which I shall hand to Quintus himself. I should be glad if you would inform me what you have done about my commissions, and likewise what about your own business; for, since you set out from Brundisium, no letter has been delivered to me from you. I am very eager to know what you are doing. On the Ides of March.
You have heard that that good brother of mine, Quintus, has Asia assigned him as his province. I’ve no doubt a rumour of it has reached you before any of our letters. We have always had a keen regard for our reputation, and both are and are considered unusually Philhellenic, and our public services have won us a host of ill-wishers. So now is the time for you to “screw your courage to the sticking-place,” Iliad xxii, 8| and help us to secure universal applause and approval. I will write further about it in a letter which I shall
give to Quintus himself. Please let me know which of my orders you have carried out, and how your own affairs are getting on. I haven’t had a single letter from you since you left Brundisium: and I badly want to know how you are. March 15.
Asiam Quinto, suavissimo fratri, obtigisse audisti. Non enim dubito, quin celerius tibi hoc rumor quam ullius nostrum litterae nuntiarint. Nunc, quoniam et laudis avidissimi semper fuimus et praeter ceteros philellenes et sumus et habemur et multorum odia atque inimicitias rei publicae causa suscepimus, pantoies aretes mimneskeo curaque, effice, ut ab omnibus et laudemur et amemur. His de rebus plura ad te in ea epistula scribam, quam ipsi Quinto dabo. Tu me velim certiorem facias, quid de meis mandatis egeris atque etiam quid de tuo negotio; nam, ut Brundisio profectus es, nullae mihi abs te sunt redditae litterae. Valde aveo scire, quid agas. Idibus Martiis.
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You have heard that Asia has fallen by lot to Quintus [Cicero's brother], my most charming brother. For I do not doubt that rumor has reported this to you more swiftly than any of our letters. Now, since we have always been most eager for praise, and beyond all others we both are and are reputed to be lovers of the Greeks, and have taken upon ourselves the hatreds and enmities of many for the sake of the commonwealth, "be mindful of every kind of excellence," and take care to bring it about that we are both praised and loved by all. About these matters I shall write more to you in that letter which I shall hand to Quintus himself. I should be glad if you would inform me what you have done about my commissions, and likewise what about your own business; for, since you set out from Brundisium, no letter has been delivered to me from you. I am very eager to know what you are doing. On the Ides of March.
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
Asiam Quinto, suavissimo fratri, obtigisse audisti. Non enim dubito, quin celerius tibi hoc rumor quam ullius nostrum litterae nuntiarint. Nunc, quoniam et laudis avidissimi semper fuimus et praeter ceteros philellenes et sumus et habemur et multorum odia atque inimicitias rei publicae causa suscepimus, pantoies aretes mimneskeo curaque, effice, ut ab omnibus et laudemur et amemur. His de rebus plura ad te in ea epistula scribam, quam ipsi Quinto dabo. Tu me velim certiorem facias, quid de meis mandatis egeris atque etiam quid de tuo negotio; nam, ut Brundisio profectus es, nullae mihi abs te sunt redditae litterae. Valde aveo scire, quid agas. Idibus Martiis.