Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 49 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
I had already sealed that letter to you, the one I meant to send by night, and in fact did send, since I had written it in the evening, when Gaius Sosius the praetor came to Formiae to see our neighbor Manius Lepidus, whose quaestor he had been. He brought a copy of Pompey's letter to the consuls:
"Letters from Lucius Domitius were brought to me on February 17. I have written a copy of them below. Without my writing it, I know you understand on your own how much it matters to the republic that all forces gather in one place as soon as possible. If it seems right to you, make every effort to come to us as quickly as possible, leaving at Capua whatever garrison you decide is sufficient."
Then he attached a copy of Domitius' letter, which I sent you the day before. Immortal gods, what horror swept over me. How anxious I am about what will happen. Still, I hope the great name of the commander will create great terror at his arrival. I also hope that, since nothing has yet harmed us, negligence has not changed this matter which needs not only courage and diligence but, by Hercules, both together.
I have just heard that the quartan fever has left you. I swear I would not be happier if the same thing had happened to me. Tell Pilia it is not fair for her to keep it any longer, and that it does not suit your harmony. I hear that our Tiro has been left by the second attack. I see, though, that he has borrowed from others for expenses; I had asked our Curius to help if anything was needed. I would rather Tiro's modesty be at fault than Curius' lack of generosity.
After I had sealed that letter to you, which I wanted to dispatch last night (I wrote it in the evening and did dispatch it), C. Sosius the praetor came to Formiae to visit my neighbour, M'. Lepidus, whose quaestor he was. He brought a copy of Pompey's letter to the consuls: "I have received a dispatch from L. Domitius, dated the 17th of February. I enclose a copy. Now without a word from me, I know you realize of your own accord how important it is for the State that all our forces should concentrate at one spot at the earliest possible date. If you agree, endeavour to reach me at once, leaving Capua such garrison as you may consider necessary."
Then appended is a copy of Domitius' letter which I sent you yesterday. My God, how terrified I was and how distracted I am as to the future! I hope his nickname the Great will inspire great panic on his arrival. I hope too, since nothing has stood in our way at present [except his negligence, he is not
neglecting a point which ought to be carried out vigorously].
I have just heard that you have lost your fever. Upon my life I could not be better pleased, if I had recovered myself. Tell Pilia that such a perfect helpmeet should not be sick longer than her husband. I hear that Tiro has recovered from his second attack: but I see he has been raising money from strangers. I had commissioned Curius to supply him with funds. I hope it is Tiro's diffidence and not Curius' meanness that is to blame.
obsignata iam ista epistula quam de nocte daturus eram, sicut dedi (nam eam vesperi scripseram), C. Sosius praetor in Formianum venit ad M'. Lepidum vicinum nostrum quoius quaestor fuit. Pompei litterarum ad consules exemplum attulit: [2] 'Litterae mihi a L. Domitio a. d. xiii Kalend. Mart. adlatae sunt. earum exemplum infra scripsi. nunc ut ego non scribam, tua sponte te intellegere scio quanti rei publicae intersit omnis copias in unum locum primo quoque tempore convenire. tu, si tibi videbitur, dabis operam ut quam primum ad nos venias, praesidi Capuae quantum constitueris satis esse relinquas.' deinde supposuit exemplum epistulae Domiti quod ego ad te pridie miseram. di immortales, qui me horror perfudit! quam sum sollicitus quidnam futurum sit! hoc tamen spero, magnum nomen imperatoris fore, magnum in adventu terrorem. spero etiam, quoniam adhuc nihil nobis obfuit + nihil mutasset neglegentia hoc quod cum fortiter et diligenter tum etiam me hercule+. [4] modo enim audivi quartanam a te discessisse. moriar si magis gauderem si id mihi accidisset. Piliae dic non esse aequum eam diutius habere nec id esse vestrae concordiae. Tironem nostrum ab altera relictum audio. sed eum video in sumptum ab aliis mutuatum; ego autem Curium nostrum si quid opus esset rogaram. malo Tironis verecundiam in culpa esse quam inliberalitatem Curi.
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I had already sealed that letter to you, the one I meant to send by night, and in fact did send, since I had written it in the evening, when Gaius Sosius the praetor came to Formiae to see our neighbor Manius Lepidus, whose quaestor he had been. He brought a copy of Pompey's letter to the consuls:
"Letters from Lucius Domitius were brought to me on February 17. I have written a copy of them below. Without my writing it, I know you understand on your own how much it matters to the republic that all forces gather in one place as soon as possible. If it seems right to you, make every effort to come to us as quickly as possible, leaving at Capua whatever garrison you decide is sufficient."
Then he attached a copy of Domitius' letter, which I sent you the day before. Immortal gods, what horror swept over me. How anxious I am about what will happen. Still, I hope the great name of the commander will create great terror at his arrival. I also hope that, since nothing has yet harmed us, negligence has not changed this matter which needs not only courage and diligence but, by Hercules, both together.
I have just heard that the quartan fever has left you. I swear I would not be happier if the same thing had happened to me. Tell Pilia it is not fair for her to keep it any longer, and that it does not suit your harmony. I hear that our Tiro has been left by the second attack. I see, though, that he has borrowed from others for expenses; I had asked our Curius to help if anything was needed. I would rather Tiro's modesty be at fault than Curius' lack of generosity.
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
obsignata iam ista epistula quam de nocte daturus eram, sicut dedi (nam eam vesperi scripseram), C. Sosius praetor in Formianum venit ad M'. Lepidum vicinum nostrum quoius quaestor fuit. Pompei litterarum ad consules exemplum attulit: [2] 'Litterae mihi a L. Domitio a. d. xiii Kalend. Mart. adlatae sunt. earum exemplum infra scripsi. nunc ut ego non scribam, tua sponte te intellegere scio quanti rei publicae intersit omnis copias in unum locum primo quoque tempore convenire. tu, si tibi videbitur, dabis operam ut quam primum ad nos venias, praesidi Capuae quantum constitueris satis esse relinquas.' deinde supposuit exemplum epistulae Domiti quod ego ad te pridie miseram. di immortales, qui me horror perfudit! quam sum sollicitus quidnam futurum sit! hoc tamen spero, magnum nomen imperatoris fore, magnum in adventu terrorem. spero etiam, quoniam adhuc nihil nobis obfuit + nihil mutasset neglegentia hoc quod cum fortiter et diligenter tum etiam me hercule+. [4] modo enim audivi quartanam a te discessisse. moriar si magis gauderem si id mihi accidisset. Piliae dic non esse aequum eam diutius habere nec id esse vestrae concordiae. Tironem nostrum ab altera relictum audio. sed eum video in sumptum ab aliis mutuatum; ego autem Curium nostrum si quid opus esset rogaram. malo Tironis verecundiam in culpa esse quam inliberalitatem Curi.