Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 49 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
When Dionysius came to me contrary to my expectation, I spoke with him most frankly. I explained the times, asked him to say what he had in mind, and told him I would press nothing from him against his will. He replied that he did not know where the money he had was; that some people were not paying, and that other debts were not yet due. He also said certain things about his little slaves, because of which he could not stay with us.
I yielded. I let him go unwillingly as the teacher of the young Ciceros, but not unwillingly as an ungrateful man. I wanted you to know both what happened and what I judged about his action.
I spoke to Dionysius in the frankest way, when contrary to my expectations he arrived. I told him how matters stood; asked him his intentions, and said that I would not press him against his will. He replied that he did not know where such money as he owned was: that some creditors did not pay, that other debts were not yet due. He said something about his wretched slaves that would prevent his
staying with me. I acquiesced, sorry to lose a master for my boys; but glad to be rid of an ungrateful fellow. I wanted you to know what happened and my opinion of his conduct.
Dionysius cum ad me praeter opinionem meam venisset, locutus sum cum eo liberalissime; tempora exposui, rogavi ut diceret quid haberet in animo; me nihil ab ipso invito contendere. respondit se quod in nummis haberet nescire quo loci esset; alios non solvere, aliorum diem nondum esse. dixit etiam alia quaedam de servulis suis qua re nobiscum esse non posset. morem gessi; dimisi a me ut magistrum Ciceronum non libenter, ut hominem ingratum non invitus. volui te scire et quid ego de eius facto iudicarem.
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When Dionysius came to me contrary to my expectation, I spoke with him most frankly. I explained the times, asked him to say what he had in mind, and told him I would press nothing from him against his will. He replied that he did not know where the money he had was; that some people were not paying, and that other debts were not yet due. He also said certain things about his little slaves, because of which he could not stay with us.
I yielded. I let him go unwillingly as the teacher of the young Ciceros, but not unwillingly as an ungrateful man. I wanted you to know both what happened and what I judged about his action.
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
Dionysius cum ad me praeter opinionem meam venisset, locutus sum cum eo liberalissime; tempora exposui, rogavi ut diceret quid haberet in animo; me nihil ab ipso invito contendere. respondit se quod in nummis haberet nescire quo loci esset; alios non solvere, aliorum diem nondum esse. dixit etiam alia quaedam de servulis suis qua re nobiscum esse non posset. morem gessi; dimisi a me ut magistrum Ciceronum non libenter, ut hominem ingratum non invitus. volui te scire et quid ego de eius facto iudicarem.