Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 49 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
[1] When I had received your letter on the Nones of April [the 5th], the one Cephalio had brought, and was intending to stay at Minturnae the following day and to go straight on from there, I held myself back at my brother's estate at Arcanum, so that, until some more reliable news should be brought, I might be in a more out-of-the-way spot, and so that meanwhile the things that can be managed without me might be managed nonetheless. The Lalageusa ["the chatterer," apparently a ship] is already here, and my spirit is on fire, yet there is nothing to tell me where to go or by what route.
[2] But this will be my concern and that of the experts. You, however, will help me with your advice as far as you can, just as you have done up to now. Matters are insoluble. Everything must be entrusted to Fortune. We make the attempt without any hope. If anything better turns out, we shall be astonished. I could wish Dionysius had not set out to join me; my dear Tullia has written to me about him. But the time is wrong, and I would not want a man who is no friend of mine to have my troubles, especially troubles so great, as a spectacle; and I do not want you, on my account, to be his enemy.
I received your letter brought by Cephalio on the 5th of April. The next day I intended to stop at Menturnae, and to return thence at once. I halted at my brother's place at Arcanum in order that I might be in a more retired place till I get certain news and that such preparations for the journey, as did not need my presence, might be made.
The "bird that twitters of flight" is here and I am afire with eagerness, though I have no idea of destination or route. But these will be considered by me and by those who know. You however must assist me with your advice, so far as possible, as you have before. The tangle cannot be unravelled. Everything must be entrusted to fortune. We are simply struggling without hope. If anything better happens, I shall be surprised. I would rather Dionysius did not come to me: Tullia has written to me about him. The time is unsuitable, and I should prefer that discomforts as great as mine should not be seen by a man who is not my friend. But I do not want you to be his enemy on my account.
[1] ego cum accepissem tuas litteras Nonis Aprilibus quas Cephalio attulerat, essemque Menturnis postridie mansurus et inde protinus, sustinui me in Arcano fratris, ut, dum aliquid certius adferretur, occultiore in loco essemus agerenturque nihilo minus quae sine nobis agi possunt. Lalageusa iam adest et animus ardet, neque est quicquam, quo et qua. [2] sed haec nostra erit cura et peritorum. tu tamen quod poteris, ut adhuc fecisti, nos consiliis iuvabis. res sunt inexplicabiles. Fortunae sunt committenda omnia. Sine spe conamur ulla. Melius si quid acciderit, mirabimur. Dionysium nollem ad me profectum; de quo ad me Tullia mea scripsit. sed et tempus alienum est, et homini non amico nostra incommoda, tanta praesertim, spectaculo esse nollem; cui te meo nomine inimicum esse nolo.
◆
[1] When I had received your letter on the Nones of April [the 5th], the one Cephalio had brought, and was intending to stay at Minturnae the following day and to go straight on from there, I held myself back at my brother's estate at Arcanum, so that, until some more reliable news should be brought, I might be in a more out-of-the-way spot, and so that meanwhile the things that can be managed without me might be managed nonetheless. The Lalageusa ["the chatterer," apparently a ship] is already here, and my spirit is on fire, yet there is nothing to tell me where to go or by what route.
[2] But this will be my concern and that of the experts. You, however, will help me with your advice as far as you can, just as you have done up to now. Matters are insoluble. Everything must be entrusted to Fortune. We make the attempt without any hope. If anything better turns out, we shall be astonished. I could wish Dionysius had not set out to join me; my dear Tullia has written to me about him. But the time is wrong, and I would not want a man who is no friend of mine to have my troubles, especially troubles so great, as a spectacle; and I do not want you, on my account, to be his enemy.
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
[1] ego cum accepissem tuas litteras Nonis Aprilibus quas Cephalio attulerat, essemque Menturnis postridie mansurus et inde protinus, sustinui me in Arcano fratris, ut, dum aliquid certius adferretur, occultiore in loco essemus agerenturque nihilo minus quae sine nobis agi possunt. Lalageusa iam adest et animus ardet, neque est quicquam, quo et qua. [2] sed haec nostra erit cura et peritorum. tu tamen quod poteris, ut adhuc fecisti, nos consiliis iuvabis. res sunt inexplicabiles. Fortunae sunt committenda omnia. Sine spe conamur ulla. Melius si quid acciderit, mirabimur. Dionysium nollem ad me profectum; de quo ad me Tullia mea scripsit. sed et tempus alienum est, et homini non amico nostra incommoda, tanta praesertim, spectaculo esse nollem; cui te meo nomine inimicum esse nolo.