Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 49 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
So far nothing is delaying me except the weather. I am not going to play a clever game. Whatever happens in Spain, I have made up my mind to go. I unfolded all my thoughts to you in my earlier letters, so this one is brief, partly because I was hurrying and rather busy.
As for young Quintus, I am certainly doing my best, but you know the rest. Your next warning is friendly and prudent, but everything will be easy if only I am safe from that one boy. It is a great task: there is much that is strange in him, nothing simple, nothing sincere. I wish you had undertaken the young man's discipline. His father is too indulgent; whatever rein I tighten, he loosens. If I could act without his father, I would manage him; you could do it. But I forgive you. It is, as I said, a great task.
We are taking it as certain that Pompey is setting out through Illyricum into Gaul. I will now see by what route, and where, I am to go.
So far nothing stops me beyond the weather. I am not going to play a sharp game. Let what will happen in Spain, I have made up my mind to go. My plans have all been unfolded to you in previous letters; so this is a short one; also because I am in a hurry and rather busy.
As for young Quintus "surely I do my best," you
know the rest. You go on to advise me, and you advise me like a prudent friend; but all will be simple, if I beware of the youngster. It is a big business; he is full of oddities and has no simplicity or sincerity. I wish you had undertaken his training; for his father is too kind. If I tighten the rein, he loosens it. If I could act without his father, I could manage the youngster, as you can do. But I excuse you. It is, as I say, a big business.
Pompey, I am certain, is marching through Illyricum into Gaul. By what route and whither I am now to travel, I shall see.
[1] me adhuc nihil praeter tempestatem moratur. astute nihil sum acturus, fiat in Hispania quidlibet: et tamen + recitet et+ . meas cogitationes omnis explicavi tibi superioribus litteris. Quocirca hae sunt breves, + et tamen+ quia festinabam eramque occupatior. [2] de Quinto filio fit a me quidem sedulo; sed nosti reliqua. quod dein me mones, et amice et prudenter me mones, sed erunt omnia facilia si ab uno illo cavero. Magnum opus est, mirabilia multa, nihil simplex, nihil sincerum. vellem suscepisses iuvenem regendum; pater enim nimis indulgens, quicquid ego adstrinxi relaxat. si sine illo possem, regerem; quod tu potes. sed ignosco; magnum, inquam, opus est. [3] Pompeium pro certo habemus per Illyricum proficisci in Galliam. ego nunc qua et quo videbo.
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So far nothing is delaying me except the weather. I am not going to play a clever game. Whatever happens in Spain, I have made up my mind to go. I unfolded all my thoughts to you in my earlier letters, so this one is brief, partly because I was hurrying and rather busy.
As for young Quintus, I am certainly doing my best, but you know the rest. Your next warning is friendly and prudent, but everything will be easy if only I am safe from that one boy. It is a great task: there is much that is strange in him, nothing simple, nothing sincere. I wish you had undertaken the young man's discipline. His father is too indulgent; whatever rein I tighten, he loosens. If I could act without his father, I would manage him; you could do it. But I forgive you. It is, as I said, a great task.
We are taking it as certain that Pompey is setting out through Illyricum into Gaul. I will now see by what route, and where, I am to go.
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] me adhuc nihil praeter tempestatem moratur. astute nihil sum acturus, fiat in Hispania quidlibet: et tamen + recitet et+ . meas cogitationes omnis explicavi tibi superioribus litteris. Quocirca hae sunt breves, + et tamen+ quia festinabam eramque occupatior. [2] de Quinto filio fit a me quidem sedulo; sed nosti reliqua. quod dein me mones, et amice et prudenter me mones, sed erunt omnia facilia si ab uno illo cavero. Magnum opus est, mirabilia multa, nihil simplex, nihil sincerum. vellem suscepisses iuvenem regendum; pater enim nimis indulgens, quicquid ego adstrinxi relaxat. si sine illo possem, regerem; quod tu potes. sed ignosco; magnum, inquam, opus est. [3] Pompeium pro certo habemus per Illyricum proficisci in Galliam. ego nunc qua et quo videbo.