Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 47 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
I am not offended that your letter tells me the truth and does not even try, as you usually do, to console me under the weight of public and personal disasters, which you admit is now impossible. Affairs are no longer as they were, when, if nothing else, I thought I had companions and partners in my policy. All those in Achaia and Asia who petitioned for pardon and did not obtain it, and even some who did, are said to be on the point of sailing for Africa. So I have no one to share my fault except Laelius, and even he is in a better position than I am in one respect, since he has now been taken back.
As for me, I have no doubt that Caesar has written to Balbus and Oppius. If the news had been good, I would have heard from them, and they would have spoken to you too. I would like you to speak with them about it and let me know what they say - not that any protection he gives can be certain, but still, something can be foreseen and prepared for. Although I am ashamed to look anyone in the face, especially with such a son-in-law, still in this disaster I see nothing else to wish for.
Quintus is still going on as before, as both Pansa and Hirtius have written to tell me; he too is said to be making for Africa with the rest. I will write to Minucius at Tarentum and send your letter; I will let you know whether anything comes of it.
I would have been surprised that you were able to raise the two hundred fifty, if there had not been a good return from Fufidius' estates. But I am eagerly looking forward to your coming. My great desire is to see you, if it is at all possible, for circumstances demand it. The end is now drawing near; what it will be is easy to judge at Rome, but harder here. Farewell.
I am not offended with you for telling me the truth in your letter and not even attempting, as you were wont, to console me under my burden of public and personal woes, which you confess is impossible now. For affairs are no longer in the position they were, when, if nothing else, I thought I had companions and partners in my policy. For all those in Achaia and in Asia, who petitioned for pardon and did not obtain it, and even some of those who did, are said to be on the point of sailing for Africa. So I have no one to share my fault except Laelius, and even he is in a better position than I am in one respect, as he has been taken back now. But about me I have no doubt that Caesar has written to Balbus and Oppius: if the news had been good, I should have heard from them and they would have spoken to you too. I should like you to speak to them about it and to let me know what they say, not that any safeguard given by him can have any certainty, but still something can be foreseen and provided for. Though I am ashamed to look anyone in the face, especially with such a son-in-law, still in this disastrous crisis I see nothing else to wish for. Quintus is still keeping on, as both Pansa and Hirtius have written to tell me; and he is said too to be making for Africa with the rest. I will write to Minucius at Tarentum, and send your letter: I will let you know whether anything comes of it. I should have been surprised that
you were able to raise the £250, if there had not been a good receipt from Fufidius' estates. However I am looking forward eagerly to your coming: it is my great desire to see you, if it is anyhow possible—for indeed circumstances demand it. The end is now drawing near; and, what it will be, it is easy to estimate at Rome, but here it is more difficult. Farewell.
[1] non me offendit veritas litterarum tuarum quod me cum communibus tum praecipuis malis oppressum ne incipis quidem, ut solebas, consolari faterisque id fieri iam non posse. nec enim ea sunt quae erant antea cum, ut nihil aliud, comites me et socios habere putabam. omnes enim Achaici deprecatores itemque in Asia quibus non erat ignotum, etiam quibus erat, in Africam dicuntur navigaturi. ita praeter Laelium neminem habeo culpae socium; qui tamen hoc meliore in causa est quod iam est receptus. [2] de me autem non dubito quin ad Balbum et ad Oppium scripserit; a quibus, si quid esset laetius, certior factus essem, tecum etiam essent locuti. quibuscum tu de hoc ipso conloquare velim et ad me quid tibi responderint scribas, non quod ab isto salus data quicquam habitura sit firmitudinis, sed tamen aliquid consuli et prospici poterit. etsi omnium conspectum horreo, praesertim hoc genero, tamen in tantis malis quid aliud velim non reperio. [3] Quintus pergit, ut ad me et Pansa scripsit et Hirtius, isque item Africam petere cum ceteris dicitur. ad Minucium Tarentum scribam et tuas litteras mittam; ad te scribam num quid egerim. HS x_x_x_ potuisse mirarer, nisi multa de Fufidianis praediis. et advideo tamen exspecto ; quem videre, si ullo modo potest (poscit enim res), pervelim. iam extremum concluditur; ibi facile est, quod quale sit hic gravius existimare. vale.
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I am not offended that your letter tells me the truth and does not even try, as you usually do, to console me under the weight of public and personal disasters, which you admit is now impossible. Affairs are no longer as they were, when, if nothing else, I thought I had companions and partners in my policy. All those in Achaia and Asia who petitioned for pardon and did not obtain it, and even some who did, are said to be on the point of sailing for Africa. So I have no one to share my fault except Laelius, and even he is in a better position than I am in one respect, since he has now been taken back.
As for me, I have no doubt that Caesar has written to Balbus and Oppius. If the news had been good, I would have heard from them, and they would have spoken to you too. I would like you to speak with them about it and let me know what they say - not that any protection he gives can be certain, but still, something can be foreseen and prepared for. Although I am ashamed to look anyone in the face, especially with such a son-in-law, still in this disaster I see nothing else to wish for.
Quintus is still going on as before, as both Pansa and Hirtius have written to tell me; he too is said to be making for Africa with the rest. I will write to Minucius at Tarentum and send your letter; I will let you know whether anything comes of it.
I would have been surprised that you were able to raise the two hundred fifty, if there had not been a good return from Fufidius' estates. But I am eagerly looking forward to your coming. My great desire is to see you, if it is at all possible, for circumstances demand it. The end is now drawing near; what it will be is easy to judge at Rome, but harder here. Farewell.
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] non me offendit veritas litterarum tuarum quod me cum communibus tum praecipuis malis oppressum ne incipis quidem, ut solebas, consolari faterisque id fieri iam non posse. nec enim ea sunt quae erant antea cum, ut nihil aliud, comites me et socios habere putabam. omnes enim Achaici deprecatores itemque in Asia quibus non erat ignotum, etiam quibus erat, in Africam dicuntur navigaturi. ita praeter Laelium neminem habeo culpae socium; qui tamen hoc meliore in causa est quod iam est receptus. [2] de me autem non dubito quin ad Balbum et ad Oppium scripserit; a quibus, si quid esset laetius, certior factus essem, tecum etiam essent locuti. quibuscum tu de hoc ipso conloquare velim et ad me quid tibi responderint scribas, non quod ab isto salus data quicquam habitura sit firmitudinis, sed tamen aliquid consuli et prospici poterit. etsi omnium conspectum horreo, praesertim hoc genero, tamen in tantis malis quid aliud velim non reperio. [3] Quintus pergit, ut ad me et Pansa scripsit et Hirtius, isque item Africam petere cum ceteris dicitur. ad Minucium Tarentum scribam et tuas litteras mittam; ad te scribam num quid egerim. HS x_x_x_ potuisse mirarer, nisi multa de Fufidianis praediis. et advideo tamen exspecto ; quem videre, si ullo modo potest (poscit enim res), pervelim. iam extremum concluditur; ibi facile est, quod quale sit hic gravius existimare. vale.