Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 47 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
It is not my fault now, though I did make an earlier mistake, that the letter you send gives me no consolation. It is written grudgingly and raises strong suspicion that it is not from Caesar. I expect you noticed that too. About going to meet him, I will do as you advise. No one thinks he is coming, and those who arrive from Asia say there has been no word of peace; it was hope of peace that led me into this mistake.
I see nothing to give me hope, especially now that the blow has fallen in Asia, in Illyricum, in Cassius' affair, in Alexandria itself, in Rome, and in Italy. For my part, even if he is returning - whereas he is said to be still fighting - I think the business will be settled before he gets back.
You say, however, that some pleasure was stirred among the loyalists when they heard of this letter. Of course you omit nothing in which you think there is the least consolation. But I cannot bring myself to believe that any loyalist supposed I valued any safety highly enough to beg it from him, especially as I now have not even a single partner in this policy. Those in Asia are waiting to see how matters turn out; those in Achaia keep holding out to Fufius the hope that they will petition for pardon. At first they had the same fear and the same plan as I did, but the delay at Alexandria improved their case and ruined mine.
So I still ask the same thing of you as in earlier letters: if, in these desperate straits, you see anything you think I should do, tell me. If I am taken back by the loyalists - and you see that I am not - still, as long as the war lasts, I do not see what I am to do or where I am to stay. Still less if I am rejected by them. So I await a letter from you, and I beg you to write without hesitation.
You advise me to write to Quintus about this letter. I would, if the letter gave me any pleasure, though someone has written to me saying, "Considering the evil days, I am fairly comfortable at Patrae, and would be more so if your brother spoke of you as I should like to hear him." As for his writing to you that I answer none of his letters, I have had only one from him. I gave Cephalio an answer to that, but he was delayed for many months by storms. I have already mentioned that young Quintus has written to me most bitterly.
The last thing I ask is this: if you think it right and care to undertake it, you and Camillus together should advise Terentia to make her will. Circumstances suggest that she ought to make provision for satisfying her creditors. I hear from Philotimus that she is doing some underhand things. I can hardly believe it, but if there is anything of the kind, and there possibly may be, it ought to be guarded against. Please write to me about everything, and especially what you think about her. I want your advice about her even if you cannot think of any plan, for in that case I shall take it that the case is desperate. June 3.
It is not my fault at the present time (for I did commit an error before) that the letter you send does not give me any consolation. For it is grudgingly written, and raises great suspicion that it is not by Caesar: I expect you noticed that too. About going to meet him I will do as you advise. For no one thinks he is coming, and those who come from Asia say there has been no word of peace: and it was hope of a peace that led me into this error.
I see nothing to make me think of hope, especially now that that blow has fallen in Asia, in Illyricum, in the Cassian affair, in Alexandria itself, in Rome and in Italy. For my part, even if he is on his return—whereas
he is said to be still fighting—still I think the business will be settled before he does return.
You say, however, that some feeling of pleasure was aroused among the loyalists when they heard of this letter. Of course you do not omit anything in which you think there is the least consolation, but I cannot bring myself to believe that any of the loyalists supposed that I prize any salvation highly enough to beg for it of him: especially as I have not even a single partner in this policy now. Those who are in Asia are waiting to see how things turn out: those in Achaia too keep holding out to Fufius the hope that they will petition for pardon. They at first had the same fear and the same plan as myself; but the hitch at Alexandria improved their case and ruined mine. So I still make the same request of you as in former letters: if in these desperate straits you see anything you think I ought to do, tell me of it. If I am taken back by the loyalists, which you see is not the case, still, so long as the war lasts, I don't see what I am to do or where I am to stay; still less, if I am rejected by them. So I await a letter from you, and I beg you to write to me without hesitation.
You advise me to write to Quintus about this letter. I would, if the letter gave me any pleasure, though some one has written to me saying: "Considering the evil days, I am pretty comfortable at Patrae, and I should be more so, if your brother would speak of you as I should like to hear him."
As to his writing to you to say that I don't answer any of his letters, I've only had one from him. To that I gave an answer to Cephalio, but he was delayed many months by storms. I have already mentioned that young Quintus has written to me most bitterly.
The last thing I have to ask you is, that, if you think it right and care to undertake it, you and Camillus together should advise Terentia to make her will. Circumstances suggest that she ought to make provision for satisfying her creditors. I hear from Philotimus that she is doing some underhand things. I can hardly believe it; but anyhow, if there is anything of the kind (and there possibly may be), it ought to be guarded against. Please write to me about everything, and especially what you think about her. I want your advice about her, even if you cannot think of any plan: for in that case I shall take it the case is desperate.
June 3.
[1] non meo vitio fit hoc quidem tempore (ante enim est peccatum) ut me ista epistula nihil consoletur. nam et exigue scripta est et suspiciones magnas habet non esse ab illo; quas animadvertisse te existimo. de obviam itione ita faciam ut suades. neque enim ulla de adventu eius opinio est neque si qui ex Asia veniunt quicquam auditum esse dicunt de pace; cuius ego spe in hanc fraudem incidi. nihil video quod sperandum putem, nunc praesertim cum ea plaga in Asia sit accepta, in Illyrico, in Cassiano negotio, in ipsa Alexandrea, in urbe, (in) Italia. ego vero etiam si rediturus ille est qui adhuc bellum gerere dicitur tamen ante reditum eius negotium confectum iri puto. fuisse ut eam peterem ab illo, et eo minus quod huius consili iam ne socium quidem habeo quemquam. qui in Asia sunt rerum exitum exspectant, Achaici etiam Fufio spem deprecationis adferunt. Horum et timor idem fuit primo qui meus et constitutum; mora Alexandrina causam illorum correxit, meam evertit. [3] quam ob rem idem a te nunc peto quod superioribus litteris, ut, si quid in perditis rebus dispiceres quod mihi putares faciendum, me moneres. si recipior ab his, quod vides non fieri, tamen quoad bellum erit quid agam aut ubi sim non reperio; sin iactor, eo minus. itaque tuas litteras exspecto easque ut ad me sine dubitatione scribas rogo. [4] quod suades ut ad Quintum scribam de his litteris, facerem, si me quicquam istae litterae delectarent. etsi quidam scripsit ad me his verbis, 'ego ut in his malis Patris sum non invitus; essem libentius, si frater tuus ea de te loqueretur quae ego audire vellem.' quod ais illum ad te scribere me sibi nullas litteras remittere, semel ab ipso accepi. ad eas Cephalioni dedi qui multos mensis tempestatibus retentus est. Quintum filium ad me acerbissime scripsisse iam ante ad te scripsi. extremum est quod te orem, si putas rectum esse et a te suscipi posse, cum Camillo communices ut Terentiam moneatis de testamento. tempora monent ut videat ut satis faciat quibus debeat. auditum ex Philotimo est eam scelerate quaedam facere. credibile vix est, sed certe, si quid est quod fieri possit, providendum est. de omnibus rebus velim ad me scribas et maxime quid sentias de ea in qua tuo consilio egeo etiam si nihil excogitas. id enim mihi erit pro desperato. iii Non. Iun.
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It is not my fault now, though I did make an earlier mistake, that the letter you send gives me no consolation. It is written grudgingly and raises strong suspicion that it is not from Caesar. I expect you noticed that too. About going to meet him, I will do as you advise. No one thinks he is coming, and those who arrive from Asia say there has been no word of peace; it was hope of peace that led me into this mistake.
I see nothing to give me hope, especially now that the blow has fallen in Asia, in Illyricum, in Cassius' affair, in Alexandria itself, in Rome, and in Italy. For my part, even if he is returning - whereas he is said to be still fighting - I think the business will be settled before he gets back.
You say, however, that some pleasure was stirred among the loyalists when they heard of this letter. Of course you omit nothing in which you think there is the least consolation. But I cannot bring myself to believe that any loyalist supposed I valued any safety highly enough to beg it from him, especially as I now have not even a single partner in this policy. Those in Asia are waiting to see how matters turn out; those in Achaia keep holding out to Fufius the hope that they will petition for pardon. At first they had the same fear and the same plan as I did, but the delay at Alexandria improved their case and ruined mine.
So I still ask the same thing of you as in earlier letters: if, in these desperate straits, you see anything you think I should do, tell me. If I am taken back by the loyalists - and you see that I am not - still, as long as the war lasts, I do not see what I am to do or where I am to stay. Still less if I am rejected by them. So I await a letter from you, and I beg you to write without hesitation.
You advise me to write to Quintus about this letter. I would, if the letter gave me any pleasure, though someone has written to me saying, "Considering the evil days, I am fairly comfortable at Patrae, and would be more so if your brother spoke of you as I should like to hear him." As for his writing to you that I answer none of his letters, I have had only one from him. I gave Cephalio an answer to that, but he was delayed for many months by storms. I have already mentioned that young Quintus has written to me most bitterly.
The last thing I ask is this: if you think it right and care to undertake it, you and Camillus together should advise Terentia to make her will. Circumstances suggest that she ought to make provision for satisfying her creditors. I hear from Philotimus that she is doing some underhand things. I can hardly believe it, but if there is anything of the kind, and there possibly may be, it ought to be guarded against. Please write to me about everything, and especially what you think about her. I want your advice about her even if you cannot think of any plan, for in that case I shall take it that the case is desperate. June 3.
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 meo vitio fit hoc quidem tempore (ante enim est peccatum) ut me ista epistula nihil consoletur. nam et exigue scripta est et suspiciones magnas habet non esse ab illo; quas animadvertisse te existimo. de obviam itione ita faciam ut suades. neque enim ulla de adventu eius opinio est neque si qui ex Asia veniunt quicquam auditum esse dicunt de pace; cuius ego spe in hanc fraudem incidi. nihil video quod sperandum putem, nunc praesertim cum ea plaga in Asia sit accepta, in Illyrico, in Cassiano negotio, in ipsa Alexandrea, in urbe, (in) Italia. ego vero etiam si rediturus ille est qui adhuc bellum gerere dicitur tamen ante reditum eius negotium confectum iri puto. fuisse ut eam peterem ab illo, et eo minus quod huius consili iam ne socium quidem habeo quemquam. qui in Asia sunt rerum exitum exspectant, Achaici etiam Fufio spem deprecationis adferunt. Horum et timor idem fuit primo qui meus et constitutum; mora Alexandrina causam illorum correxit, meam evertit. [3] quam ob rem idem a te nunc peto quod superioribus litteris, ut, si quid in perditis rebus dispiceres quod mihi putares faciendum, me moneres. si recipior ab his, quod vides non fieri, tamen quoad bellum erit quid agam aut ubi sim non reperio; sin iactor, eo minus. itaque tuas litteras exspecto easque ut ad me sine dubitatione scribas rogo. [4] quod suades ut ad Quintum scribam de his litteris, facerem, si me quicquam istae litterae delectarent. etsi quidam scripsit ad me his verbis, 'ego ut in his malis Patris sum non invitus; essem libentius, si frater tuus ea de te loqueretur quae ego audire vellem.' quod ais illum ad te scribere me sibi nullas litteras remittere, semel ab ipso accepi. ad eas Cephalioni dedi qui multos mensis tempestatibus retentus est. Quintum filium ad me acerbissime scripsisse iam ante ad te scripsi. extremum est quod te orem, si putas rectum esse et a te suscipi posse, cum Camillo communices ut Terentiam moneatis de testamento. tempora monent ut videat ut satis faciat quibus debeat. auditum ex Philotimo est eam scelerate quaedam facere. credibile vix est, sed certe, si quid est quod fieri possit, providendum est. de omnibus rebus velim ad me scribas et maxime quid sentias de ea in qua tuo consilio egeo etiam si nihil excogitas. id enim mihi erit pro desperato. iii Non. Iun.