Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 47 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
There is still no rumor that Caesar has left Alexandria. On the contrary, he is thought to be in serious difficulty. So I am not sending my son, as I had planned, and I beg you to get me away from here. Any punishment is easier to bear than staying here. On this point I have written to Antony, Balbus, and Oppius. Whether there is going to be war in Italy or he will use his fleet - either may happen, and one of them must - this is a wholly unsuitable place for me. From what Oppius said, according to your letter, I understood how angry they are with me. But I beg you to turn aside their anger. I expect nothing now that is not unpleasant, but my present condition is as desperate as anything can be. So please speak with Antony and the Caesarians and see the matter through for me as best you can. Let me have an answer on every point as soon as possible. Farewell. June 14.
There is no rumour of his leaving Alexandria as yet: on the contrary, he is thought to be in great difficulties. So I am not sending my son, as I had arranged, and I beseech you to get me away from here: for any punishment is lighter to bear than staying here. On this point I have written to Antony, to Balbus and to Oppius. For whether there is going to be a war in Italy, or whether he will employ his fleet—and it may be either, but one it must be—this is a most inappropriate place for me. I understood of course from what Oppius said according to your letter, how angry they are with me: but I beg you to turn their anger. I don't expect anything now that is not unpleasant: but my present condition is as desperate as anything can be. So please speak with Antony and the Caesarians, and see the matter through for me as best you can: and let me have an answer on all points as soon as possible. Farewell.
June 14.
[1] de illius Alexandrea discessu nihil adhuc rumoris, contraque opinio valde esse impeditum. itaque nec mitto, ut constitueram, Ciceronem et te rogo ut me hinc expedias. quodvis enim supplicium levius est hac permansione. hac de re et ad Antonium scripsi et ad Balbum et ad Oppium. Sive enim bellum in Italia futurum est sive classibus utetur, hic esse me minime convenit; quorum fortasse utrumque erit, alterum certe. [2] intellexi omnino ex Oppi sermone quem tu mihi scripsisti quae istorum ira esset, sed ut eam flectas te rogo. nihil omnino iam exspecto nisi miserum, sed hoc perditius in quo nunc sum fieri nihil potest. qua re et cum Antonio loquare velim et cum istis et rem, (ut) poteris, expedias et mihi quam primum de omnibus rebus rescribas. vale. xii Kal. Quintil.
◆
There is still no rumor that Caesar has left Alexandria. On the contrary, he is thought to be in serious difficulty. So I am not sending my son, as I had planned, and I beg you to get me away from here. Any punishment is easier to bear than staying here. On this point I have written to Antony, Balbus, and Oppius. Whether there is going to be war in Italy or he will use his fleet - either may happen, and one of them must - this is a wholly unsuitable place for me. From what Oppius said, according to your letter, I understood how angry they are with me. But I beg you to turn aside their anger. I expect nothing now that is not unpleasant, but my present condition is as desperate as anything can be. So please speak with Antony and the Caesarians and see the matter through for me as best you can. Let me have an answer on every point as soon as possible. Farewell. June 14.
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] de illius Alexandrea discessu nihil adhuc rumoris, contraque opinio valde esse impeditum. itaque nec mitto, ut constitueram, Ciceronem et te rogo ut me hinc expedias. quodvis enim supplicium levius est hac permansione. hac de re et ad Antonium scripsi et ad Balbum et ad Oppium. Sive enim bellum in Italia futurum est sive classibus utetur, hic esse me minime convenit; quorum fortasse utrumque erit, alterum certe. [2] intellexi omnino ex Oppi sermone quem tu mihi scripsisti quae istorum ira esset, sed ut eam flectas te rogo. nihil omnino iam exspecto nisi miserum, sed hoc perditius in quo nunc sum fieri nihil potest. qua re et cum Antonio loquare velim et cum istis et rem, (ut) poteris, expedias et mihi quam primum de omnibus rebus rescribas. vale. xii Kal. Quintil.