Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 60 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
You did me a very great kindness in sending me Serapion's book; though indeed, between ourselves, I scarcely understand one thousandth part of it. For it I have ordered ready cash to be paid you, so that you should not enter it on your books as a gift. But since money has been mentioned, please, I beg you, see to it that you settle with Titinius in whatever way you can. If he does not stand by what he had offered, I am most content that the things which were bought badly be returned, if it can be done with Pomponia's goodwill; but if not even that is possible, let the money rather be paid back than that there be any cause for scruple. I should very much like you, with the affection you always show, to settle this carefully before you set out.
So Clodius, as you say, is off to Tigranes! I could wish [it were] on Sirpia's terms [text corrupt]; but I bear it easily. For that other time is more convenient for us with a view to a free legation, when both our friend Quintus, as we hope, will have settled into leisure, and we shall know what sort of priest of the Good Goddess that fellow is going to be. In the meantime, indeed, we shall delight ourselves with the Muses with an even mind, nay rather with a glad and willing one, and it will never come into my head to envy Crassus or to regret that I have not deserted my own self.
As for the geography, I shall take pains to satisfy you; but I promise nothing for certain. It is a great work, but nevertheless, as you bid, I shall see to it that some product of this sojourn abroad survives for you.
As for you, whatever you may ferret out about public affairs, and above all whom you think will be the next consuls, see that I know it. And yet I am too inquisitive; for I have resolved now to think nothing about public affairs. I have inspected Terentia's woodland pasture. What more shall I say? Apart from the oak of Dodona, we lack nothing to make it seem that we possess Epirus itself.
We shall be, around the first of the month, either at the Formian place or at the Pompeian one. As for you, if we are not at Formiae, then, if you love us, come to the Pompeian place. That will be both very pleasant for us and not really out of your way.
About the wall, I have ordered Philotimus not to stand in the way of what should be done as you see fit. Still, I think you should call in Vettius too. In these times, when the life of every best man is so uncertain, I set a high value on one summer's enjoyment of the Palatine wrestling-ground; but yet only on such terms that I should wish nothing less than that Pomponia and the boy should live in fear of the building's collapse.
I am much obliged to you for sending me Serapio’s book, though between you and me I hardly understand a thousandth part of it. I have given orders for you to be paid ready money for it, to prevent your entering it among presentation copies. Since I am mentioning money matters, please settle up with Titinius as best you can. If he won’t stand by his agreement, the best plan, so far as I can see, will be to return the goods for which he made a bad bargain, if Pomponia will consent to that course: if even that won’t work, then give him his money back rather than have a fuss. I should be very glad if you would finish the business before you leave, with your usual kindness and carefulness.
So Clodius is going to Tigranes you say! I wish it were on the same terms as that Scepsian. But I don’t envy him. It will be a much more convenient time for me to get a free travelling pass, when my brother Quintus has settled down in peace, as I hope he will, and when I know the intentions of that priest of Bona Dea. Meantime I shall settle down to the enjoyment of the Muses with resignation, indeed
with hearty good-will and delight, for it will never enter my head to envy Crassus, or to repent of not having turned traitor to myself.
For the geography I will endeavour to satisfy you, but I won’t make any definite promise. It is a big piece of work: still I will do as I am told, and see to it that this little tour is not entirely unproductive for you. Let me have any political news you may worm out, especially who you think are likely to be consuls. However, I am not very anxious. I have made up my mind to forget politics for the time.
I have had a good look at Terentia’s woodlands, and can only say, that, if there was a Dodonaean oak there, I should feel as though I possessed the whole of Epirus. About the first of the month I shall be either in my place at Formiae, or at Pompeii. If I am not at Formiae, as you love me, come to Pompeii. I shall be delighted to see you, and it won’t be far out of your way. With regard to the wall, I have given orders to Philotimus to let you do anything you like: but I think you ought to call in Vettius. In these days, when every honest man’s life hangs in the balance, I set high store by the enjoyment of my Palatine palaestra for a summer, but not to the extent of wishing Pomponia and her boy to live in terror of a tottering ruin.
fecisti mihi pergratum quod Serapionis librum ad me misisti; ex quo quidem ego, quod inter nos liceat dicere, millesimam partem vix intellego. pro eo tibi praesentem pecuniam solvi imperavi, ne tu expensum muneribus ferres. at quoniam nummorum mentio facta est, amabo te, cura ut cum Titinio quoquo modo poteris transigas. si in eo quod ostenderat non stat, mihi maxime placet ea quae male empta sunt reddi, si voluntate Pomponiae fieri poterit; si ne id quidem, nummi potius reddantur quam ullus sit scrupulus. valde hoc velim ante quam proficiscare amanter, ut soles, diligenterque conficias. Clodius ergo, ut ais, ad Tigranem! [2] velim +Sirpiae+ condicione; sed facile patior. accommodatius enim nobis est ad liberam legationem tempus illud, cum et Quintus noster iam, ut speramus, in otio consederit et iste sacerdos bonae deae cuius modi futurus sit scierimus. interea quidem cum Musis nos delectabimus animo aequo, immo vero etiam gaudenti ac libenti, neque mihi umquam veniet in mentem Crasso invidere neque paenitere quod a me ipse non desciverim. [3] de geographia dabo operam ut tibi satis faciam; sed nihil certi polliceor. Magnum opus est, sed tamen, ut iubes, curabo ut huius peregrinationis aliquod tibi opus exstet. [4] tu quicquid indagaris de re publica et maxime quos consules futuros putes facito ut sciam. tametsi nimis sum curiosus; statui enim nihil iam de re publica cogitare. Terentiae saltum perspeximus. quid quaeris? praeter quercum Dodonaeam nihil desideramus quo minus Epirum ipsam possidere videamur. [6] nos circiter Kal. aut in Formiano erimus aut in Pompeiano. tu, si in Formiano non erimus, si nos amas, in Pompeianum venito. id et nobis erit periucundum et tibi non sane devium. [7] de muro imperavi Philotimo ne impediret quo minus id fieret quod tibi videretur. tu censeo tamen adhibeas Vettium. his temporibus tam dubia vita optimi cuiusque magni aestimo unius aestatis fructum palaestrae Palatinae, sed ita tamen ut nihil minus velim quam Pomponiam et puerum versari in timore ruinae.
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You did me a very great kindness in sending me Serapion's book; though indeed, between ourselves, I scarcely understand one thousandth part of it. For it I have ordered ready cash to be paid you, so that you should not enter it on your books as a gift. But since money has been mentioned, please, I beg you, see to it that you settle with Titinius in whatever way you can. If he does not stand by what he had offered, I am most content that the things which were bought badly be returned, if it can be done with Pomponia's goodwill; but if not even that is possible, let the money rather be paid back than that there be any cause for scruple. I should very much like you, with the affection you always show, to settle this carefully before you set out.
So Clodius, as you say, is off to Tigranes! I could wish [it were] on Sirpia's terms [text corrupt]; but I bear it easily. For that other time is more convenient for us with a view to a free legation, when both our friend Quintus, as we hope, will have settled into leisure, and we shall know what sort of priest of the Good Goddess that fellow is going to be. In the meantime, indeed, we shall delight ourselves with the Muses with an even mind, nay rather with a glad and willing one, and it will never come into my head to envy Crassus or to regret that I have not deserted my own self.
As for the geography, I shall take pains to satisfy you; but I promise nothing for certain. It is a great work, but nevertheless, as you bid, I shall see to it that some product of this sojourn abroad survives for you.
As for you, whatever you may ferret out about public affairs, and above all whom you think will be the next consuls, see that I know it. And yet I am too inquisitive; for I have resolved now to think nothing about public affairs. I have inspected Terentia's woodland pasture. What more shall I say? Apart from the oak of Dodona, we lack nothing to make it seem that we possess Epirus itself.
We shall be, around the first of the month, either at the Formian place or at the Pompeian one. As for you, if we are not at Formiae, then, if you love us, come to the Pompeian place. That will be both very pleasant for us and not really out of your way.
About the wall, I have ordered Philotimus not to stand in the way of what should be done as you see fit. Still, I think you should call in Vettius too. In these times, when the life of every best man is so uncertain, I set a high value on one summer's enjoyment of the Palatine wrestling-ground; but yet only on such terms that I should wish nothing less than that Pomponia and the boy should live in fear of the building's collapse.
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
fecisti mihi pergratum quod Serapionis librum ad me misisti; ex quo quidem ego, quod inter nos liceat dicere, millesimam partem vix intellego. pro eo tibi praesentem pecuniam solvi imperavi, ne tu expensum muneribus ferres. at quoniam nummorum mentio facta est, amabo te, cura ut cum Titinio quoquo modo poteris transigas. si in eo quod ostenderat non stat, mihi maxime placet ea quae male empta sunt reddi, si voluntate Pomponiae fieri poterit; si ne id quidem, nummi potius reddantur quam ullus sit scrupulus. valde hoc velim ante quam proficiscare amanter, ut soles, diligenterque conficias. Clodius ergo, ut ais, ad Tigranem! [2] velim +Sirpiae+ condicione; sed facile patior. accommodatius enim nobis est ad liberam legationem tempus illud, cum et Quintus noster iam, ut speramus, in otio consederit et iste sacerdos bonae deae cuius modi futurus sit scierimus. interea quidem cum Musis nos delectabimus animo aequo, immo vero etiam gaudenti ac libenti, neque mihi umquam veniet in mentem Crasso invidere neque paenitere quod a me ipse non desciverim. [3] de geographia dabo operam ut tibi satis faciam; sed nihil certi polliceor. Magnum opus est, sed tamen, ut iubes, curabo ut huius peregrinationis aliquod tibi opus exstet. [4] tu quicquid indagaris de re publica et maxime quos consules futuros putes facito ut sciam. tametsi nimis sum curiosus; statui enim nihil iam de re publica cogitare. Terentiae saltum perspeximus. quid quaeris? praeter quercum Dodonaeam nihil desideramus quo minus Epirum ipsam possidere videamur. [6] nos circiter Kal. aut in Formiano erimus aut in Pompeiano. tu, si in Formiano non erimus, si nos amas, in Pompeianum venito. id et nobis erit periucundum et tibi non sane devium. [7] de muro imperavi Philotimo ne impediret quo minus id fieret quod tibi videretur. tu censeo tamen adhibeas Vettium. his temporibus tam dubia vita optimi cuiusque magni aestimo unius aestatis fructum palaestrae Palatinae, sed ita tamen ut nihil minus velim quam Pomponiam et puerum versari in timore ruinae.