Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 46 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
Sicca writes that even if he settles nothing with Aulus Silius, he still intends to come on the tenth before the Kalends. I make allowances for your engagements, and I know them well. As to your willingness for us to be together, or rather your eagerness and desire for it, I have no doubt. [2] As for what you write about Nicias, if I were in such a state that I could enjoy his refinement, I would above all want to have him with me. But solitude and seclusion are my province now. And because Sicca bore this so easily, I miss him all the more. Besides, you know our Nicias's frail health, his softness, his accustomed way of living. Why, then, should I wish to be a burden to him, when he cannot be a pleasure to me? Still, his goodwill is welcome to me. You wrote to me about one matter, on which I have resolved to write you nothing in reply. For I hope I have obtained from you that you spare me that distress. My greetings to Pilia and Attica.
About Silius I have learned nothing more from Sicca now he is here than from his letter, for he had written quite fully. So if you meet him, write and tell me your views. As to the matter on which you think a message has been sent to me, I don't know whether one has been sent or not; certainly not a word has been said to me. So go on as you have begun, and, if you come to any arrangement that satisfies her, which I don't think at all likely, take my son with you to her, if you like. It is to his interest to appear to have wanted to do something to
please her; I have no interest in the matter, except that you know of, which I consider important.
You call me back to my old way of life. Well, I have long been bewailing the loss of the Republic, and that was what I was doing, though less strongly; for I had one harbour of refuge. Now I positively cannot follow my old way of life and employment; nor do I think I ought to care what others think about that. My own conscience is more to me than all their talk. For the consolation I have sought in writing, I am not discontented with my measure of success. It has made me show my grief less; but the grief itself I could not lessen, nor would I, if I could.
About Triarius you interpret my wishes well. However do nothing without his family's consent. I love him, though he is dead: I am guardian to his children, and feel affection for all his household. As regards the business with Castricius, if he is willing to take money estimated at its present rate instead of the slaves, nothing could be more convenient. But, if things have gone so far that he is taking the slaves away, I don't think it is fair to him to ask him (you ask me to give you my real opinion); for I don't want my brother Quintus to have any bother, and I rather fancy you take the same view. If Publilius is waiting for the equinox, as you say Aledius tells you, I suppose he is going by sea; but he told me he was going by way of Sicily. I should like to know which it is and when. I should like you too some time at your convenience to pay a visit to little Lentulus and assign him such of the household as you think fit. Love to Pilia and Attica.
Sicca, ut scribit, etiam si nihil confecerit cum A. Silio, tamen se scribit x Kal. esse venturum. tuis occupationibus ignosco eaeque mihi sunt notae. de voluntate tua ut simul simus vel studio potius et cupiditate non dubito. [2] de Nicia quod scribis, si ita me haberem ut eius humanitate frui possem, in primis vellem illum mecum habere. sed mihi solitudo et recessus provincia est. quod quia facile ferebat Sicca, eo magis illum desidero. praeterea nosti Niciae nostri imbecillitatem, mollitiam, consuetudinem victus. cur ergo illi molestus esse velim, cum mihi ille iucundus esse non possit? voluntas tamen eius mihi grata est. unam rem ad me scripsisti; de qua decrevi nihil tibi rescribere. spero enim me a te impetrasse ut privares me ista molestia. Piliae et Atticae salutem.
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Sicca writes that even if he settles nothing with Aulus Silius, he still intends to come on the tenth before the Kalends. I make allowances for your engagements, and I know them well. As to your willingness for us to be together, or rather your eagerness and desire for it, I have no doubt. [2] As for what you write about Nicias, if I were in such a state that I could enjoy his refinement, I would above all want to have him with me. But solitude and seclusion are my province now. And because Sicca bore this so easily, I miss him all the more. Besides, you know our Nicias's frail health, his softness, his accustomed way of living. Why, then, should I wish to be a burden to him, when he cannot be a pleasure to me? Still, his goodwill is welcome to me. You wrote to me about one matter, on which I have resolved to write you nothing in reply. For I hope I have obtained from you that you spare me that distress. My greetings to Pilia and Attica.
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
Sicca, ut scribit, etiam si nihil confecerit cum A. Silio, tamen se scribit x Kal. esse venturum. tuis occupationibus ignosco eaeque mihi sunt notae. de voluntate tua ut simul simus vel studio potius et cupiditate non dubito. [2] de Nicia quod scribis, si ita me haberem ut eius humanitate frui possem, in primis vellem illum mecum habere. sed mihi solitudo et recessus provincia est. quod quia facile ferebat Sicca, eo magis illum desidero. praeterea nosti Niciae nostri imbecillitatem, mollitiam, consuetudinem victus. cur ergo illi molestus esse velim, cum mihi ille iucundus esse non possit? voluntas tamen eius mihi grata est. unam rem ad me scripsisti; de qua decrevi nihil tibi rescribere. spero enim me a te impetrasse ut privares me ista molestia. Piliae et Atticae salutem.