Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 46 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
Before I last left you, it never occurred to me that, for whatever sum is spent on the monument beyond the certain amount that the law allows, an equal amount must be given to the people. This would not trouble me greatly, were it not that somehow—irrationally [alogos], perhaps—I would rather it were called by no name except that of a shrine [fanum]. But if that is what we want, I am afraid we cannot achieve it unless the site is changed. Consider, I beg you, what sort of thing this is. For although I am less pressed by it and have more or less pulled myself together, I still need your counsel. And so I ask you most earnestly, again and again—more than you ask, or allow yourself to be asked, anything of me—that you embrace this plan with your whole heart.
Yesterday I received two letters from you, one given the day before to Hilarus, the other on the same day to a letter-carrier; and on the same day I heard from my freedman Aegypta that Pilia and Attica are quite well. Thanks for sending Brutus' letter. He sent one to me too, which only reached me on the thirteenth day. I am forwarding the letter itself and a copy of my answer.
About the shrine, if you don't get me any gardens—and you ought, if you love me as much as I know you do—I approve highly of your scheme about the place at Tusculum. In spite of your acute powers of thought so bright an idea would never have come into your head, unless you had been very anxious for me to secure what I was very much bent on having. But somehow or other I want a public place; so you must contrive to get me some gardens.
Scapula's are the most public, and besides they are near and one can be there without spending the whole day in the country. So before you go away, I should very much like you to see Otho, if he is in town. If it comes to nothing, I shall go to such lengths as to rouse your wrath, accustomed though you are to my folly. For Drusus certainly is willing to sell. So, if there is nothing else, it will be my fault if I don't buy. Pray see that I don't make any mistake about it. The only way of making sure against that is to get some of Scapula's land, if possible. Please let me know, too, how long you are going to be in your suburban estate.
With Terentia her liking for you may help as much as your influence. But do as you think fit. For I know that you are generally more solicitous about my interests than I am myself.
ante quam a te proxime discessi, numquam mihi venit in mentem, quo plus insumptum in monimentum esset quam nescio quid quod lege conceditur, tantundem populo dandum esse. quod non magno opere moveret, nisi nescio quo modo, a)lo/gwj fortasse, nollem illud ullo nomine nisi fani appellari. quod si volumus, vereor ne adsequi non possimus nisi mutato loco. hoc quale sit, quaeso, considera. nam etsi minus urgeor meque ipse prope modum conlegi, tamen indigeo tui consili. itaque te vehementer etiam atque etiam rogo magis quam a me ns aut pateris te rogari ut hanc cogitationem toto pectore amplectare.
◆
Before I last left you, it never occurred to me that, for whatever sum is spent on the monument beyond the certain amount that the law allows, an equal amount must be given to the people. This would not trouble me greatly, were it not that somehow—irrationally [alogos], perhaps—I would rather it were called by no name except that of a shrine [fanum]. But if that is what we want, I am afraid we cannot achieve it unless the site is changed. Consider, I beg you, what sort of thing this is. For although I am less pressed by it and have more or less pulled myself together, I still need your counsel. And so I ask you most earnestly, again and again—more than you ask, or allow yourself to be asked, anything of me—that you embrace this plan with your whole heart.
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
ante quam a te proxime discessi, numquam mihi venit in mentem, quo plus insumptum in monimentum esset quam nescio quid quod lege conceditur, tantundem populo dandum esse. quod non magno opere moveret, nisi nescio quo modo, a)lo/gwj fortasse, nollem illud ullo nomine nisi fani appellari. quod si volumus, vereor ne adsequi non possimus nisi mutato loco. hoc quale sit, quaeso, considera. nam etsi minus urgeor meque ipse prope modum conlegi, tamen indigeo tui consili. itaque te vehementer etiam atque etiam rogo magis quam a me ns aut pateris te rogari ut hanc cogitationem toto pectore amplectare.