Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 46 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
I am quite content that Hirtius wrote something to you sympathetically [sympathôs] about me (for he behaved decently), and even more content that you did not forward his letter to me; for in that you behaved even more decently. That book of his which he sent me about Cato I want circulated by your people, so that out of the disparagement coming from those men [Cato's detractors] there may arise the greater praise of him.
[2] As for the business you are conducting through Mustela, you have in him a very suitable man, and one thoroughly devoted to me ever since the affair of Pontianus. So bring something to completion. And what else is there to bring about except that access be granted to a purchaser? That can be accomplished through any of the heirs. But I think Mustela will see it through, if you ask him. To me, indeed, you will have given both the site I desire for the purpose we have in mind and, besides, a place to grow old in [engêrama]. For those properties of Silius and Drusus do not seem to me sufficiently suited to a master of his own household [oikodespotika]. What, after all? To sit whole days in a country house? So I would prefer those other places: first Otho's, then Clodia's. If nothing comes of it, either a school must be set up for Drusus [i.e. some inducement offered to him], or I must make do with the Tusculan villa.
[3] That you have shut yourself up at home you did with good reason; but, please, finish your business and give yourself back to me, free of it. As for me, as I wrote before, I shall be at Lanuvium the day after the Ides, then the day after that at the Tusculan villa. For I have crushed down my spirit, and perhaps have mastered it, if only I hold out. So you will know perhaps tomorrow, at the latest the day after. But what is this, I ask you? Philotimus reports that Pompey is not being held at Carteia (a matter about which Oppius and Balbus had sent me a copy of a letter dispatched to Clodius of Patavium, saying they believed this to be the case) and that a fairly large war still remains. He is, to be sure, always something of a little Fulvinius [a teller of tall tales]. But still, if you have any news. I want also to know what the truth is about the shipwreck of Caninius.
[4] Here I have finished off two large treatises [syntagmata]; for in no other way can I, as it were, wander away from my misery. As for you, even if there is nothing for you to write, which I foresee will be the case, I should still like you to write that very thing - that you had nothing to write - provided only you do not do it in these exact words.
Go on publishing Hirtius' book. About Philotimus I agree with you. I see
your house will go up in value now you have Caesar for a neighbour. I am
expecting my messenger to-day. He will tell me about Pilia and Attica.
I can easily believe you are glad to be at home: but I should like to
know what business you still have or if you have finished now. I am
expecting you at Tusculum, especially as you told Tiro you were coming
at once, adding that you thought it necessary.
et Hirtium aliquid ad te sumpaqw=j de me scripsisse facile patior (fecit enim humane) et te eius epistulam ad me non misisse multo facilius; tu enim etiam humanius. illius librum quem ad me misit de Catone propterea volo divulgari a tuis ut ex istorum vituperatione sit illius maior laudatio. [2] quod per mustelam agis, habes hominem valde idoneum meique sane studiosum iam inde a Pontiano. perfice igitur aliquid. quid autem aliud nisi ut aditus sit emptori? quod per quemvis heredem potest effici. sed mustelam id perfecturum, si rogaris, puto. mihi vero et locum quem opto ad id quod volumus dederis et praeterea e)ggh/rama . nam illa Sili et Drusi non satis oi)kodespotika\ mihi videntur. quid enim? sedere totos dies in villa? ista igitur malim, primum Othonis, deinde Clodiae. si nihil fiet, aut Druso ludus est suggerendus aut utendum Tusculano. [3] quod domi te inclusisti ratione fecisti; sed, quaeso, confice et te vacuum redde nobis. ego hinc, ut scripsi antea, postridie Idus Lanuvi, deinde postridie in Tusculano. contudi enim animum et fortasse vici, si modo permansero. scies igitur fortasse cras, summum perendie. sed quid est, quaeso? Philotimus nec Carteiae Pompeium teneri (qua de re litterarum ad Clodium Patavinum missarum exemplum mihi Oppius et Balbus miserant, se id factum arbitrari) bellumque narrat reliquum satis magnum. solet omnino esse Fulviniaster. sed tamen, si quid habes. volo etiam de naufragio Caniniano scire quid sit. [4] ego hic duo magna sunta/gmata absolvi; nullo enim alio modo a miseria quasi aberrare possum. tu mihi, etiam si nihil erit quod scribas, quod fore ita video, tamen id ipsum scribas velim te nihil habuisse quod scriberes, dum modo ne his verbis.
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I am quite content that Hirtius wrote something to you sympathetically [sympathôs] about me (for he behaved decently), and even more content that you did not forward his letter to me; for in that you behaved even more decently. That book of his which he sent me about Cato I want circulated by your people, so that out of the disparagement coming from those men [Cato's detractors] there may arise the greater praise of him.
[2] As for the business you are conducting through Mustela, you have in him a very suitable man, and one thoroughly devoted to me ever since the affair of Pontianus. So bring something to completion. And what else is there to bring about except that access be granted to a purchaser? That can be accomplished through any of the heirs. But I think Mustela will see it through, if you ask him. To me, indeed, you will have given both the site I desire for the purpose we have in mind and, besides, a place to grow old in [engêrama]. For those properties of Silius and Drusus do not seem to me sufficiently suited to a master of his own household [oikodespotika]. What, after all? To sit whole days in a country house? So I would prefer those other places: first Otho's, then Clodia's. If nothing comes of it, either a school must be set up for Drusus [i.e. some inducement offered to him], or I must make do with the Tusculan villa.
[3] That you have shut yourself up at home you did with good reason; but, please, finish your business and give yourself back to me, free of it. As for me, as I wrote before, I shall be at Lanuvium the day after the Ides, then the day after that at the Tusculan villa. For I have crushed down my spirit, and perhaps have mastered it, if only I hold out. So you will know perhaps tomorrow, at the latest the day after. But what is this, I ask you? Philotimus reports that Pompey is not being held at Carteia (a matter about which Oppius and Balbus had sent me a copy of a letter dispatched to Clodius of Patavium, saying they believed this to be the case) and that a fairly large war still remains. He is, to be sure, always something of a little Fulvinius [a teller of tall tales]. But still, if you have any news. I want also to know what the truth is about the shipwreck of Caninius.
[4] Here I have finished off two large treatises [syntagmata]; for in no other way can I, as it were, wander away from my misery. As for you, even if there is nothing for you to write, which I foresee will be the case, I should still like you to write that very thing - that you had nothing to write - provided only you do not do it in these exact words.
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
et Hirtium aliquid ad te sumpaqw=j de me scripsisse facile patior (fecit enim humane) et te eius epistulam ad me non misisse multo facilius; tu enim etiam humanius. illius librum quem ad me misit de Catone propterea volo divulgari a tuis ut ex istorum vituperatione sit illius maior laudatio. [2] quod per mustelam agis, habes hominem valde idoneum meique sane studiosum iam inde a Pontiano. perfice igitur aliquid. quid autem aliud nisi ut aditus sit emptori? quod per quemvis heredem potest effici. sed mustelam id perfecturum, si rogaris, puto. mihi vero et locum quem opto ad id quod volumus dederis et praeterea e)ggh/rama . nam illa Sili et Drusi non satis oi)kodespotika\ mihi videntur. quid enim? sedere totos dies in villa? ista igitur malim, primum Othonis, deinde Clodiae. si nihil fiet, aut Druso ludus est suggerendus aut utendum Tusculano. [3] quod domi te inclusisti ratione fecisti; sed, quaeso, confice et te vacuum redde nobis. ego hinc, ut scripsi antea, postridie Idus Lanuvi, deinde postridie in Tusculano. contudi enim animum et fortasse vici, si modo permansero. scies igitur fortasse cras, summum perendie. sed quid est, quaeso? Philotimus nec Carteiae Pompeium teneri (qua de re litterarum ad Clodium Patavinum missarum exemplum mihi Oppius et Balbus miserant, se id factum arbitrari) bellumque narrat reliquum satis magnum. solet omnino esse Fulviniaster. sed tamen, si quid habes. volo etiam de naufragio Caniniano scire quid sit. [4] ego hic duo magna sunta/gmata absolvi; nullo enim alio modo a miseria quasi aberrare possum. tu mihi, etiam si nihil erit quod scribas, quod fore ita video, tamen id ipsum scribas velim te nihil habuisse quod scriberes, dum modo ne his verbis.