Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 60 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
When Caecilius the quaestor suddenly told me that he was sending a slave to Rome, I dashed off these lines in haste, so as to draw out from you those marvelous dialogues with Publius [Clodius]: both the ones about which you write, and that other one which you keep hidden and say it would take too long to write out fully whatever answers you gave to it; but as for that one which has not yet taken place, which that ox-eyed lady [Clodia] will report to you when she returns from Solonium, I would have you believe this, that nothing could be more delightful to me than this. But if the terms that were agreed upon concerning me are not being kept, then I am in heaven, so that this man of ours, this conductor of the Jerusalem business [Pompey] who delivered them over to the rabble, may learn what fine thanks he has rendered for those utterly clean speeches of mine. For those speeches you may expect a divine palinode [recantation]. For, as far as we can divine by conjecture, if that good-for-nothing [Clodius] is in favor with these dynasts, he will not be able to vaunt himself either over the Cynic ex-consul or even over those Tritons of the fish-ponds. For we shall not be able to be the object of any ill will, stripped as we are of our resources and of that senatorial influence. But if, on the other hand, he falls out with them, it will be absurd to attack us. Yet let him attack all the same. Merrily, believe me, and with less of a crash than I had thought, has this orb of the state revolved -- altogether more swiftly than it could have done; the fault lies with Cato, but then again with the wickedness of those men who disregarded the auspices, the Aelian law, the Junian and Licinian laws, the Caecilian and Didian laws, who squandered all the safeguards of the state, who gave away kingdoms and estates to tetrarchs, and monstrous sums of money to a few. [2] I see now whither the ill will is passing and where it is going to make its home. You may consider that I have learned nothing either from experience or from Theophrastus, if before long you do not see those times of mine longed for. For if the power of the senate was a thing to be envied, when that power has been reduced not to the people but to three unrestrained men, what now do you think will happen? Therefore let those men make whomever they please consuls, tribunes of the plebs, and finally even let them clothe Vatinius' scrofulous neck in the double-dyed robe of a priest -- you will see before long that great men are not only those who never wavered, but even that very Cato who erred. [3] For as for us, if it shall be permitted by that comrade of yours, Publius, we are thinking of playing the sophist [practicing rhetoric], if he is only thinking of it -- at least of defending ourselves, and, which is the proper part of this art, 'I undertake to ward off a man when one first does me wrong' -- may our country be propitious. He has from us, even if not more than was owed, certainly more than was demanded. I would rather sail badly with another at the helm than steer well for such ungrateful passengers. [4] But these matters are more conveniently discussed face to face. Now hear what you ask. I am thinking of betaking myself to Antium from my Formian villa on the fifth day before the Nones of May [3 May]; from Antium I wish to set out on the Nones of May [7 May] for my Tusculan villa. But when I have returned from the Formian villa (I wish to be there until the day before the Kalends of May [30 April]), I will at once let you know. Terentia sends you greetings, and little Cicero greets Titus the Athenian.
Caecilius the quaestor having suddenly told me that he was sending a man to Rome, I write this note in haste to extract from you all your wonderful dialogues with Publius, those you mention in your note, and the one you keep dark, saying that your answers were too long to write; and besides the one which has not yet been held, but which that Juno is going to report to you, when she returns from Solonium. Pray believe me when I say there is nothing that would please me more. If the compact about
me is not kept, I am in the seventh heaven with delight at thinking how that Jerusalemite plebeian-monger will learn what a pretty return he has made for all my choicest panegyrics: and you may expect recantation of eclipsing brilliancy; for, so far as I can see, if that good-for-nothing is in favour with our sovereigns, he will have to give up crowing over the “ex-consul with a cynic’s tongue” and those “Tritons of the fish-ponds” together: for there will be nothing to envy me for, when I have been robbed of my power and my influence in the Senate. If on the other hand he quarrels with them, then any attack on me would be absurd. However let him attack, if he likes.
Upon my word the wheel of State has turned round gaily and with less noise than I had expected: more quickly to be sure than it might have done. That is Cato’s fault, but it is still more through the villainy of those who have disregarded auspices and the Aelian law, the Iunian and Licinian law and the Caecilian and Didian law, who have thrown out of the window all the physic for the State, who have given kingdoms to tetrarchs as though they were farms and immense sums of money to one or two people. I can see already which way jealousy is tending and where it will come home to roost. Count me too big a dunce to have learned anything by experience or from Theophrastus, if you do not see very shortly men mourning for the days of my government. For if the power of the Senate was unpopular, you can imagine what things will be like now, when the power has been transferred not to the people, but to three unbridled men. So let them make anyone they like consuls and tribunes,
let them cloak Vatinius’ wen with the double-dyed purple gown of the augur, you will see very soon not only those who have made no slip, but even Cato himself for all his mistakes exalted, to the skies. As for me, I am thinking of playing the sophist, if your comrade Publius will allow me: I shall defend myself only if he compels me. Using the ordinary trick of the trade, I shall put up a notice that I am ready to
If only the country will be on my side. Certainly it has had from me more than it ever asked for, if not more than I owe to it. I would rather have a bad passage with another at the helm than steer safely myself for such ungrateful passengers. But of this we can talk better when we meet.
Now listen to my answer to your question. I am thinking of betaking myself to Antium from Formiae on May the 3rd: and I hope to start from Antium for Tusculum on May the 7th. But, as soon as I have returned from Formiae—and I intend to stay there till the last of April—I will send you definite news. Terentia sends her love, and little Cicero his greeting to Titus the Athenian.
subito cum mihi dixisset Caecilius quaestor puerum se Romam mittere, haec scripsi raptim, ut tuos <elicerem> mirificos cum Publio dialogos, cum eos de quibus scribis, tum illum quem abdis et ais longum esse quae ad ea responderis perscribere; illum vero qui nondum habitus est, quem illa boopis, cum e Solonio redierit, ad te est relatura, sic velim putes, nihil hoc posse mihi esse iucundius. si vero quae de me pacta sunt ea non servantur, in caelo sum, ut sciat hic noster Hierosolymarius traductor ad plebem quam bonam meis putissimis orationibus gratiam rettulerit. quarum exspecta divinam palinoidian. etenim quantum coniectura auguramur, si erit nebulo iste cum his dynastis in gratia, non modo de cynico consulari sed ne de istis quidem piscinarum Tritonibus poterit se iactare. non enim poterimus ulla esse invidia spoliati opibus et illa senatoria potentia. sin autem ab iis dissentiet, erit absurdum in nos invehi. verum tamen invehatur. Festive, mihi crede, et minore sonitu quam putaram, orbis hic in re publica est conversus citius omnino quam potuit; +id culpa Catonis, sed rursus improbitate istorum qui auspicia, qui Aeliam legem, qui Iuniam et Liciniam, qui Caeciliam et Didiam neglexerunt, qui omnia remedia rei publicae effuderunt, qui regna qui praedia tetrarchis, qui immanis pecunias paucis dederunt. [2] video iam quo invidia transeat et ubi sit habitatura. nihil me existimaris neque usu neque a Theophrasto didicisse, nisi brevi tempore desiderari nostra illa tempora videris. etenim si fuit invidiosa senatus potentia, cum ea non ad populum sed ad tris homines immoderatos redacta sit, quid iam censes fore? proinde isti licet faciant quos volent consules, tribunos pl., denique etiam Vatini strumam sacerdoti dibaphoi vestiant, videbis brevi tempore magnos non modo eos qui nihil titubarunt sed etiam illum ipsum qui peccavit Catonem. [3] nam nos quidem, si per istum tuum a sodalem Publium licebit, sophisteuein cogitamus, si ille +cogitat tantum+, dumtaxat nos defendere, et, quod est proprium artis huius, epangellomai andr' apamunesthai hote tis proteros chalepenei patria propitia sit. habet a nobis, etiam si non plus quam debitum est, plus certe quam postulatum est. male vehi malo alio gubernante quam tam ingratis vectoribus bene gubernare. [4] sed haec coram commodius. nunc audi quod quaeris. Antium me ex Formiano recipere cogito a. d. v Nonas Maias; Antio volo Nonis Maus proficisci in Tusculanum. sed cum e Formiano rediero (ibi esse usque ad pr. K. Maias volo), faciam statim te certiorem. Terentia tibi salutem, kai Kikeron ho mikros aspazetai Titon ton Athenaion.
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When Caecilius the quaestor suddenly told me that he was sending a slave to Rome, I dashed off these lines in haste, so as to draw out from you those marvelous dialogues with Publius [Clodius]: both the ones about which you write, and that other one which you keep hidden and say it would take too long to write out fully whatever answers you gave to it; but as for that one which has not yet taken place, which that ox-eyed lady [Clodia] will report to you when she returns from Solonium, I would have you believe this, that nothing could be more delightful to me than this. But if the terms that were agreed upon concerning me are not being kept, then I am in heaven, so that this man of ours, this conductor of the Jerusalem business [Pompey] who delivered them over to the rabble, may learn what fine thanks he has rendered for those utterly clean speeches of mine. For those speeches you may expect a divine palinode [recantation]. For, as far as we can divine by conjecture, if that good-for-nothing [Clodius] is in favor with these dynasts, he will not be able to vaunt himself either over the Cynic ex-consul or even over those Tritons of the fish-ponds. For we shall not be able to be the object of any ill will, stripped as we are of our resources and of that senatorial influence. But if, on the other hand, he falls out with them, it will be absurd to attack us. Yet let him attack all the same. Merrily, believe me, and with less of a crash than I had thought, has this orb of the state revolved -- altogether more swiftly than it could have done; the fault lies with Cato, but then again with the wickedness of those men who disregarded the auspices, the Aelian law, the Junian and Licinian laws, the Caecilian and Didian laws, who squandered all the safeguards of the state, who gave away kingdoms and estates to tetrarchs, and monstrous sums of money to a few. [2] I see now whither the ill will is passing and where it is going to make its home. You may consider that I have learned nothing either from experience or from Theophrastus, if before long you do not see those times of mine longed for. For if the power of the senate was a thing to be envied, when that power has been reduced not to the people but to three unrestrained men, what now do you think will happen? Therefore let those men make whomever they please consuls, tribunes of the plebs, and finally even let them clothe Vatinius' scrofulous neck in the double-dyed robe of a priest -- you will see before long that great men are not only those who never wavered, but even that very Cato who erred. [3] For as for us, if it shall be permitted by that comrade of yours, Publius, we are thinking of playing the sophist [practicing rhetoric], if he is only thinking of it -- at least of defending ourselves, and, which is the proper part of this art, 'I undertake to ward off a man when one first does me wrong' -- may our country be propitious. He has from us, even if not more than was owed, certainly more than was demanded. I would rather sail badly with another at the helm than steer well for such ungrateful passengers. [4] But these matters are more conveniently discussed face to face. Now hear what you ask. I am thinking of betaking myself to Antium from my Formian villa on the fifth day before the Nones of May [3 May]; from Antium I wish to set out on the Nones of May [7 May] for my Tusculan villa. But when I have returned from the Formian villa (I wish to be there until the day before the Kalends of May [30 April]), I will at once let you know. Terentia sends you greetings, and little Cicero greets Titus the Athenian.
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
subito cum mihi dixisset Caecilius quaestor puerum se Romam mittere, haec scripsi raptim, ut tuos <elicerem> mirificos cum Publio dialogos, cum eos de quibus scribis, tum illum quem abdis et ais longum esse quae ad ea responderis perscribere; illum vero qui nondum habitus est, quem illa boopis, cum e Solonio redierit, ad te est relatura, sic velim putes, nihil hoc posse mihi esse iucundius. si vero quae de me pacta sunt ea non servantur, in caelo sum, ut sciat hic noster Hierosolymarius traductor ad plebem quam bonam meis putissimis orationibus gratiam rettulerit. quarum exspecta divinam palinoidian. etenim quantum coniectura auguramur, si erit nebulo iste cum his dynastis in gratia, non modo de cynico consulari sed ne de istis quidem piscinarum Tritonibus poterit se iactare. non enim poterimus ulla esse invidia spoliati opibus et illa senatoria potentia. sin autem ab iis dissentiet, erit absurdum in nos invehi. verum tamen invehatur. Festive, mihi crede, et minore sonitu quam putaram, orbis hic in re publica est conversus citius omnino quam potuit; +id culpa Catonis, sed rursus improbitate istorum qui auspicia, qui Aeliam legem, qui Iuniam et Liciniam, qui Caeciliam et Didiam neglexerunt, qui omnia remedia rei publicae effuderunt, qui regna qui praedia tetrarchis, qui immanis pecunias paucis dederunt. [2] video iam quo invidia transeat et ubi sit habitatura. nihil me existimaris neque usu neque a Theophrasto didicisse, nisi brevi tempore desiderari nostra illa tempora videris. etenim si fuit invidiosa senatus potentia, cum ea non ad populum sed ad tris homines immoderatos redacta sit, quid iam censes fore? proinde isti licet faciant quos volent consules, tribunos pl., denique etiam Vatini strumam sacerdoti dibaphoi vestiant, videbis brevi tempore magnos non modo eos qui nihil titubarunt sed etiam illum ipsum qui peccavit Catonem. [3] nam nos quidem, si per istum tuum a sodalem Publium licebit, sophisteuein cogitamus, si ille +cogitat tantum+, dumtaxat nos defendere, et, quod est proprium artis huius, epangellomai andr' apamunesthai hote tis proteros chalepenei patria propitia sit. habet a nobis, etiam si non plus quam debitum est, plus certe quam postulatum est. male vehi malo alio gubernante quam tam ingratis vectoribus bene gubernare. [4] sed haec coram commodius. nunc audi quod quaeris. Antium me ex Formiano recipere cogito a. d. v Nonas Maias; Antio volo Nonis Maus proficisci in Tusculanum. sed cum e Formiano rediero (ibi esse usque ad pr. K. Maias volo), faciam statim te certiorem. Terentia tibi salutem, kai Kikeron ho mikros aspazetai Titon ton Athenaion.