Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 60 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
I tell you, I seem to myself an outright exile ever since I have been at my place near Formiae. For when I was at Antium, there was no day on which I did not know better what was being done at Rome than those who were at Rome. For your letters indicated to me not only what was happening at Rome but also what was happening in public affairs, and not only what was being done but even what was going to be done. Now, unless something has been picked up from a passing traveler, we can know nothing. Therefore, although I am already expecting you yourself, nevertheless give to that boy whom I have ordered to hurry back to me at once some weighty letter full of all your doings and not only those but also of your opinions, and see to it that I know the day on which you will be leaving Rome. We wish to be at the Formian villa right up to the day before the Nones of May [May 6]. If you have not come there before that day, perhaps I shall see you at Rome; for why should I invite you to Arpinum? "A rugged land, but a good nurse of young men; and for myself I cannot behold anything else sweeter than one's own country." [Homer, Odyssey 9.27-28, of Ithaca] So much for that. See that you keep well.
I assure you I feel an absolute exile since I have been at Formiae. There never was a day when I was at Antium that I was not better up in the news of Rome than those who were living there. The fact is your letters used to set before me not only the city news, but all the political news, and not only what was happening, but what was going to happen too. Now I can’t get to know anything, unless I pick up chance news from a passing traveller. So, although I am expecting you here very soon, give this man of mine, who is under orders to return at once, a bulky missive, full of news of all that has happened and what you think about it: and don’t forget to say what day you are leaving Rome. I intend to stay at Formiae till the 6th of May. If you can’t get here before that date, perhaps I shall see you at Rome, for I can hardly invite you to Arpinum.
That is all then. Take care of yourself.
narro tibi, plane relegatus mihi videor postea quam in Formiano sum. dies enim nullus erat, Anti cum essem, quo die non melius scirem Romae quid ageretur quam ii qui erant Romae. etenim litterae tuae non solum quid Romae sed etiam quid in re publica, neque solum quid fieret verum etiam quid futurum esset indicabant. nunc nisi si quid ex praetereunte viatore exceptum est, scire nihil possumus. qua re quamquam iam te ipsum exspecto, tamen isti puero quem ad me statim iussi recurrere da ponderosam aliquam epistulam plenam omnium non modo actorum sed etiam opinionum tuarum, ac diem quo Roma sis exiturus cura ut sciam. nos in Formiano esse volumus usque ad prid. Nonas Maias. eo si ante eam diem non veneris, Romae te fortasse videbo; nam Arpinum quid ego te invitem? trechei', all' agathe kourotrophos, out' ar' egoge hes gaies dunamai glukeroteron allo idesthai. haec igitur. cura ut valeas.
◆
I tell you, I seem to myself an outright exile ever since I have been at my place near Formiae. For when I was at Antium, there was no day on which I did not know better what was being done at Rome than those who were at Rome. For your letters indicated to me not only what was happening at Rome but also what was happening in public affairs, and not only what was being done but even what was going to be done. Now, unless something has been picked up from a passing traveler, we can know nothing. Therefore, although I am already expecting you yourself, nevertheless give to that boy whom I have ordered to hurry back to me at once some weighty letter full of all your doings and not only those but also of your opinions, and see to it that I know the day on which you will be leaving Rome. We wish to be at the Formian villa right up to the day before the Nones of May [May 6]. If you have not come there before that day, perhaps I shall see you at Rome; for why should I invite you to Arpinum? "A rugged land, but a good nurse of young men; and for myself I cannot behold anything else sweeter than one's own country." [Homer, Odyssey 9.27-28, of Ithaca] So much for that. See that you keep well.
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
narro tibi, plane relegatus mihi videor postea quam in Formiano sum. dies enim nullus erat, Anti cum essem, quo die non melius scirem Romae quid ageretur quam ii qui erant Romae. etenim litterae tuae non solum quid Romae sed etiam quid in re publica, neque solum quid fieret verum etiam quid futurum esset indicabant. nunc nisi si quid ex praetereunte viatore exceptum est, scire nihil possumus. qua re quamquam iam te ipsum exspecto, tamen isti puero quem ad me statim iussi recurrere da ponderosam aliquam epistulam plenam omnium non modo actorum sed etiam opinionum tuarum, ac diem quo Roma sis exiturus cura ut sciam. nos in Formiano esse volumus usque ad prid. Nonas Maias. eo si ante eam diem non veneris, Romae te fortasse videbo; nam Arpinum quid ego te invitem? trechei', all' agathe kourotrophos, out' ar' egoge hes gaies dunamai glukeroteron allo idesthai. haec igitur. cura ut valeas.