Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 45 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
We were talking about Varro: speak of the devil [lupus in fabula, literally "the wolf in the story"]. For he came to me, and at such an hour that I had to keep him. But I handled it in such a way as not to tear my traveling cloak [a proverb for not detaining a guest by force, since a host who insisted might be left holding the torn cloak]. For I remembered your line, "there were many of them, and we were unprepared." What does it matter? A little later came Gaius Capito together with Titus Carrinas. Their cloaks I scarcely touched; yet they stayed on, and it fell out nicely. But by chance the conversation turned, from Capito, to the enlarging of the city: that the Tiber should be diverted from the Mulvian Bridge along the line of the Vatican hills, that the Campus Martius should be built over, and that the Vatican plain should become, as it were, the Campus Martius. "What are you saying?" I said; "why, I was meaning to go to the auction, so that, if I could manage it fairly, I might buy the gardens of Scapula." "Don't do it," he said; "for that law will be carried through; Caesar wants it." I let myself listen to this readily enough, but I am vexed that it should come to pass. But what do you say? Though why do I ask? You know Capito's thoroughness in ferreting out the latest news. He yields nothing to Camillus. So you will let me know about the Ides. For that was the business that was drawing me. To it I had attached the other matters, which all the same I shall easily be able to attend to two or three days later. [2] Still, I am most unwilling that you should wear yourself out on the road; indeed I even excuse Dionysius. As for what you write about Brutus, I have arranged that he should be free of any obligation, so far as it concerns me. For I wrote to him yesterday that on the Ides I had no need of his services.
We were talking about Varro — speak of the devil! For he came to see me, and at such an hour that I had to keep him to dinner. I remembered your saying "there were many guests and we were unprepared." So what should I have done? I received him as well as I could under the circumstances. He was in good spirits and talkative, which is rare for him. [2] He asks about you and sends his regards. We discussed the book, and he seemed pleased — or at least not displeased — with his role in it. But you know Varro: one can never be entirely sure.
de Varrone loquebamur: lupus in fabula. venit enim ad me et quidem id temporis ut retinendus esset. sed ego ita egi ut non scinderem paenulam. memini enim tuum 'et multi erant nosque imparati.' quid refert? Paulo post C. Capito cum T. Carrinate. Horum ego vix attigi paenulam. tamen remanserunt ceciditque belle. sed casu sermo a Capitone de urbe augenda, a ponte Mulvio Tiberim duci secundum montis Vaticanos, campum Martium coaedificari, illum autem campum Vaticanum fieri quasi Martium campum. 'quid ais?' inquam; 'at ego ad tabulam ut, si recte possem, Scapulanos hortos.' 'cave facias' inquit; 'nam ista lex perferetur; vult enim Caesar.' audire me facile passus sum, fieri autem moleste fero. sed tu quid ais? quamquam quid quaero? nosti diligentiam Capitonis in rebus novis perquirendis. non concedit Camillo. facies me igitur certiorem de Idibus. ista enim me res adducebat. eo adiunxeram ceteras quas consequi tamen biduo aut triduo post facile potero. [2] te tamen in via confici minime volo; quin etiam Dionysio ignosco. de Bruto quod scribis, feci ut ei liberum esset, quod ad me attineret. scripsi enim ad eum heri Idibus eius opera mihi nihil opus esse.
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We were talking about Varro: speak of the devil [lupus in fabula, literally "the wolf in the story"]. For he came to me, and at such an hour that I had to keep him. But I handled it in such a way as not to tear my traveling cloak [a proverb for not detaining a guest by force, since a host who insisted might be left holding the torn cloak]. For I remembered your line, "there were many of them, and we were unprepared." What does it matter? A little later came Gaius Capito together with Titus Carrinas. Their cloaks I scarcely touched; yet they stayed on, and it fell out nicely. But by chance the conversation turned, from Capito, to the enlarging of the city: that the Tiber should be diverted from the Mulvian Bridge along the line of the Vatican hills, that the Campus Martius should be built over, and that the Vatican plain should become, as it were, the Campus Martius. "What are you saying?" I said; "why, I was meaning to go to the auction, so that, if I could manage it fairly, I might buy the gardens of Scapula." "Don't do it," he said; "for that law will be carried through; Caesar wants it." I let myself listen to this readily enough, but I am vexed that it should come to pass. But what do you say? Though why do I ask? You know Capito's thoroughness in ferreting out the latest news. He yields nothing to Camillus. So you will let me know about the Ides. For that was the business that was drawing me. To it I had attached the other matters, which all the same I shall easily be able to attend to two or three days later. [2] Still, I am most unwilling that you should wear yourself out on the road; indeed I even excuse Dionysius. As for what you write about Brutus, I have arranged that he should be free of any obligation, so far as it concerns me. For I wrote to him yesterday that on the Ides I had no need of his services.
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
de Varrone loquebamur: lupus in fabula. venit enim ad me et quidem id temporis ut retinendus esset. sed ego ita egi ut non scinderem paenulam. memini enim tuum 'et multi erant nosque imparati.' quid refert? Paulo post C. Capito cum T. Carrinate. Horum ego vix attigi paenulam. tamen remanserunt ceciditque belle. sed casu sermo a Capitone de urbe augenda, a ponte Mulvio Tiberim duci secundum montis Vaticanos, campum Martium coaedificari, illum autem campum Vaticanum fieri quasi Martium campum. 'quid ais?' inquam; 'at ego ad tabulam ut, si recte possem, Scapulanos hortos.' 'cave facias' inquit; 'nam ista lex perferetur; vult enim Caesar.' audire me facile passus sum, fieri autem moleste fero. sed tu quid ais? quamquam quid quaero? nosti diligentiam Capitonis in rebus novis perquirendis. non concedit Camillo. facies me igitur certiorem de Idibus. ista enim me res adducebat. eo adiunxeram ceteras quas consequi tamen biduo aut triduo post facile potero. [2] te tamen in via confici minime volo; quin etiam Dionysio ignosco. de Bruto quod scribis, feci ut ei liberum esset, quod ad me attineret. scripsi enim ad eum heri Idibus eius opera mihi nihil opus esse.