Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 45 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
I arrived at Astura on the eighth day before the Kalends [i.e., late in the day]. To avoid the heat I had rested three hours at Lanuvium. I should be glad if, supposing it is not a burden to you, you would see to it that I do not have to come up there before the Nones (you can manage this through Egnatius Maximus); and above all, settle the business with Publilius while I am away. Write to me what the talk about it is. That, of course, is what the people are concerned about! By Hercules, I don't suppose they are; for this story has been sung to death already. But I wanted to fill up the page. Why say more? For I am present in person, unless you put me off somehow. For I have written to you about the gardens [hortos: the suburban estate Cicero was negotiating to buy].
This is the second letter to-day. About Xeno's debt and the £40
owing to you in Epirus, things could not happen more conveniently than
you say they are happening in your letter. Balbus the younger suggested
the same to me the other day. I have no news except that Hirtius has
been taking my part most valiantly in arguments against young Quintus.
The latter is raving about me everywhere, especially at dinner-parties,
and then he falls back on his father: nothing he says is so likely to be
believed as that we are utterly irreconcilable to Caesar; that we are
not to be trusted, and that I ought to be held in suspicion, which would
have been terrifying, if were I not aware that the king knows I have no
spirit left. He says too that my son is being bullied by me: but that he
may say as much as he likes. I am glad I sent the funeral oration of
Porcia to Lepta the messenger before I got your letter. So, as you love
me, have it sent to Domitius and Brutus in the form you suggest, if it
is to be sent at all.
About the gladiatorial games and the things which you call airy nothings
send me news day by day. I should like you to apply to Balbus and
Offilius, if you think fit. About giving notice of the auction I have
spoken with Balbus. He agreed—I imagine Offilius has a complete list,
and so has Balbus—well Balbus agreed for a day near at hand and for Rome
as the place: if Caesar puts off coming, the day might be deferred. But
he seems to be close at hand. So think it all over; for Vestorius is
content.
Asturam veni viii Kal. <vesperi>. vitandi enim caloris causa Lanuvi tris horas acquieveram. tu velim, si grave non erit, efficias ne ante Nonas mihi illuc veniendum sit (id potes per Egnatium maximum), illud in primis, cum Publilio me absente conficias. de quo quae fama sit scribes. id populus curat scilicet! non me hercule arbitror; etenim haec decantata erat fabula. sed complere paginam volui. quid plura? ipse enim adsum, nisi quid tu prorogas. scripsi enim ad te de hortis.
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I arrived at Astura on the eighth day before the Kalends [i.e., late in the day]. To avoid the heat I had rested three hours at Lanuvium. I should be glad if, supposing it is not a burden to you, you would see to it that I do not have to come up there before the Nones (you can manage this through Egnatius Maximus); and above all, settle the business with Publilius while I am away. Write to me what the talk about it is. That, of course, is what the people are concerned about! By Hercules, I don't suppose they are; for this story has been sung to death already. But I wanted to fill up the page. Why say more? For I am present in person, unless you put me off somehow. For I have written to you about the gardens [hortos: the suburban estate Cicero was negotiating to buy].
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
Asturam veni viii Kal. <vesperi>. vitandi enim caloris causa Lanuvi tris horas acquieveram. tu velim, si grave non erit, efficias ne ante Nonas mihi illuc veniendum sit (id potes per Egnatium maximum), illud in primis, cum Publilio me absente conficias. de quo quae fama sit scribes. id populus curat scilicet! non me hercule arbitror; etenim haec decantata erat fabula. sed complere paginam volui. quid plura? ipse enim adsum, nisi quid tu prorogas. scripsi enim ad te de hortis.