Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 44 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
My many engagements and your sudden departure kept me from speaking with you in person about this matter. That is why I am afraid my absence may make my request carry less weight with you. But if your kindness matches the judgment I have always formed of you, I shall be glad.
I asked Caesar to restore Sextus Clodius, and I obtained the request. Even then I intended to use that favor only if you allowed it. For that reason I am all the more anxious that I may now do this through you with your consent. If, however, you show yourself too hard toward his poor ruined fortunes, I will not contend against you, although I think I ought to uphold Caesar's memorandum.
But by heaven, if you are willing to take a generous, wise, and friendly view of my action, you will certainly be easy to satisfy. You will want Publius Clodius, a boy now set in a promising course, to believe that when you had the chance you did not persecute his father's friends.
I beg you, allow it to appear that your quarrel with his father was carried on for the public good, not because you despised the family. We lay aside enmities undertaken in the name of the state more honorably, and more gladly, than those born from personal insult. Let me guide the boy toward that view even now, and persuade his still-tender mind that family feuds must not be handed down to posterity.
I am quite certain, Cicero, that your own fortune is beyond every danger. Even so, I think you would rather enjoy an old age that is peaceful and honorable than one full of anxiety. Finally, I ask this favor as my right with you, for there is nothing I have not done for your sake. If I do not obtain it, I shall not grant Clodius the restoration through myself. That way you will understand how much your authority weighs with me, and perhaps be more ready to be reconciled.
It was only because I was so busy and you departed so suddenly, that I did not see you personally about the following request. So I fear I may have less weight with you in my absence. But if your goodness of heart answers to the opinion I have always had of you, I shall be very glad.
I petitioned Caesar for the return of Sex. Clodius, and obtained my request. It was my intention even then only to use his favour if you allowed. So I am now the more anxious that you may let me do it with your permission. But, if you show yourself hard-hearted to his affliction and misery, I will not contend with you, though I think I ought to observe Caesar's memoranda. But upon my word, if you are ready to take a generous, philosophical, and amiable view of my actions, you will, I am sure, show your indulgence, and will wish that most promising youth, P. Clodius, to think that you did not act spitefully to his father's friends when you had the chance. I beseech you to let it seem that your feud with his father was on public grounds, not because you despised the family. For we can lay aside quarrels we took up on public grounds with more honour and more readiness than those that come from a personal insult. So give me a chance of inculcating this lesson, and while the boy's mind is still receptive, let us convince him that quarrels should not be handed down from generation to generation. Though I know your fortune, Cicero, is above any danger, yet I think you would rather enjoy old age with peace and honour than with anxiety. Finally I feel a right to ask you this favour, for I have done all I could for your sake. If I do not gain it, I shall not grant Clodius his restoration, so that you may understand how much your authority weighs in my eyes, and that may make you all the more placable.
occupationibus est factum meis et subita tua profectione ne tecum coram de hac re agerem. quam ob causam vereor ne absentia mea levior sit apud te. quod si bonitas tua responderit iudicio meo quod semper habui de te, gaudebo. [2] a Caesare petii ut Sex. Clodium restitueret; impetravi. erat mihi in animo etiam tum sic uti beneficio eius si tu concessisses. quo magis laboro ut tua voluntate id per me facere nunc <liceat>. quod si duriorem te eius miserae et adflictae fortunae praebes, non contendam ego adversus te, quamquam videor debere tueri commentarium Caesaris. sed me hercule, si humaniter et sapienter et amabiliter in me cogitare vis, facilem profecto te praebebis et voles P. Clodium, in optima spe puerum repositum, existimare non te insectatum esse, cum potueris, amicos paternos. [3] patere, obsecro, te pro re publica videri gessisse simultatem cum patre eius, non contempsisse hanc familiam. honestius enim et libentius deponimus inimicitias rei publicae nomine susceptas quam contumaciae. me deinde sine ad hanc opinionem iam nunc dirigere puerum et tenero animo eius persuadere non esse tradendas posteris inimicitias. quamquam tuam fortunam, Cicero, ab omni periculo abesse certum habeo, tamen arbitror malle te quietam senectutem et honorificam potius agere quam sollicitam. postremo meo iure te hoc beneficium rogo; nihil enim non tua causa feci. quod si non impetro, per me Clodio daturus non sum, ut intellegas quanti apud me auctoritas tua sit atque eo te placabiliorem praebeas.
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My many engagements and your sudden departure kept me from speaking with you in person about this matter. That is why I am afraid my absence may make my request carry less weight with you. But if your kindness matches the judgment I have always formed of you, I shall be glad.
I asked Caesar to restore Sextus Clodius, and I obtained the request. Even then I intended to use that favor only if you allowed it. For that reason I am all the more anxious that I may now do this through you with your consent. If, however, you show yourself too hard toward his poor ruined fortunes, I will not contend against you, although I think I ought to uphold Caesar's memorandum.
But by heaven, if you are willing to take a generous, wise, and friendly view of my action, you will certainly be easy to satisfy. You will want Publius Clodius, a boy now set in a promising course, to believe that when you had the chance you did not persecute his father's friends.
I beg you, allow it to appear that your quarrel with his father was carried on for the public good, not because you despised the family. We lay aside enmities undertaken in the name of the state more honorably, and more gladly, than those born from personal insult. Let me guide the boy toward that view even now, and persuade his still-tender mind that family feuds must not be handed down to posterity.
I am quite certain, Cicero, that your own fortune is beyond every danger. Even so, I think you would rather enjoy an old age that is peaceful and honorable than one full of anxiety. Finally, I ask this favor as my right with you, for there is nothing I have not done for your sake. If I do not obtain it, I shall not grant Clodius the restoration through myself. That way you will understand how much your authority weighs with me, and perhaps be more ready to be reconciled.
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
occupationibus est factum meis et subita tua profectione ne tecum coram de hac re agerem. quam ob causam vereor ne absentia mea levior sit apud te. quod si bonitas tua responderit iudicio meo quod semper habui de te, gaudebo. [2] a Caesare petii ut Sex. Clodium restitueret; impetravi. erat mihi in animo etiam tum sic uti beneficio eius si tu concessisses. quo magis laboro ut tua voluntate id per me facere nunc <liceat>. quod si duriorem te eius miserae et adflictae fortunae praebes, non contendam ego adversus te, quamquam videor debere tueri commentarium Caesaris. sed me hercule, si humaniter et sapienter et amabiliter in me cogitare vis, facilem profecto te praebebis et voles P. Clodium, in optima spe puerum repositum, existimare non te insectatum esse, cum potueris, amicos paternos. [3] patere, obsecro, te pro re publica videri gessisse simultatem cum patre eius, non contempsisse hanc familiam. honestius enim et libentius deponimus inimicitias rei publicae nomine susceptas quam contumaciae. me deinde sine ad hanc opinionem iam nunc dirigere puerum et tenero animo eius persuadere non esse tradendas posteris inimicitias. quamquam tuam fortunam, Cicero, ab omni periculo abesse certum habeo, tamen arbitror malle te quietam senectutem et honorificam potius agere quam sollicitam. postremo meo iure te hoc beneficium rogo; nihil enim non tua causa feci. quod si non impetro, per me Clodio daturus non sum, ut intellegas quanti apud me auctoritas tua sit atque eo te placabiliorem praebeas.