Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 44 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
On the 22nd I received two letters from you at Arpinum, each answering one of mine. One was dated the 18th, the other the 21st, so I will answer the earlier first. Do hurry to Tusculum, as you say you will. I expect to arrive there on the 27th.
You say we must obey the victors. I, for one, will not. There are many courses I would prefer to that. The case is not the same, nor is the moment the same, as in the proceedings you remind me of in the temple of Apollo, during the consulship of Lentulus and Marcellus, especially since you say Marcellus and others are leaving Rome. When we meet, then, we must sniff out the facts and decide whether we can be safe at Rome.
The people of the new community trouble me a good deal, since I am in considerable difficulty. But those are small matters; I am treating even more important things than that with contempt. I know Calva's will. What disgraceful meanness. I am grateful to you for attending to Demonicus' sale. I wrote to Dolabella long ago, and very fully, about that other matter, if only my letter was delivered. I am eager and devoted in his interests.
Now I come to your later letter. I have learned everything I needed about Alexio. Hirtius is devoted to you. With Antonius, I wish things were going even worse than they are. About young Quintus, as you say, enough. About his father, we will talk when we meet. I want to help Brutus in every possible way. I see you have the same opinion of his public speech as I do. But I do not quite understand why you want me to write a speech and attribute it to Brutus, when he has published his own. How could that be proper? Am I to write as though against a tyrant who was justly killed? I will have much to say and much to write, but in another way and at another time. Well done to the tribunes over Caesar's chair, and well done to the famous fourteen rows of equites. I am glad Brutus stayed at my house, and I hope he enjoyed himself and stayed a long time.
On the 22nd I received two letters from you at Arpinum, in which you answered two of mine. One was dated the 18th, the other the 21st. So I will answer the earlier first. Pray hasten to Tusculum, as you say: I think I shall get there on the 27th. You say we must obey the victors. I, for one, will not: there are many courses I should prefer to that. For
the case is not the same, nor is the occasion the same, as in the proceedings which you recall to my memory as taking place in the temple of Apollo in the consulship of Lentulus and Marcellus: especially as you say Marcellus and others are leaving Rome. So when we meet we must scent out the facts and settle whether we can be safe at Rome. The inhabitants of the new community trouble me a good deal, for I am in considerable difficulties. But these are small matters: I am treating even more important things than this with contempt. I know Calva's will. How disgracefully mean! I am grateful to you for attending to Demonicus' sale. About ... I wrote to Dolabella long ago very fully, if only my letter was delivered. In his interests I am keen and devoted.
I come to your more recent letter. I have learned all I want about Alexio. Hirtius is devoted to you. With Antonius I wish things were going even worse than they are. About young Quintus, as you say, assez. About his father we will speak when we meet. I want to assist Brutus in every way that is possible. I see you have the same opinion of his harangue as I have. But I don't quite understand why you want me to write a speech attributing it to Brutus, when he has published his own. How could that be proper? Should I write as though against a tyrant justly executed? I shall have much to say and much to write, but in another way and at another time. Well done the tribunes about Caesar's chair, and well done the famous fourteen rows of equites! I am glad Brutus stayed at my house, and I only hope he enjoyed himself and stayed a long time.
undecimo Kal. accepi in Arpinati duas epistulas tuas, quibus duabus meis respondisti. Vna erat xv Kal., altera xii data. ad superiorem igitur prius. accurres in Tusculanum, ut scribis; quo me vi Kal. venturum arbitrabar. quod scribis parendum victoribus, non mihi quidem cui sunt multa potiora. nam illa quae recordaris Lentulo et Marcello consulibus acta in aede Apollinis, nec causa eadem est nec simile tempus, praesertim cum Marcellum scribas aliosque discedere. erit igitur nobis coram odorandum et constituendum tutone Romae esse possimus. Novi conventus habitatores sane movent; in magnis enim versamur angustiis. sed sunt ista parvi; quin et maiora contemnimus. calvae testamentum cognovi, hominis turpis ac sordidi; tabula Demonici quod tibi curae est gratum. de malo scripsi iam pridem ad Dolabellam accuratissime, modo redditae litterae sint. eius causa et cupio et debeo. [2] venio ad propiorem. cognovi de Alexione quae desiderabam. Hirtius est tuus. Antonio, quoniam est, volo peius esse. de Quinto filio, ut scribis, A. M. C. de patre coram agemus. Brutum omni re qua possum cupio iuvare. cuius de oratiuncula idem te quod me sentire video. sed parum intellego quid me velis scribere quasi a Bruto habita oratione, cum ille ediderit. qui tandem convenit? an sic ut in tyrannum iure optimo caesum? multa dicentur, multa scribentur a nobis sed alio modo et tempore. de sella Caesaris bene tribuni; praeclaros etiam xiv ordines! Brutum apud me fuisse gaudeo, modo et libenter fuerit et sat diu.
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On the 22nd I received two letters from you at Arpinum, each answering one of mine. One was dated the 18th, the other the 21st, so I will answer the earlier first. Do hurry to Tusculum, as you say you will. I expect to arrive there on the 27th.
You say we must obey the victors. I, for one, will not. There are many courses I would prefer to that. The case is not the same, nor is the moment the same, as in the proceedings you remind me of in the temple of Apollo, during the consulship of Lentulus and Marcellus, especially since you say Marcellus and others are leaving Rome. When we meet, then, we must sniff out the facts and decide whether we can be safe at Rome.
The people of the new community trouble me a good deal, since I am in considerable difficulty. But those are small matters; I am treating even more important things than that with contempt. I know Calva's will. What disgraceful meanness. I am grateful to you for attending to Demonicus' sale. I wrote to Dolabella long ago, and very fully, about that other matter, if only my letter was delivered. I am eager and devoted in his interests.
Now I come to your later letter. I have learned everything I needed about Alexio. Hirtius is devoted to you. With Antonius, I wish things were going even worse than they are. About young Quintus, as you say, enough. About his father, we will talk when we meet. I want to help Brutus in every possible way. I see you have the same opinion of his public speech as I do. But I do not quite understand why you want me to write a speech and attribute it to Brutus, when he has published his own. How could that be proper? Am I to write as though against a tyrant who was justly killed? I will have much to say and much to write, but in another way and at another time. Well done to the tribunes over Caesar's chair, and well done to the famous fourteen rows of equites. I am glad Brutus stayed at my house, and I hope he enjoyed himself and stayed a long time.
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
undecimo Kal. accepi in Arpinati duas epistulas tuas, quibus duabus meis respondisti. Vna erat xv Kal., altera xii data. ad superiorem igitur prius. accurres in Tusculanum, ut scribis; quo me vi Kal. venturum arbitrabar. quod scribis parendum victoribus, non mihi quidem cui sunt multa potiora. nam illa quae recordaris Lentulo et Marcello consulibus acta in aede Apollinis, nec causa eadem est nec simile tempus, praesertim cum Marcellum scribas aliosque discedere. erit igitur nobis coram odorandum et constituendum tutone Romae esse possimus. Novi conventus habitatores sane movent; in magnis enim versamur angustiis. sed sunt ista parvi; quin et maiora contemnimus. calvae testamentum cognovi, hominis turpis ac sordidi; tabula Demonici quod tibi curae est gratum. de malo scripsi iam pridem ad Dolabellam accuratissime, modo redditae litterae sint. eius causa et cupio et debeo. [2] venio ad propiorem. cognovi de Alexione quae desiderabam. Hirtius est tuus. Antonio, quoniam est, volo peius esse. de Quinto filio, ut scribis, A. M. C. de patre coram agemus. Brutum omni re qua possum cupio iuvare. cuius de oratiuncula idem te quod me sentire video. sed parum intellego quid me velis scribere quasi a Bruto habita oratione, cum ille ediderit. qui tandem convenit? an sic ut in tyrannum iure optimo caesum? multa dicentur, multa scribentur a nobis sed alio modo et tempore. de sella Caesaris bene tribuni; praeclaros etiam xiv ordines! Brutum apud me fuisse gaudeo, modo et libenter fuerit et sat diu.