Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 44 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
On the evening of the 2nd I received a letter from Balbus saying that there would be a meeting of the Senate on the 5th to send Brutus to Asia and Cassius to Sicily, to buy grain and send it to Rome. What a disgrace: first, that they should accept any office from that party, and second, if any office, that it should be this subordinate position. Still, I do not know whether it is not better than for Brutus to sit on the banks of his Eurotas. But fate must have its way in this.
Balbus says that at the same time a decree will be passed assigning provinces to them and to other ex-praetors. That is certainly better than Brutus' Persian portico. I do not want you to think I am referring to a Sparta farther away than Lanuvium. "Can you joke," you will say, "in such serious matters?" What am I to do? I am tired of mourning.
Good God, how the first page of your note held me fixed in horror. How did that violent quarrel happen in your house? But I am glad the cloud passed quickly. I am very eager to know how you have fared in your sad and very difficult mission of reconciliation, for the knot cannot be untied. We are surrounded by force of every kind. Brutus' letter, which you show that you have read, has disturbed me so much that, undecided as I was before, my grief makes me even slower to decide. I will write more when I have news from you. For now I have nothing to write, especially since I am not sure you will receive this letter; it is uncertain whether the messenger will see you. I am waiting very eagerly for a letter from you.
On the evening of the 2nd I received a letter from Balbus telling me there would be a meeting of the Senate on the 5th to send Brutus to Asia, and Cassius to Sicily, to buy corn and send it to Rome. What a shame! First that they should take any office from that party, and secondly, if any, that it should be this subordinate position. Still, I don't know whether it is not better than for him to sit on the banks of his Eurotas. But fate must have its way in this. He says that at the same time a decree will be passed assigning provinces to them and other ex-praetors. This is certainly better than his Persian porch. For I don't want you to think I am referring to a Sparta farther off than Lanuvium. "You can jest," you will say, "in such important matters?" What am I to do? I am tired of mourning.
Good God! how the first page of your note held me transfixed with horror! How did that violent brawl happen in your house? But I am glad this cloud passed away quickly. I am very eager to know how you have fared with your sad and very difficult conciliatory mission; for the knot cannot be unravelled. We are so surrounded by force of every kind. Brutus' letter, which you show that you have read, has so disturbed me, that, undecided as I was before, my sorrow makes me still slower at making up my mind. But I will write more when I have news from you. At present I have nothing to write,
especially as I have doubts as to whether you may get this letter. For it is uncertain whether the messenger may see you. I am looking for a letter from you very eagerly.
iiiii non. vesperi a Balbo redditae mihi litterae fore Nonis senatum, ut Brutus in Asia, Cassius in Sicilia frumentum emendum et ad urbem mittendum curarent. O rem miseram! primum ullam ab istis, dein, si aliquam, hanc legatoriam provinciam! atque haud scio an melius sit quam ad Eurotam sedere. sed haec casus gubernabit. ait autem eodem tempore decretum iri ut et iis et reliquis praetoriis provinciae decernantur. hoc certe melius quam illa Persikh\ porticus; nolo enim Lacedaemonem longinquo quom Lanuvium existimavit. 'rides' inquies 'in talibus rebus?' quid faciam? plorando fessus sum. [2] di immortales! quam me conturbatum tenuit epistulae tuae prior pagina! quid autem iste in domo tua casus armorum? sed hunc quidem nimbum cito transisse laetor. tu quid egeris tua cum tristi tum etiam difficili ad consiliandum legatione vehementer exspecto; est enim inexplicabilis. ita circumsedemur copiis omnibus. me quidem Bruti litterae quas ostendis a te lectas ita perturbarunt ut, quamquam ante egebam consilio, tamen animi dolore sim tardior. sed plura, cum ista cognoro. hoc autem tempore quod scriberem nihil erat, eoque minus quod dubitabam tu bas ipsas litteras essesne accepturus. erat enim incertum visurusne te esset tabellarius. ego tuas litteras vehementer exspecto.
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On the evening of the 2nd I received a letter from Balbus saying that there would be a meeting of the Senate on the 5th to send Brutus to Asia and Cassius to Sicily, to buy grain and send it to Rome. What a disgrace: first, that they should accept any office from that party, and second, if any office, that it should be this subordinate position. Still, I do not know whether it is not better than for Brutus to sit on the banks of his Eurotas. But fate must have its way in this.
Balbus says that at the same time a decree will be passed assigning provinces to them and to other ex-praetors. That is certainly better than Brutus' Persian portico. I do not want you to think I am referring to a Sparta farther away than Lanuvium. "Can you joke," you will say, "in such serious matters?" What am I to do? I am tired of mourning.
Good God, how the first page of your note held me fixed in horror. How did that violent quarrel happen in your house? But I am glad the cloud passed quickly. I am very eager to know how you have fared in your sad and very difficult mission of reconciliation, for the knot cannot be untied. We are surrounded by force of every kind. Brutus' letter, which you show that you have read, has disturbed me so much that, undecided as I was before, my grief makes me even slower to decide. I will write more when I have news from you. For now I have nothing to write, especially since I am not sure you will receive this letter; it is uncertain whether the messenger will see you. I am waiting very eagerly for a letter from you.
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
iiiii non. vesperi a Balbo redditae mihi litterae fore Nonis senatum, ut Brutus in Asia, Cassius in Sicilia frumentum emendum et ad urbem mittendum curarent. O rem miseram! primum ullam ab istis, dein, si aliquam, hanc legatoriam provinciam! atque haud scio an melius sit quam ad Eurotam sedere. sed haec casus gubernabit. ait autem eodem tempore decretum iri ut et iis et reliquis praetoriis provinciae decernantur. hoc certe melius quam illa Persikh\ porticus; nolo enim Lacedaemonem longinquo quom Lanuvium existimavit. 'rides' inquies 'in talibus rebus?' quid faciam? plorando fessus sum. [2] di immortales! quam me conturbatum tenuit epistulae tuae prior pagina! quid autem iste in domo tua casus armorum? sed hunc quidem nimbum cito transisse laetor. tu quid egeris tua cum tristi tum etiam difficili ad consiliandum legatione vehementer exspecto; est enim inexplicabilis. ita circumsedemur copiis omnibus. me quidem Bruti litterae quas ostendis a te lectas ita perturbarunt ut, quamquam ante egebam consilio, tamen animi dolore sim tardior. sed plura, cum ista cognoro. hoc autem tempore quod scriberem nihil erat, eoque minus quod dubitabam tu bas ipsas litteras essesne accepturus. erat enim incertum visurusne te esset tabellarius. ego tuas litteras vehementer exspecto.