Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 44 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
That is excellent news about Buthrotum. But I had sent Tiro to Dolabella with a letter because you told me to. What harm is there in that? About our friends at Antium, I think I wrote plainly enough for you not to doubt that they are going to take things quietly and accept Antony's insulting favor. Cassius rejects the grain-supply appointment, and Servilia says she will have it removed from the senatorial decree. Our friend is taking matters seriously now that he agrees with me that he cannot be safe in Rome, for he prefers the games to be held in his absence. He says he will go to Asia at once, as soon as he has handed over management of the games to those who will attend to them. He is collecting ships and is set on going. Meanwhile they will stay where they are. Brutus says he will be at Astura.
Lucius Antonius has sent me a kind letter telling me not to be afraid. That is one thing I owe him thanks for; perhaps there will be another if he comes to Tusculum. What intolerable nuisances, and yet we put up with them. Which of the Bruti do we have to thank for this?
In Octavian, as I have observed, there is plenty of intelligence and plenty of spirit, and he seems likely to be as well disposed toward our heroes as we could wish. But it is a serious question how far we can trust someone of his age, name, inheritance, and upbringing. His father-in-law, whom I saw at Astura, thinks he is not at all trustworthy. Still, we must look after him and, if nothing else, detach him from Antony. Marcellus will do well if he instills our views into Brutus, to whom Octavian seems well disposed. In Pansa and Hirtius, however, he has little confidence. His disposition is good, if it lasts.
That's jolly good news about Buthrotum. But I had sent Tiro to Dolabella with a letter as you bade me. What harm is there in it? About our friends at Antium, I think I wrote plainly enough for you not to doubt that they are going to take things quietly and accept Antonius' insulting favour. Cassius rejects the corn-supply job, and Servilia says she will cut it out of the senatorial decree. Our friend is taking things very seriously, now he agrees with me that he cannot be safe in Rome (for he prefers the games to take place in his absence). He says he will go to Asia at once, as soon as he has handed over the management of the games to those who will attend to it. He is collecting vessels, and his heart is set on going. Meantime they will stay in the same places. Brutus says he will be at Astura. L. Antonius has sent a kind letter telling me to have no fear. That's one thing I have to thank him for; perhaps there will be another, if he comes to
Tusculum. What intolerable nuisances! Yet we put up with them. Which of the Bruti have we to thank for this? In Octavianus, as I have observed, there is plenty of wit and plenty of spirit, and he seems likely to be as well disposed to our heroes as we could wish. But it is a grave question how far we can trust one of his age, name, heritage, and bringing up. His father-in-law, whom I saw at Astura, thinks he is not to be trusted at all. However, we must look after him, and, if nothing else, dissociate him from Antonius. Marcellus will be doing well if he inculcates our views into Brutus, to whom Octavianus seems to be well affected. In Pansa and Hirtius, however, he has but little trust. His disposition is good, if it will last.
bene me hercule de Buthroto. at ego Tironem ad Dolabellam cum litteris, quia iusseras, miseram. quid nocet? de nostris autem Antiatibus satis videbar plane scripsisse, ut non dubitares quin essent otiosi futuri usurique beneficio Antoni contumelioso. Cassius frumentariam rem aspernabatur; eam Servilia sublaturam ex senatus consulto se esse dicebat. noster vero kai\ ma/la semnw=j in Asiam, postea quam mihi est adsensus tuto se Romae esse non posse (ludos enim absens facere malebat), statim ait se iturum simul ac ludorum apparatum iis qui curaturi essent tradidisset. navigia conligebat; erat animus in cursu. interea in isdem locis erant futuri. [2] Brutus quidem se aiebat Asturae. L. quidem Antonius liberaliter litteris sine cura me esse iubet. habeo unum beneficium, alterum fortasse, si in Tusculanum venerit. O negotia non ferenda! quae feruntur tamen. Tw=nde ai)ti/an tw=n Brou/twn tij e)/xei. in Octaviano, ut perspexi, sa tis ingeni, satis animi, videbatur que erga nostros h(/rwaj ita fore ut nos vellemus animatus. sed quid aetati credendum sit, quid nomini, quid hereditati, quid kathxh/sei , magni consili est vitricus quidem nihil censebat; quem Asturae vidimus. sed tamen alendus est et, ut nihil aliud, ab Antonio seiungendus. Marcellus praeclare, si praecipit nostro nostri . cui quidem ille deditus mihi videbatur. Pansae autem et Hirtio non nimis credebat. bona indoles, e)a\n diamei/nh? .
◆
That is excellent news about Buthrotum. But I had sent Tiro to Dolabella with a letter because you told me to. What harm is there in that? About our friends at Antium, I think I wrote plainly enough for you not to doubt that they are going to take things quietly and accept Antony's insulting favor. Cassius rejects the grain-supply appointment, and Servilia says she will have it removed from the senatorial decree. Our friend is taking matters seriously now that he agrees with me that he cannot be safe in Rome, for he prefers the games to be held in his absence. He says he will go to Asia at once, as soon as he has handed over management of the games to those who will attend to them. He is collecting ships and is set on going. Meanwhile they will stay where they are. Brutus says he will be at Astura.
Lucius Antonius has sent me a kind letter telling me not to be afraid. That is one thing I owe him thanks for; perhaps there will be another if he comes to Tusculum. What intolerable nuisances, and yet we put up with them. Which of the Bruti do we have to thank for this?
In Octavian, as I have observed, there is plenty of intelligence and plenty of spirit, and he seems likely to be as well disposed toward our heroes as we could wish. But it is a serious question how far we can trust someone of his age, name, inheritance, and upbringing. His father-in-law, whom I saw at Astura, thinks he is not at all trustworthy. Still, we must look after him and, if nothing else, detach him from Antony. Marcellus will do well if he instills our views into Brutus, to whom Octavian seems well disposed. In Pansa and Hirtius, however, he has little confidence. His disposition is good, if it lasts.
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
bene me hercule de Buthroto. at ego Tironem ad Dolabellam cum litteris, quia iusseras, miseram. quid nocet? de nostris autem Antiatibus satis videbar plane scripsisse, ut non dubitares quin essent otiosi futuri usurique beneficio Antoni contumelioso. Cassius frumentariam rem aspernabatur; eam Servilia sublaturam ex senatus consulto se esse dicebat. noster vero kai\ ma/la semnw=j in Asiam, postea quam mihi est adsensus tuto se Romae esse non posse (ludos enim absens facere malebat), statim ait se iturum simul ac ludorum apparatum iis qui curaturi essent tradidisset. navigia conligebat; erat animus in cursu. interea in isdem locis erant futuri. [2] Brutus quidem se aiebat Asturae. L. quidem Antonius liberaliter litteris sine cura me esse iubet. habeo unum beneficium, alterum fortasse, si in Tusculanum venerit. O negotia non ferenda! quae feruntur tamen. Tw=nde ai)ti/an tw=n Brou/twn tij e)/xei. in Octaviano, ut perspexi, sa tis ingeni, satis animi, videbatur que erga nostros h(/rwaj ita fore ut nos vellemus animatus. sed quid aetati credendum sit, quid nomini, quid hereditati, quid kathxh/sei , magni consili est vitricus quidem nihil censebat; quem Asturae vidimus. sed tamen alendus est et, ut nihil aliud, ab Antonio seiungendus. Marcellus praeclare, si praecipit nostro nostri . cui quidem ille deditus mihi videbatur. Pansae autem et Hirtio non nimis credebat. bona indoles, e)a\n diamei/nh? .