Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 44 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
On the 25th I received two letters from you, and I will answer the earlier first. I agree that we need not be the first to move nor the last to follow, but should incline toward Brutus' side. I have sent you my speech, and leave it to you either to keep it or to publish it. But when shall we see the day when you think it right to publish it? I do not understand how the truce you mention can be possible. It is better to make no reply, and I think that is what I shall do.
You say two legions have arrived at Brundisium; you get all the news first, so you must write whatever you hear. I am expecting Varro's dialogue. I now agree about writing something in the manner of Heracleides, especially since you like it so much, but I will write whatever you wish. As I told you before - or rather previously, as you prefer to say - I must admit that you have made me more eager to write. To your own opinion, which I knew, you have added the authority of Peducaeus, which I count as great and as weighty as anyone's. So I will make an effort not to disappoint you in industry or diligence.
I am making much of Vettienus and Faberius, as you suggest. I do not think Clodius meant any harm, though - but that is nothing to me. I agree with you about preserving our liberty, our most precious possession. So now it is Gallus Caninius' turn? What a scoundrel. What else can one call him? How cautious Marcellus is. So am I, but not too cautious.
I have answered your longer and earlier letter. What can I say to the shorter and later one except that it was delightful? Affairs in Spain are going very well, if only I can see Balbilius safe as a support for our old age. About Annianus I agree, since Visellia is very polite to me. But that is the way of the world. You say you know nothing of Brutus, but Servilia says Marcus Scaptius has come, without any of his usual display, and will visit her quietly; I shall be told everything. I will know soon. Meanwhile she says a slave of Bassus has come announcing that the legions in Alexandria are in arms, that Bassus has been summoned, and that Cassius is eagerly expected. In short, it looks as though the republic may recover its rights. But let us not get ahead of events. You know how practiced that crew is in villainy and how reckless they are.
That charming fellow Dolabella has written to me from Formiae, though as I was writing this at dessert I heard he had reached Baiae; I got his letter as I left my bath. He says he has done his very best about assigning debts to me. He blames Vettienus - of course Vettienus is up to some trick, like a true businessman - but says Sestius, who is a very honest man and a good friend of mine, has taken on the whole affair. Still, I would like to know what on earth Sestius can do in this matter that any one of us could not have done. If anything happens contrary to my expectation, let me know. If, as I suspect, it is hopeless, write all the same; it will not disturb me.
Here I am philosophizing, for what else can I do? I am making excellent progress on my On Duties, which I am dedicating to my son. A father could not choose a more appropriate subject. Then I will turn to other topics. This trip, in fact, will produce some books. Varro is expected today or tomorrow, but I am hurrying to Pompeii - not because anything could be lovelier than this place, but because I will be less bothered by interruptions there. Please tell me what charge was brought against Myrtilus, since I hear he has been executed, and whether it has come out who suborned him.
As I write this, it just occurs to me that my speech is being delivered to you. How I fear your judgment on it. Though what does it matter to me, since it will not be published unless the constitution is restored? And what hope I have of that, I dare not say.
On the 25th I received two letters from you. So I will answer the former first. I agree with you that we need not be the first to move nor the last to follow, but that we should incline to Brutus' side. I have sent you my speech, and leave it to you to keep it or publish it. But when shall we see the day when you will think it right to publish it? I don't understand how the truce you mention can be possible. It is better to make no reply; and that, I think, is what I shall do. You say that two legions have arrived at Brundisium: you get all the news first. So you must write whatever you hear. I am expecting Varro's dialogue. I agree now about writing something in Heracleides' style, especially as you like it
so much; but I will write whatever you wish. As I told you before, or rather previously, as you prefer to say, I must confess you have made me more eager to write. For to your own opinion, which I knew, you have added Peducaeus' authority, which I count great and as weighty as any. So I will make an effort not to disappoint you in my industry or diligence. I am making much of Vettienus and Faberius, as you suggest. I don't think Clodius meant any harm, though—but it is nothing to me. I agree with you about preserving our liberty, our most precious possession. So it is Gallus Caninius' turn now? What a knave! For what else can one call him? How cautious Marcellus is. So am I, but not overcautious.
I have answered your longer and earlier letter. Now what can I say to the shorter and more recent, except that it was most delightful? Affairs in Spain are going really well, if only I can see Balbilius in safety as a support for our old age. About Annianus I agree, as Visellia is very polite to me. But that is the way of the world. You say you know nothing of Brutus, but Servilia says M. Scaptius has come, and that without any of his usual parade, and he will pay her a visit quietly, and I shall be told everything. I shall know soon. Meantime she says a slave of Bassus has come announcing that the legions in Alexandria are in arms, that Bassus has been summoned, and Cassius is expected with eagerness. In short it looks as though the republic was going to recover its rights. But don't let us anticipate. You
know what practice that lot have had in rascality, and how reckless they are.
That pretty fellow Dolabella has written to me from Formiae, though, when I was writing this letter at dessert, I heard he had arrived at Baiae, and I got his letter as I left my bath. He says he has done his level best about assigning debts to me. He blames Vettienus—of course he is up to some dodge like a true business man—but he says Sestius, who is a very honest fellow and a good friend of mine, has undertaken the whole affair. Still, I should like to know what on earth Sestius can do in this business that any of us could not have done. But if anything does happen contrary to my expectation, you must let me know; while, if it is, as I suspect, a hopeless business, write all the same: it will not disturb me.
I am philosophizing here (what else can I do?) and getting on splendidly with my De Officiis, which I am dedicating to my son. A father could not choose a more appropriate subject. Then I shall turn to other subjects. In fact this excursion will have some works to show for itself. Varro is expected either to-day or to-morrow; but I am hastening to Pompeii, not that anything could be prettier than this place, but I shall be less bothered by interruptions there. But please inform me what the charge was against Myrtilus, for I hear he has been executed, and whether it has come out who suborned him.
As I am writing this, it just occurs to me that my speech is being delivered to you. How I fear your judgment on it! Though what does it matter to me, as it will not be published, unless the constitution is restored? And what hope I have of that I dare not say.
viii Kal. duas a te accepi epistulas. respondebo igitur priori prius. adsentior tibi ut nec duces simus nec agmen cogamus, faveamus tamen. orationem tibi misi. eius custodiendae et proferendae arbitrium tuum. sed quando illum diem cum tu edendam putes? [2] indutias quas scribis non intellego fieri posse. melior est a)nantifwnhsi/a qua me usurum arbitror. quod scribis legiones duas Brundisium venisse, vos omnia prius. scribes igitur quicquid audieris. [3] Varronis dia/logon exspecto. iam probo (Hraklei/deion , praesertim cum tu tanto opere delectere; sed quale velis velim scire. quod ad te antea atque adeo prius scripsi (sic enim mavis), ad scribendum tibi vere dicere fecisti me alacriorem. ad tuum enim iudicium quod mihi erat notum addidisti Peducaei auctoritatem magnam quidem apud <me> et in primis gravem. enitar igitur ne desideres aut industriam meam aut diligentiam. Vettienum, ut scribis, et Faberium foveo. Clodium nihil arbitror malitiose; quamquam--sed quod egerit. de libertate retinenda, qua certe nihil est dulcius, tibi adsentior. itane Gallo Caninio? <O> hominem nequam! quid enim dicam aliud? cautum Marcellum! me sic, sed non tamen cautissimum. [4] longiori epistulae superiorique respondi. nunc breviori propiorique quid respondeam nisi eam fuisse dulcissimam? res Hispanienses valde bonae, modo Balbilium incolumem videam, subsidium nostrae senectutis. de Anniano item, quod me valde observat Visellia. sed haec quidem humana. de Bruto te nihil scire dicis, sed Servflia venisse M. Scaptium eumque non qua pompa ad se tamen clam venturum sciturumque me omnia; quae ego statim. interea narrat eadem Bassi servum venisse qui nuntiaret legiones Alexandrinas in armis esse, Bassum arcessi, Cassium exspectari. quid quaeris? videtur res publica ius suum reciperatura. sed ne quid ante. nosti horum exercitationem in latrocinio et amentiam. [5] Dolabella vir optimus, etsi, cum scribebam secunda mensa apposita, venisse eum ad Baias audiebam, tamen ad me ex Formiano scripsit, quas litteras cum e balineo exissem accepi, sese de attributione omnia summa fecisse. Vettienum accusat (tricatur scilicet ut monetalis), sed ait totum negotium Sestium nostrum suscepisse, optimum quidem illum virum nostrique amantissimum. quaero autem quid tandem Sestius in hac re facere possit quod non quivis nostrum. sed si quid praeter spem erit, facies ut sciam; sin est, ut arbitror, negotium perditum, scribes tamen neque ista res commovebit. [6] nos hic filosofou=men (quid enim aliud?) et ta\ peri\ tou= kaqh/kontoj magnifice explicamus prosfwnou=men que Ciceroni; qua de re enim potius pater filio? deinde alia. quid quaeris? exstabit opera peregrinationis huius. Varronem hodie aut cras venturum putabant; ego autem in Pompeianum properabam, non quo hoc loco quicquam pulchrius sed interpellatores illic minus molesti. sed perscribe, quaeso, quae causa sit Myrtili (poenas quidem illum pependisse audivi) et satisne pateat unde corruptus. [7] haec cum scriberem, tantum quod existimabam ad te orationem esse perlatam. Hui, quam timeo quid existimes! etsi quid ad me? quae non sit foras proditura nisi re publica reciperata. de quo quid sperem non audeo scribere.
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On the 25th I received two letters from you, and I will answer the earlier first. I agree that we need not be the first to move nor the last to follow, but should incline toward Brutus' side. I have sent you my speech, and leave it to you either to keep it or to publish it. But when shall we see the day when you think it right to publish it? I do not understand how the truce you mention can be possible. It is better to make no reply, and I think that is what I shall do.
You say two legions have arrived at Brundisium; you get all the news first, so you must write whatever you hear. I am expecting Varro's dialogue. I now agree about writing something in the manner of Heracleides, especially since you like it so much, but I will write whatever you wish. As I told you before - or rather previously, as you prefer to say - I must admit that you have made me more eager to write. To your own opinion, which I knew, you have added the authority of Peducaeus, which I count as great and as weighty as anyone's. So I will make an effort not to disappoint you in industry or diligence.
I am making much of Vettienus and Faberius, as you suggest. I do not think Clodius meant any harm, though - but that is nothing to me. I agree with you about preserving our liberty, our most precious possession. So now it is Gallus Caninius' turn? What a scoundrel. What else can one call him? How cautious Marcellus is. So am I, but not too cautious.
I have answered your longer and earlier letter. What can I say to the shorter and later one except that it was delightful? Affairs in Spain are going very well, if only I can see Balbilius safe as a support for our old age. About Annianus I agree, since Visellia is very polite to me. But that is the way of the world. You say you know nothing of Brutus, but Servilia says Marcus Scaptius has come, without any of his usual display, and will visit her quietly; I shall be told everything. I will know soon. Meanwhile she says a slave of Bassus has come announcing that the legions in Alexandria are in arms, that Bassus has been summoned, and that Cassius is eagerly expected. In short, it looks as though the republic may recover its rights. But let us not get ahead of events. You know how practiced that crew is in villainy and how reckless they are.
That charming fellow Dolabella has written to me from Formiae, though as I was writing this at dessert I heard he had reached Baiae; I got his letter as I left my bath. He says he has done his very best about assigning debts to me. He blames Vettienus - of course Vettienus is up to some trick, like a true businessman - but says Sestius, who is a very honest man and a good friend of mine, has taken on the whole affair. Still, I would like to know what on earth Sestius can do in this matter that any one of us could not have done. If anything happens contrary to my expectation, let me know. If, as I suspect, it is hopeless, write all the same; it will not disturb me.
Here I am philosophizing, for what else can I do? I am making excellent progress on my On Duties, which I am dedicating to my son. A father could not choose a more appropriate subject. Then I will turn to other topics. This trip, in fact, will produce some books. Varro is expected today or tomorrow, but I am hurrying to Pompeii - not because anything could be lovelier than this place, but because I will be less bothered by interruptions there. Please tell me what charge was brought against Myrtilus, since I hear he has been executed, and whether it has come out who suborned him.
As I write this, it just occurs to me that my speech is being delivered to you. How I fear your judgment on it. Though what does it matter to me, since it will not be published unless the constitution is restored? And what hope I have of that, I dare not say.
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
viii Kal. duas a te accepi epistulas. respondebo igitur priori prius. adsentior tibi ut nec duces simus nec agmen cogamus, faveamus tamen. orationem tibi misi. eius custodiendae et proferendae arbitrium tuum. sed quando illum diem cum tu edendam putes? [2] indutias quas scribis non intellego fieri posse. melior est a)nantifwnhsi/a qua me usurum arbitror. quod scribis legiones duas Brundisium venisse, vos omnia prius. scribes igitur quicquid audieris. [3] Varronis dia/logon exspecto. iam probo (Hraklei/deion , praesertim cum tu tanto opere delectere; sed quale velis velim scire. quod ad te antea atque adeo prius scripsi (sic enim mavis), ad scribendum tibi vere dicere fecisti me alacriorem. ad tuum enim iudicium quod mihi erat notum addidisti Peducaei auctoritatem magnam quidem apud <me> et in primis gravem. enitar igitur ne desideres aut industriam meam aut diligentiam. Vettienum, ut scribis, et Faberium foveo. Clodium nihil arbitror malitiose; quamquam--sed quod egerit. de libertate retinenda, qua certe nihil est dulcius, tibi adsentior. itane Gallo Caninio? <O> hominem nequam! quid enim dicam aliud? cautum Marcellum! me sic, sed non tamen cautissimum. [4] longiori epistulae superiorique respondi. nunc breviori propiorique quid respondeam nisi eam fuisse dulcissimam? res Hispanienses valde bonae, modo Balbilium incolumem videam, subsidium nostrae senectutis. de Anniano item, quod me valde observat Visellia. sed haec quidem humana. de Bruto te nihil scire dicis, sed Servflia venisse M. Scaptium eumque non qua pompa ad se tamen clam venturum sciturumque me omnia; quae ego statim. interea narrat eadem Bassi servum venisse qui nuntiaret legiones Alexandrinas in armis esse, Bassum arcessi, Cassium exspectari. quid quaeris? videtur res publica ius suum reciperatura. sed ne quid ante. nosti horum exercitationem in latrocinio et amentiam. [5] Dolabella vir optimus, etsi, cum scribebam secunda mensa apposita, venisse eum ad Baias audiebam, tamen ad me ex Formiano scripsit, quas litteras cum e balineo exissem accepi, sese de attributione omnia summa fecisse. Vettienum accusat (tricatur scilicet ut monetalis), sed ait totum negotium Sestium nostrum suscepisse, optimum quidem illum virum nostrique amantissimum. quaero autem quid tandem Sestius in hac re facere possit quod non quivis nostrum. sed si quid praeter spem erit, facies ut sciam; sin est, ut arbitror, negotium perditum, scribes tamen neque ista res commovebit. [6] nos hic filosofou=men (quid enim aliud?) et ta\ peri\ tou= kaqh/kontoj magnifice explicamus prosfwnou=men que Ciceroni; qua de re enim potius pater filio? deinde alia. quid quaeris? exstabit opera peregrinationis huius. Varronem hodie aut cras venturum putabant; ego autem in Pompeianum properabam, non quo hoc loco quicquam pulchrius sed interpellatores illic minus molesti. sed perscribe, quaeso, quae causa sit Myrtili (poenas quidem illum pependisse audivi) et satisne pateat unde corruptus. [7] haec cum scriberem, tantum quod existimabam ad te orationem esse perlatam. Hui, quam timeo quid existimes! etsi quid ad me? quae non sit foras proditura nisi re publica reciperata. de quo quid sperem non audeo scribere.