Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 44 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
I must tell you, my brother Quintus is leaping for joy. His son has written saying that he wanted to take refuge with Brutus because Antony had asked him to secure the dictatorship for him and seize some fort. He refused, he says, because he did not want to hurt his father's feelings, and from that point Antony became his enemy. "Then," he says, "I pulled myself together, fearing he might do you some harm in anger at me, so I soothed him, even got four thousand in cash, and have hopes of more." Statius, however, says the young man wants to live with his father - which is a wonder - and my brother is delighted by it. Have you ever seen a more thorough scoundrel?
I approve your hesitation over the arrangement with Canus. I knew nothing about the documents; I thought her dowry had been paid back in full. I will wait until we meet for the things you refrain from mentioning. Keep the messengers as long as you like, since you are busy. About Xeno, quite right. I will send what I am writing when it is finished. You told Quintus you had sent him a letter, but none has yet been delivered.
Tiro says you now disapprove of Brundisium, and indeed says something about soldiers. But I have already fixed on Hydrus. Your saying that it is only a five-hour crossing decided me. Think of the endless voyage from here. Still, we shall see. I had no letter from you on the 21st. Of course, what news can there be now? Come, then, as soon as you can. I am in a hurry, for Sextus may arrive before I leave. They say he is coming.
I must tell you my brother Quintus is jumping for joy. For his son has written saying that his reason for wanting to take refuge with Brutus is, that when Antony asked him to secure him the dictatorship and seize some fort, he refused, and the reason for
his refusal was that he did not want to hurt his father's feelings; and from that time Antony has been his enemy. "Then," he says, "I pulled myself together for fear that he should do you some mischief in his wrath with me; and so I smoothed him down, and indeed got £4,000 in cash, and have hopes of some more." Statius, however, says he wants to live with his father—which is a wonder—and my brother is delighted about it. Did you ever see a more thorough rascal?
I approve of your hesitation in the arrangement with Canus. I had no idea about the documents; I thought her dowry had been paid back in full. I shall look forward to the matters you refrain from mentioning till we meet. Keep the messengers as long as you like, as you are busy. As to Xeno, quite right. What I am writing I will send when it is finished. You told Quintus you had sent him a letter, but none has been brought as yet. Tiro says you disapprove of Brundisium now, and indeed says something about soldiers. But I have already fixed upon Hydrus. Your saying that it was only a fivehour passage decided me. Think of the endless voyage from here. But we shall see. I had no letter from you on the 21st. Of course, for what news can there be now? Come, then, as soon as you can. I am in a hurry, for Sextus may get here before I leave. They say he is coming.
narro tibi, Quintus pater exsultat laetitia. scripsit enim filius se idcirco profugere ad Brutum voluisse quod, cum sibi negotium daret Antonius ut eum dictatorem efficeret, praesidium occuparet, id recusasset; recusasse autem se ne patris animum offenderet; ex eo sibi illum hostem. 'tum me' inquit 'conlegi verens ne quid mihi ille iratus tibi noceret. itaque eum placavi. et quidem c_c_c_c_ certa, reliqua in spe.' scribit autem Statius illum cum patre habitare velle (hoc vero mirum) et id gaudet. ecquem tu illo certiorem nebulonem? [2] )Epoxh\n vestram de re Cani [deliberationis] probo. nihil eram suspicatus de tabulis, a)kerai/wj restitutam arbitrabar. quae differs ut mecum coram exspectabo. tabellarios quoad voles tenebis; es enim occupatus. quod ad Xenonem, probe. quod scribo, cum absolvero. Quinto scripsisti te ad eum litteras. nemo attulerat. Tiro negat iam tibi placere Brundisium et quidem dicere aliquid de militibus. at ego iam destinaram Hydruntem quidem. movebant me tuae quinque horae. hic autem quantus plou=j ! sed videbimus. nullas a te xi Kal. Quippe, quid enim iam novi? Cum primum igitur poteris, venies. ego propero ne ante Sextus, quem adventare aiunt.
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I must tell you, my brother Quintus is leaping for joy. His son has written saying that he wanted to take refuge with Brutus because Antony had asked him to secure the dictatorship for him and seize some fort. He refused, he says, because he did not want to hurt his father's feelings, and from that point Antony became his enemy. "Then," he says, "I pulled myself together, fearing he might do you some harm in anger at me, so I soothed him, even got four thousand in cash, and have hopes of more." Statius, however, says the young man wants to live with his father - which is a wonder - and my brother is delighted by it. Have you ever seen a more thorough scoundrel?
I approve your hesitation over the arrangement with Canus. I knew nothing about the documents; I thought her dowry had been paid back in full. I will wait until we meet for the things you refrain from mentioning. Keep the messengers as long as you like, since you are busy. About Xeno, quite right. I will send what I am writing when it is finished. You told Quintus you had sent him a letter, but none has yet been delivered.
Tiro says you now disapprove of Brundisium, and indeed says something about soldiers. But I have already fixed on Hydrus. Your saying that it is only a five-hour crossing decided me. Think of the endless voyage from here. Still, we shall see. I had no letter from you on the 21st. Of course, what news can there be now? Come, then, as soon as you can. I am in a hurry, for Sextus may arrive before I leave. They say he is coming.
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
narro tibi, Quintus pater exsultat laetitia. scripsit enim filius se idcirco profugere ad Brutum voluisse quod, cum sibi negotium daret Antonius ut eum dictatorem efficeret, praesidium occuparet, id recusasset; recusasse autem se ne patris animum offenderet; ex eo sibi illum hostem. 'tum me' inquit 'conlegi verens ne quid mihi ille iratus tibi noceret. itaque eum placavi. et quidem c_c_c_c_ certa, reliqua in spe.' scribit autem Statius illum cum patre habitare velle (hoc vero mirum) et id gaudet. ecquem tu illo certiorem nebulonem? [2] )Epoxh\n vestram de re Cani [deliberationis] probo. nihil eram suspicatus de tabulis, a)kerai/wj restitutam arbitrabar. quae differs ut mecum coram exspectabo. tabellarios quoad voles tenebis; es enim occupatus. quod ad Xenonem, probe. quod scribo, cum absolvero. Quinto scripsisti te ad eum litteras. nemo attulerat. Tiro negat iam tibi placere Brundisium et quidem dicere aliquid de militibus. at ego iam destinaram Hydruntem quidem. movebant me tuae quinque horae. hic autem quantus plou=j ! sed videbimus. nullas a te xi Kal. Quippe, quid enim iam novi? Cum primum igitur poteris, venies. ego propero ne ante Sextus, quem adventare aiunt.