Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 43 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
As I told you yesterday, or perhaps it was today (for Quintus said he would take a second day over it), on the 8th to the Idues I went to Nesis. Brutus was there. How distressed he was about the Nones of July [the renaming of Quinctilis to Iulius in Caesar's honor; Brutus, as praetor, was responsible for the games of Apollo and resented this glorification of the dictator he had killed]! He was extraordinarily upset. And so he said he would write that they should advertise the beast-hunt, which is to take place the day after the games of Apollo, as falling on the 3rd day before the Ides of Quinctilis [insisting on the old month-name rather than "July"]. Libo came in. He reported that Philo, a freedman of Pompey, and Hilarus, his own freedman, had arrived from Sextus with a letter to the consuls, or by whatever name they go. He read us a copy of it, to see what we thought. There were a few rough patches in the phrasing, but otherwise it was quite weighty enough and not defiant. We thought it best only to add this, since it was addressed to the consuls alone, that it be made out to the praetors, the tribunes of the plebs, and the senate as well, for fear they might not publish a letter sent only to themselves.
[2] As for Sextus, they report that he was at Carthage with only a single legion, and that on the very day he captured the town of Barea the news about Caesar reached him; that upon the town's capture there was a remarkable surge of joy and a turning of feeling, and a flocking to him from every quarter; but that he went back to the six legions he had left behind in Farther Spain. To Libo himself he wrote that nothing matters to him unless he is allowed to return to his own hearth. The sum of his demands is that all the armies everywhere be disbanded. So much, more or less, about Sextus.
[3] About the Buthrotians, though I made inquiries on every side, I could find out nothing. Some say the land-claimants were cut to pieces, others that Plancus, once he had taken the money, ran off and abandoned them. And so I do not see how I am to learn what has become of the matter unless some word comes at once.
[4] That journey to Brundisium, about which I was in doubt, seems to be off; for the legions are said to be approaching. This voyage from here, however, carries certain suspicions of danger. And so I was deciding to sail in convoy [Greek: homoploia, 'sailing together']. For I found Brutus better prepared than I had been hearing. Both he himself and Domitius have thoroughly good two-banked galleys, and there are besides the splendid vessels of Sestius, Bucilianus, and the rest. As for Cassius's fleet, which is downright fine, I do not count on it beyond the strait [of Sicily]. The one thing that vexes me a little is that Brutus seems in too little hurry. First he is waiting for news that the games are concluded; then, so far as I understand, he is going to sail slowly, stopping at several places. Still, I think it is more advantageous to sail slowly than not to sail at all; and if, once we have set out, things look more certain, we shall make use of the Etesian winds.
As I told you yesterday or perhaps to-day—for Quintus said he would take two days going—I went to Nesis on the 8th: and there was Brutus. How annoyed he was about the "7th of July." It quite upset him. So he said he would send orders for them to advertise the beast-hunt, which is to take place on the day after the games to Apollo, as on the "13th of Quinctilis." Libo came in, and he
told us that Philo, a freedman of Pompey, and Hilarus, one of his own, had come from Sextus with a letter for the consuls, "or whatever they call them." He read us a copy to see what we thought of it. There were a few odd expressions, but in other respects it was sufficiently dignified and not aggressive. We only thought it better to make an addition of "Praetors, Tribunes of the People, and Senate" to the simple address to the "Consuls," for fear they should not publish a letter sent to them. They say that Sextus has been at Carthage with only one legion, and that he received the news about Caesar on the very day that he took the town of Barea. After the capture there were great rejoicings and a change of sentiment, and people flocked to him from every side, but he returned to the six legions he had left in lower Spain. He has written to Libo himself saying it is all nothing to him if he cannot get home. The upshot of his demands is, that all the armies everywhere should be disbanded. That is all about Sextus.
I have been making enquiries in every direction about the Buthrotians, and discover nothing. Some say the land-grabbers were cut to pieces, others that Plancus pocketed the money and fled, leaving them in the lurch. So I don't see how I can find out what there is in it, unless I get a letter at once.
The route to Brundisium, about which I was hesitating, seems to be out of the question. They say the troops are arriving there. But the voyage from here has some suspicion of danger, so I have made up my mind to sail in company with Brutus. I found him better prepared than I had heard he was. For both he and Domitius have quite good two-banked galleys, and there are also some good ships belonging
to Sestus, Bucilianus, and others. For I don't count on Cassius' fleet, which is quite a fine one, beyond the straits of Sicily. There is one point that annoys me a little, Brutus seems in no hurry. First he is waiting for news of the completion of his games; then, so far as I can understand, he is going to sail slowly, stopping at several places. Still I think it will be better to sail slowly than not to sail at all; and if, when we have got some distance, things seem clearer, we shall take advantage of the Etesian winds.
ita ut heri tibi narravi vel fortasse hodie (Quintus enim altero die se aiebat), in Nesida viii Idus. ibi Brutus. quam ille doluit de NONIS IVLIIS! mirifice est conturbatus. itaque sese scripturum aiebat ut venationem eam quae postridie ludos Apollinaris futura est proscriberent <in> III IDVS QVINTILIS. Libo intervenit. is Philonem Pompei libertum et Hilarum suum libertum venisse a Sexto cum litteris ad consules sive quo alio nomine sunt. earum exemplum nobis legit, si quid videretur. pauca para\ le/cin , ceteroqui et satis graviter et non contumaciter. tantum addi placuit, quod erat coss. solum, ut esset PRAETT., TRIBB. PL., SENATVI, ne illi non proferrent eas quae ad ipsos missae essent. [2] Sextum autem nuntiant cum una solum legione fuisse Karthagine eique eo ipso die quo oppidum Baream cepisset nuntiatum esse de Caesare, capto oppido miram laetitiam commutationemque animorum concursumque undique; sed illum ad sex legiones quas in ulteriore reliquisset revertisse. ad ipsum autem Libonem scripsit nihil esse nisi ad larem suum liceret. summa postulatorum ut omnes exercitus dimittantur qui ubique sint. haec fere de Sexto. [3] de Buthrotiis undique quaerens nihil reperiebam. Alii concisos agripetas, alii Plancum acceptis nummis relictis illis aufugisse. itaque non video sciturum me quid eius sit ni statim aliquid litterarum. [4] iter illud Brundisium de quo dubitabam sublatum videtur. legiones enim adventare dicuntur. haec autem navigatio habet quasdam suspiciones periculi. itaque constituebam uti o(moploi/a? . paratiorem enim offendi Brutum quam audiebam. nam et ipse <et> Domitius bona plane habet dicrota suntque navigia praeterea luculenta Sesti, Buciliani, ceterorum. nam Cassi classem quae plane bella est non numero ultra fretum. illud est mihi submolestum quod parum Brutus properare videtur. primum confectorum ludorum nuntios exspectat; deinde, quantum intellego, tarde est navigaturus consistens in locis pluribus. tamen arbitror esse commodius tarde navigare quam omnino non navigare; et si, cum processerimus, exploratiora videbuntur, etesiis utemur.
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As I told you yesterday, or perhaps it was today (for Quintus said he would take a second day over it), on the 8th to the Idues I went to Nesis. Brutus was there. How distressed he was about the Nones of July [the renaming of Quinctilis to Iulius in Caesar's honor; Brutus, as praetor, was responsible for the games of Apollo and resented this glorification of the dictator he had killed]! He was extraordinarily upset. And so he said he would write that they should advertise the beast-hunt, which is to take place the day after the games of Apollo, as falling on the 3rd day before the Ides of Quinctilis [insisting on the old month-name rather than "July"]. Libo came in. He reported that Philo, a freedman of Pompey, and Hilarus, his own freedman, had arrived from Sextus with a letter to the consuls, or by whatever name they go. He read us a copy of it, to see what we thought. There were a few rough patches in the phrasing, but otherwise it was quite weighty enough and not defiant. We thought it best only to add this, since it was addressed to the consuls alone, that it be made out to the praetors, the tribunes of the plebs, and the senate as well, for fear they might not publish a letter sent only to themselves.
[2] As for Sextus, they report that he was at Carthage with only a single legion, and that on the very day he captured the town of Barea the news about Caesar reached him; that upon the town's capture there was a remarkable surge of joy and a turning of feeling, and a flocking to him from every quarter; but that he went back to the six legions he had left behind in Farther Spain. To Libo himself he wrote that nothing matters to him unless he is allowed to return to his own hearth. The sum of his demands is that all the armies everywhere be disbanded. So much, more or less, about Sextus.
[3] About the Buthrotians, though I made inquiries on every side, I could find out nothing. Some say the land-claimants were cut to pieces, others that Plancus, once he had taken the money, ran off and abandoned them. And so I do not see how I am to learn what has become of the matter unless some word comes at once.
[4] That journey to Brundisium, about which I was in doubt, seems to be off; for the legions are said to be approaching. This voyage from here, however, carries certain suspicions of danger. And so I was deciding to sail in convoy [Greek: homoploia, 'sailing together']. For I found Brutus better prepared than I had been hearing. Both he himself and Domitius have thoroughly good two-banked galleys, and there are besides the splendid vessels of Sestius, Bucilianus, and the rest. As for Cassius's fleet, which is downright fine, I do not count on it beyond the strait [of Sicily]. The one thing that vexes me a little is that Brutus seems in too little hurry. First he is waiting for news that the games are concluded; then, so far as I understand, he is going to sail slowly, stopping at several places. Still, I think it is more advantageous to sail slowly than not to sail at all; and if, once we have set out, things look more certain, we shall make use of the Etesian winds.
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
ita ut heri tibi narravi vel fortasse hodie (Quintus enim altero die se aiebat), in Nesida viii Idus. ibi Brutus. quam ille doluit de NONIS IVLIIS! mirifice est conturbatus. itaque sese scripturum aiebat ut venationem eam quae postridie ludos Apollinaris futura est proscriberent <in> III IDVS QVINTILIS. Libo intervenit. is Philonem Pompei libertum et Hilarum suum libertum venisse a Sexto cum litteris ad consules sive quo alio nomine sunt. earum exemplum nobis legit, si quid videretur. pauca para\ le/cin , ceteroqui et satis graviter et non contumaciter. tantum addi placuit, quod erat coss. solum, ut esset PRAETT., TRIBB. PL., SENATVI, ne illi non proferrent eas quae ad ipsos missae essent. [2] Sextum autem nuntiant cum una solum legione fuisse Karthagine eique eo ipso die quo oppidum Baream cepisset nuntiatum esse de Caesare, capto oppido miram laetitiam commutationemque animorum concursumque undique; sed illum ad sex legiones quas in ulteriore reliquisset revertisse. ad ipsum autem Libonem scripsit nihil esse nisi ad larem suum liceret. summa postulatorum ut omnes exercitus dimittantur qui ubique sint. haec fere de Sexto. [3] de Buthrotiis undique quaerens nihil reperiebam. Alii concisos agripetas, alii Plancum acceptis nummis relictis illis aufugisse. itaque non video sciturum me quid eius sit ni statim aliquid litterarum. [4] iter illud Brundisium de quo dubitabam sublatum videtur. legiones enim adventare dicuntur. haec autem navigatio habet quasdam suspiciones periculi. itaque constituebam uti o(moploi/a? . paratiorem enim offendi Brutum quam audiebam. nam et ipse <et> Domitius bona plane habet dicrota suntque navigia praeterea luculenta Sesti, Buciliani, ceterorum. nam Cassi classem quae plane bella est non numero ultra fretum. illud est mihi submolestum quod parum Brutus properare videtur. primum confectorum ludorum nuntios exspectat; deinde, quantum intellego, tarde est navigaturus consistens in locis pluribus. tamen arbitror esse commodius tarde navigare quam omnino non navigare; et si, cum processerimus, exploratiora videbuntur, etesiis utemur.