Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 43 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
On the Nones I received two letters from you, one of which you had posted on the Kalends, the other the day before. So first, to the earlier one. I am delighted that my work meets with your approval; from it you set down the very gems themselves [alethe, the truest passages], which seemed to me all the brighter for your judgment of them - for I was dreading those little vermilion pencils of yours. About Sicca it is just as you write; I could scarcely restrain myself from a furious assault on that matter. So I will deal with it glancingly, without any insult to Sicca or Septimia, only enough that people may know - 'children's children' [paides paidon], without any Lucilian lampoon - that Antony had children by the daughter of Gaius Fadius. And I only wish I may see the day when that speech [the Second Philippic] roams abroad so freely that it even makes its way into Sicca's house! But for that we need the kind of moment those triumvirs once had. I'll be damned if that wasn't a clever stroke! As for you, do read it to Sextus and write me out his verdict in full. 'For me one man is as good as ten thousand' [Heis emoi myrioi]. Be on your guard against the intrusion of Calenus and of Calvena.
As for your fear that I find you a chatterbox [adoleskhes] - who is less so? To me, just as the iambics of Archilochus were to Aristophanes, so each of your letters seems best the longer it is. As for your admonishing me - why, even if you were finding fault with me I would not only bear it easily but actually rejoice in it, seeing that in your fault-finding there is good sense together with goodwill [eumeneia]. So I will gladly correct the things you have noticed: 'by the same right as the property of Rubrius' rather than 'as that of Scipio,' and I will scrape off the heap from my praises of Dolabella. And yet at that point there is, as it seems to me, a pretty irony [eironeia] in the fact that he three times took the field against his fellow-citizens. This too I prefer: 'it is most outrageous that this man should be alive' rather than 'what is more outrageous?'
That Varro's Peplography [Peplographia] meets with your approval does not distress me; from him I have so far not extracted that work in the manner of Heraclides [the Herakleideion]. As for your urging me to write - that is friendly of you, but know that I am doing nothing else. Your cold is a worry to me. Please apply the care you usually do. I am glad my 'O Titus' [the Cato Maior, or On Old Age, addressed to Atticus] is doing you good. The 'men of Anagnia' are Mustela, the gang-captain [taxiarches], and Laco, who drinks the most. The book you ask for I will polish thoroughly and send.
Now to the later letter. The work on Duty [ta peri tou kathekontos], so far as Panaetius is concerned, I have completed in two books. His are three; but although at the outset he had divided the matter thus - that there are three kinds of inquiry into duty: one, when we deliberate whether a thing is honorable or base; a second, whether it is useful or useless; a third, when these two seem to conflict with each other, how judgment is to be made, as in the case of Regulus, where to return was honorable, to remain useful - he discoursed splendidly on the first two, but on the third he promises he will do so in turn, yet wrote nothing. Posidonius pursued that topic. I, for my part, have both sent for his book and written to Athenodorus Calvus to send me the main headings [ta kephalaia], which I am awaiting. I should be glad if you would urge him on and ask him to do it as soon as possible. In it is the subject of duty according to circumstance [peri tou kata peristasin kathekontos]. As for your question about the title, I do not doubt that kathekon is 'officium' [duty], unless you have some other view; but the fuller title is 'On Duties' [De Officiis]. And I am dedicating it to my son Cicero. It seemed not inappropriate [anoikeion].
About Myrtilus, crystal clear. Oh, how you always handle those people! Is it so? Against Decimus Brutus? The gods take them! As I had written, I did not at first bury myself in my Pompeian villa, on account of storms than which nothing could be fouler; then there came daily letters from Octavian, that I should take up the cause, come to Capua, save the Republic once again, and in any case come to Rome at once. 'They were ashamed to refuse, yet afraid to accept' [aidesthen men anenasthai, deisan d' hypodexthai]. He, however, has acted with real energy and is still acting. He will come to Rome with a great force, but he is plainly a boy. He thinks the Senate will meet at once. Who will come? If he does come, who in such an uncertain state of things will offend Antony? On the Kalends of January he will perhaps be a protection - or indeed the matter will be fought out before then. The country towns are wonderfully in the boy's favor. For, making his way into Samnium, he came to Cales and stayed at Teanum. The reception and the rallying of support were marvelous. Would you have supposed it? For this reason I shall come to Rome sooner than I had decided. As soon as I have fixed it, I will write.
Although I had not yet read the stipulations (for Eros had not come), still I should like you to settle the business on the day before the Ides. I shall be able to send letters to Catina, Tauromenium, and Syracuse more conveniently if Valerius the interpreter writes me the names of the influential men. For different men hold sway at different times, and our own friends there are mostly dead. Still, I have written in general terms, in case Valerius should wish to use those letters; otherwise let him send me the names.
About the Lepidian holidays Balbus writes to me that they last right up to the third day before the Kalends. I shall await your letter, and I think I shall learn about Torquatus' little piece of business. I have sent you Quintus' letter so that you might know how strongly he loves the man whom he is grieved that you love less. To Attica, since - what is the best thing in children - she is a cheerful little soul, I want you to give a kiss in my words.
On the 5th I received two letters from you, one dated the first, the other a day earlier. So I am answering the earlier first. I am glad you like my book, from which you quoted the very gems; and they seemed to me all the more sparkling for your judgment on them. For I was afraid of those red pencils of yours. As for Sicca, it is as you say: I could hardly hold myself in about Antony's lust. So I will touch on it lightly without any opprobrium for Sicca and Septimia, and only let our children's
children know, without taking Lucilian licence, that Antony had children by a daughter of Fadius. I only wish I could see the day when my second Philippic could be sufficiently freely circulated to enter even Sicca's door. "But we want back the days of freedom under the triumvirs." Upon my life that was a neat touch of yours. Please read my book to Sextus and let me know his opinion. I would take his word against all the world. Keep your eyes open for the appearance of Calenus and Calvena.
You fear I may think you a gas-bag. Who is less of one? I am like Aristophanes with Archilochus' iambics—the longest letter of yours ever seems the best to me. As for your giving me advice, why, if you found fault with me, I should not only put up with it cheerfully, but even be glad of it, since in your fault-finding there is both wisdom and kindly purpose. So I will willingly correct the point you mention, and write "by the same right as you did the property of Rubrius" instead of "the property of Scipio"; and I will take the pinnacle off my praises of Dolabella. And yet to my thinking there is fine irony in the passage where I say he had thrice stood up in arms against his fellow-citizens. Again I prefer your "it is most unjust that such a man should live" to "what can be more unjust?" I am not sorry to hear you praise the Peplographia
of Varro; I have not yet managed to get the book in the style of Heracleides from him. You exhort me to go on writing. That is friendly of you; but let me tell you I do nothing else. I am sorry to hear of your cold. Please take as much care as usual of it. I am glad my book On Old Age does you good. The "men of Anagnia" are Mustela, the swashbuckler, and Laco, the champion toper. The book you ask for I will polish up and send.
Now for the second letter. The De Officiis, so far as Panaetius is concerned, I have finished in two books. He has three: but, though at the beginning he makes a three-fold division of cases in which duty has to be determined, one when the question is between right or wrong, another when it is between expediency and inexpediency, and the third, how we are to decide when it is a conflict between duty and expediency—for example, in Regulus' case to return would be right, to stay expedient—he treated of the first two brilliantly; the third he promises to add, but never wrote it. Posidonius took up that topic: but I have ordered his book and written to Athenodorus Calvus to send me an analysis of it, and that I am expecting. I wish you would spur him on and beg him to let me have it as soon as possible. In it duties under given circumstances are handled. As to your query about the title, I have no doubt that καθῆκον (duty) corresponds with officium, unless you have any other suggestion to make. But the fuller title is De Officiis. I am dedicating it to my son. It seems to me not inappropriate.
You make it as plain as daylight about Myrtilus. How well you can always take that lot off! Is it so? Do they accuse D. Brutus? A malison on them! I have not hidden myself in Pompeii, as I said I should; first because of the weather, which has been abominable, and secondly because I get a letter from Octavian every day, asking me to take a hand in affairs, to come to Capua, to save the Republic again, and anyhow to go to Rome at once. It is a case of "ashamed to shirk, but yet afraid to take." He, however, has been acting, and still is acting, with great vigour. He will come to Rome with a big army; but he is such a boy. He thinks he can call a Senate at once. Who will come? If anyone comes, who will offend Antony in this uncertainty? Perhaps he may act as a safeguard on the 1st of January, or the battle may be over before then. The country towns are wonderfully enthusiastic for the boy. For, as he was making his way to Samnium, he came to Cales and stopped at Teanum. There was a marvellous crowd to meet him and cheers for him. Should you have thought it? That will make me come to Rome sooner than I had intended. As soon as I have arranged, I will write.
Though I have not yet read the agreements—for Eros has not come yet—still I wish you would get the business settled on the 12th. It will make it easier for me to send letters to Catina, Tauromenium, and Syracuse, if Valerius the interpreter will let me know the names of the influential people. For such people vary with the times, and most of my particular friends are dead. However, I have written general letters, if Valerius will content himself with them; otherwise he must send me names.
About the holidays for Lepidus' inauguration, Balbus tells me they will last till the 29th. I am looking for a letter from you, and hope I shall hear about that little affair of Torquatus. I am sending Quintus' letter to show you how strong his affection is for the youth for whom he regrets you have so little. Please give Attica a kiss in my name for being such a merry little thing. It is the best sign in children.
Nonis accepi a te duas epistulas quarum alteram Kal. dederas, alteram pridie. igitur prius ad superiorem. nostrum opus tibi probari laetor; ex quo a)/nqh ipsa posuisti. quae mihi florentiora sunt visa tuo iudicio; cerulas enim tuas miniatulas illas extimescebam. de Sicca ita est ut scribis; <ab> asta ea aegre me tenui. itaque perstringam sine ulla contumelia Siccae aut Septimiae, tantum ut sciant ' pai=dej pai/dwn ' sine fallw=? Luciliano eum ex C. Fadi filia liberos habuisse. atque utinam eum diem videam cum ista oratio ita libere vagetur <ut> etiam in Siccae domum introeat! sed illo tempore opus est quod fuit illis iiiviris. moriar nisi facete! tu vero leges Sexto eiusque iudicium mihi perscribes. ' Ei(=j e)moi\ mu/rioi .' Caleni interventum et Calvenae cavebis. [2] quod vereris ne a)do/lesxoj mihi tu, quis minus? cui, ut Aristophani Archilochi iambus, sic epistula <tua> longissima quaeque optima videtur. quod me admones, tu vero etiam si reprenderes, non modo facile paterer sed etiam laetarer, quippe cum in reprensione sit prudentia cum eu)menei/a? . ita libenter ea corrigam quae a te animadversa sunt, 'eodem iure quo Rubriana' potius quam 'quo Scipionis,' et de laudibus Dolabellae deruam cumulum. ac tamen est isto loco bella, ut mihi videtur, ei)rwnai/a , quod eum ter contra civis in acie. illud etiam malo 'indignissimum est hunc vivere' quam 'quid indignius?' [3] Peplografi/an Varronis tibi probari non moleste fero; a quo adhuc (Hraklei/deion illud non abstuli. quod me hortaris ad scribendum, amice tu quidem, sed me scito agere nihil aliud. gravedo tua mihi molesta est. quaeso, adhibe quam soles diligentiam. 'O Tite' tibi prodesse laetor. 'Anagnini' sunt mustela tacia/rxhj et Laco qui plurimum bibit. Librum quem rogas perpoliam et mittam. [4] haec ad posteriorem. ta\ peri\ tou= kaqh/kontoj quatenus Panaetius, absolvi duobus. illius tres sunt; sed cum initio divisisset ita, tria genera exquirendi offici esse, unum, cum deliberemus honestum an turpe sit, alterum, utile an inutile, tertium, cum haec inter se pugnare videantur, quo modo iudicandum sit, qualis causa Reguli, redire honestum, manere utile, de duobus primis praeclare disseruit, de tertio pollicetur se deinceps sed nihil scripsit. Eum locum Posidonius persecutus <est>. ego autem et eius librum arcessivi et ad Athenodorum Calvum scripsi ut ad me ta\ kefa\laia mitteret; quae exspecto. quem velim cohortere et roges ut quam primum. in eo est peri\ tou= kata\ peri/stasin kaqh/kontoj . quod de inscriptione quaeris, non dubito quin kaqh=kon 'officium' sit, nisi quid tu aliud; sed inscriptio plenior 'de officiis.' Prosfwnw= autem Ciceroni filio. visum est non a)noi/keion . [5] de Myrtilo dilucide. O qualis tu semper istos! itane? in D. Brutum? di istis! [6] ego me, ut scripseram, in Pompeianum non abdidi primo tempestatibus quibus nil taetrius; deinde ab Octaviano cotidie litterae ut negotium susciperem, Capuam venirem, iterum rem publicam servarem, Romam utique statim. ai)/desqen me\n a)nh/nasqai, dei=san d' u(pode/xqai. is tamen egit sane strenue et agit. Romam veniet cum manu magna, sed est plane puer. putat senatum statim. quis veniet? si venerit, quis incertis rebus offendet Antonium? Kal. Ianuar. erit fortasse praesidio aut quidem ante depugnabitur. puero municipia mire favent. iter enim faciens in Samnium venit cales, mansit Teani. mirifica a)pa/nthsij et cohortatio. hoc tu putares? ob hoc ego citius Romam quam constitueram. simul et constituero scribam. [7] etsi nondum stipulationes legeram (nec enim Eros venerat), tamen rem pridie Idus velim conficias. epistulas Catinam, Tauromenium, Syracusas commodius mittere potero si Valerius interpres ad me nomina gratiosorum scripserit. Alii enim sunt alias, nostrique familiares fere demortui. publice tamen scripsi, si uti vellet eis Valerius; aut mihi nomina mitteret. [8] de Lepidianis feriis Balbus ad me usque ad iii Kal. Exspectabo tuas litteras meque <de> Torquati negotiolo sciturum puto. Quinti litteras ad te misi ut scires quam valde eum amaret quem dolet a te minus amari. Atticae, quoniam, quod optimum in pueris est, hilarula est, meis verbis suavium des volo.
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On the Nones I received two letters from you, one of which you had posted on the Kalends, the other the day before. So first, to the earlier one. I am delighted that my work meets with your approval; from it you set down the very gems themselves [alethe, the truest passages], which seemed to me all the brighter for your judgment of them - for I was dreading those little vermilion pencils of yours. About Sicca it is just as you write; I could scarcely restrain myself from a furious assault on that matter. So I will deal with it glancingly, without any insult to Sicca or Septimia, only enough that people may know - 'children's children' [paides paidon], without any Lucilian lampoon - that Antony had children by the daughter of Gaius Fadius. And I only wish I may see the day when that speech [the Second Philippic] roams abroad so freely that it even makes its way into Sicca's house! But for that we need the kind of moment those triumvirs once had. I'll be damned if that wasn't a clever stroke! As for you, do read it to Sextus and write me out his verdict in full. 'For me one man is as good as ten thousand' [Heis emoi myrioi]. Be on your guard against the intrusion of Calenus and of Calvena.
As for your fear that I find you a chatterbox [adoleskhes] - who is less so? To me, just as the iambics of Archilochus were to Aristophanes, so each of your letters seems best the longer it is. As for your admonishing me - why, even if you were finding fault with me I would not only bear it easily but actually rejoice in it, seeing that in your fault-finding there is good sense together with goodwill [eumeneia]. So I will gladly correct the things you have noticed: 'by the same right as the property of Rubrius' rather than 'as that of Scipio,' and I will scrape off the heap from my praises of Dolabella. And yet at that point there is, as it seems to me, a pretty irony [eironeia] in the fact that he three times took the field against his fellow-citizens. This too I prefer: 'it is most outrageous that this man should be alive' rather than 'what is more outrageous?'
That Varro's Peplography [Peplographia] meets with your approval does not distress me; from him I have so far not extracted that work in the manner of Heraclides [the Herakleideion]. As for your urging me to write - that is friendly of you, but know that I am doing nothing else. Your cold is a worry to me. Please apply the care you usually do. I am glad my 'O Titus' [the Cato Maior, or On Old Age, addressed to Atticus] is doing you good. The 'men of Anagnia' are Mustela, the gang-captain [taxiarches], and Laco, who drinks the most. The book you ask for I will polish thoroughly and send.
Now to the later letter. The work on Duty [ta peri tou kathekontos], so far as Panaetius is concerned, I have completed in two books. His are three; but although at the outset he had divided the matter thus - that there are three kinds of inquiry into duty: one, when we deliberate whether a thing is honorable or base; a second, whether it is useful or useless; a third, when these two seem to conflict with each other, how judgment is to be made, as in the case of Regulus, where to return was honorable, to remain useful - he discoursed splendidly on the first two, but on the third he promises he will do so in turn, yet wrote nothing. Posidonius pursued that topic. I, for my part, have both sent for his book and written to Athenodorus Calvus to send me the main headings [ta kephalaia], which I am awaiting. I should be glad if you would urge him on and ask him to do it as soon as possible. In it is the subject of duty according to circumstance [peri tou kata peristasin kathekontos]. As for your question about the title, I do not doubt that kathekon is 'officium' [duty], unless you have some other view; but the fuller title is 'On Duties' [De Officiis]. And I am dedicating it to my son Cicero. It seemed not inappropriate [anoikeion].
About Myrtilus, crystal clear. Oh, how you always handle those people! Is it so? Against Decimus Brutus? The gods take them! As I had written, I did not at first bury myself in my Pompeian villa, on account of storms than which nothing could be fouler; then there came daily letters from Octavian, that I should take up the cause, come to Capua, save the Republic once again, and in any case come to Rome at once. 'They were ashamed to refuse, yet afraid to accept' [aidesthen men anenasthai, deisan d' hypodexthai]. He, however, has acted with real energy and is still acting. He will come to Rome with a great force, but he is plainly a boy. He thinks the Senate will meet at once. Who will come? If he does come, who in such an uncertain state of things will offend Antony? On the Kalends of January he will perhaps be a protection - or indeed the matter will be fought out before then. The country towns are wonderfully in the boy's favor. For, making his way into Samnium, he came to Cales and stayed at Teanum. The reception and the rallying of support were marvelous. Would you have supposed it? For this reason I shall come to Rome sooner than I had decided. As soon as I have fixed it, I will write.
Although I had not yet read the stipulations (for Eros had not come), still I should like you to settle the business on the day before the Ides. I shall be able to send letters to Catina, Tauromenium, and Syracuse more conveniently if Valerius the interpreter writes me the names of the influential men. For different men hold sway at different times, and our own friends there are mostly dead. Still, I have written in general terms, in case Valerius should wish to use those letters; otherwise let him send me the names.
About the Lepidian holidays Balbus writes to me that they last right up to the third day before the Kalends. I shall await your letter, and I think I shall learn about Torquatus' little piece of business. I have sent you Quintus' letter so that you might know how strongly he loves the man whom he is grieved that you love less. To Attica, since - what is the best thing in children - she is a cheerful little soul, I want you to give a kiss in my words.
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
Nonis accepi a te duas epistulas quarum alteram Kal. dederas, alteram pridie. igitur prius ad superiorem. nostrum opus tibi probari laetor; ex quo a)/nqh ipsa posuisti. quae mihi florentiora sunt visa tuo iudicio; cerulas enim tuas miniatulas illas extimescebam. de Sicca ita est ut scribis; <ab> asta ea aegre me tenui. itaque perstringam sine ulla contumelia Siccae aut Septimiae, tantum ut sciant ' pai=dej pai/dwn ' sine fallw=? Luciliano eum ex C. Fadi filia liberos habuisse. atque utinam eum diem videam cum ista oratio ita libere vagetur <ut> etiam in Siccae domum introeat! sed illo tempore opus est quod fuit illis iiiviris. moriar nisi facete! tu vero leges Sexto eiusque iudicium mihi perscribes. ' Ei(=j e)moi\ mu/rioi .' Caleni interventum et Calvenae cavebis. [2] quod vereris ne a)do/lesxoj mihi tu, quis minus? cui, ut Aristophani Archilochi iambus, sic epistula <tua> longissima quaeque optima videtur. quod me admones, tu vero etiam si reprenderes, non modo facile paterer sed etiam laetarer, quippe cum in reprensione sit prudentia cum eu)menei/a? . ita libenter ea corrigam quae a te animadversa sunt, 'eodem iure quo Rubriana' potius quam 'quo Scipionis,' et de laudibus Dolabellae deruam cumulum. ac tamen est isto loco bella, ut mihi videtur, ei)rwnai/a , quod eum ter contra civis in acie. illud etiam malo 'indignissimum est hunc vivere' quam 'quid indignius?' [3] Peplografi/an Varronis tibi probari non moleste fero; a quo adhuc (Hraklei/deion illud non abstuli. quod me hortaris ad scribendum, amice tu quidem, sed me scito agere nihil aliud. gravedo tua mihi molesta est. quaeso, adhibe quam soles diligentiam. 'O Tite' tibi prodesse laetor. 'Anagnini' sunt mustela tacia/rxhj et Laco qui plurimum bibit. Librum quem rogas perpoliam et mittam. [4] haec ad posteriorem. ta\ peri\ tou= kaqh/kontoj quatenus Panaetius, absolvi duobus. illius tres sunt; sed cum initio divisisset ita, tria genera exquirendi offici esse, unum, cum deliberemus honestum an turpe sit, alterum, utile an inutile, tertium, cum haec inter se pugnare videantur, quo modo iudicandum sit, qualis causa Reguli, redire honestum, manere utile, de duobus primis praeclare disseruit, de tertio pollicetur se deinceps sed nihil scripsit. Eum locum Posidonius persecutus <est>. ego autem et eius librum arcessivi et ad Athenodorum Calvum scripsi ut ad me ta\ kefa\laia mitteret; quae exspecto. quem velim cohortere et roges ut quam primum. in eo est peri\ tou= kata\ peri/stasin kaqh/kontoj . quod de inscriptione quaeris, non dubito quin kaqh=kon 'officium' sit, nisi quid tu aliud; sed inscriptio plenior 'de officiis.' Prosfwnw= autem Ciceroni filio. visum est non a)noi/keion . [5] de Myrtilo dilucide. O qualis tu semper istos! itane? in D. Brutum? di istis! [6] ego me, ut scripseram, in Pompeianum non abdidi primo tempestatibus quibus nil taetrius; deinde ab Octaviano cotidie litterae ut negotium susciperem, Capuam venirem, iterum rem publicam servarem, Romam utique statim. ai)/desqen me\n a)nh/nasqai, dei=san d' u(pode/xqai. is tamen egit sane strenue et agit. Romam veniet cum manu magna, sed est plane puer. putat senatum statim. quis veniet? si venerit, quis incertis rebus offendet Antonium? Kal. Ianuar. erit fortasse praesidio aut quidem ante depugnabitur. puero municipia mire favent. iter enim faciens in Samnium venit cales, mansit Teani. mirifica a)pa/nthsij et cohortatio. hoc tu putares? ob hoc ego citius Romam quam constitueram. simul et constituero scribam. [7] etsi nondum stipulationes legeram (nec enim Eros venerat), tamen rem pridie Idus velim conficias. epistulas Catinam, Tauromenium, Syracusas commodius mittere potero si Valerius interpres ad me nomina gratiosorum scripserit. Alii enim sunt alias, nostrique familiares fere demortui. publice tamen scripsi, si uti vellet eis Valerius; aut mihi nomina mitteret. [8] de Lepidianis feriis Balbus ad me usque ad iii Kal. Exspectabo tuas litteras meque <de> Torquati negotiolo sciturum puto. Quinti litteras ad te misi ut scires quam valde eum amaret quem dolet a te minus amari. Atticae, quoniam, quod optimum in pueris est, hilarula est, meis verbis suavium des volo.