Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 43 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
I have sent you a copy of Oppius' letter, because it was extremely gracious. As for Ocella, since you keep dithering and write nothing back to me, I have made up my own mind, and so I expect to be in Rome on the day before the Ides. It seemed more convenient to be there to no purpose, when there was no need, than not to be on hand if there should be a need; and at the same time I was afraid of being cut off. For he [Antony] may now be drawing near. Even so, there are various rumors, and many that I should like to be true, yet nothing certain. For my part, whatever the situation is, I would rather be with you than be left anxious in mind, when I am away from you, both on your account and on my own. But what am I to say to you? Keep up your courage. As for Varro's affairs in the manner of Heracleides [peri Herakleideiou: "on the Heracleidean," referring to a literary work in the style of Heraclides of Pontus], it is a delicious business. Indeed nothing ever delighted me so. But of this and of weightier matters in person.
I am sending you a copy of Oppius' letter, because it is so very
courteous. About Ocella, while you are messing about and not writing me
a line, I have consulted my own wits, and so I think I shall be in Rome
on the 12th. I think it better for me to come there to no purpose, even
if it is not necessary, than not to be there if it is, and at the same
time I am afraid of being shut in there. For Antony may always be
getting near. However, there are plenty of different rumours, which I
hope may be true; there is no definite news. For my part, whatever it
may be, I would rather be with you, than be in suspense both about you
and about myself, when I am away from you. But what am I to say to you?
Keep up your heart. About Varro's work in Heracleides' vein, that's an
amusing business. I was never so pleased with anything. But of this and
more important things when we meet.
Oppi epistulae, quia perhumana erat, tibi misi exemplum. de Ocella, dum tu muginaris nec mihi quicquam rescribis, cepi consilium domesticum itaque me pr. Idus arbitror Romae futurum. Commodius est visum frustra me istic t esse, cum id non necesse esset, quam, si opus esset, non adesse, et simul ne intercluderer metuebam. ille enim iam adventare potest. etsi varii rumores multique quos cuperem veros, nihil tamen certi. ego vero, quicquid est, tecum potius quam animi pendeam, cum a te absim, et de te et de me. sed quid tibi dicam? bonum animum. de (Hrakleidei/w? Varronis negotia salsa. me quidem nihil umquam sic delectavit. sed haec et alia maiora coram.
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I have sent you a copy of Oppius' letter, because it was extremely gracious. As for Ocella, since you keep dithering and write nothing back to me, I have made up my own mind, and so I expect to be in Rome on the day before the Ides. It seemed more convenient to be there to no purpose, when there was no need, than not to be on hand if there should be a need; and at the same time I was afraid of being cut off. For he [Antony] may now be drawing near. Even so, there are various rumors, and many that I should like to be true, yet nothing certain. For my part, whatever the situation is, I would rather be with you than be left anxious in mind, when I am away from you, both on your account and on my own. But what am I to say to you? Keep up your courage. As for Varro's affairs in the manner of Heracleides [peri Herakleideiou: "on the Heracleidean," referring to a literary work in the style of Heraclides of Pontus], it is a delicious business. Indeed nothing ever delighted me so. But of this and of weightier matters in person.
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
Oppi epistulae, quia perhumana erat, tibi misi exemplum. de Ocella, dum tu muginaris nec mihi quicquam rescribis, cepi consilium domesticum itaque me pr. Idus arbitror Romae futurum. Commodius est visum frustra me istic t esse, cum id non necesse esset, quam, si opus esset, non adesse, et simul ne intercluderer metuebam. ille enim iam adventare potest. etsi varii rumores multique quos cuperem veros, nihil tamen certi. ego vero, quicquid est, tecum potius quam animi pendeam, cum a te absim, et de te et de me. sed quid tibi dicam? bonum animum. de (Hrakleidei/w? Varronis negotia salsa. me quidem nihil umquam sic delectavit. sed haec et alia maiora coram.