Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 60 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
Whenever I praise one of your intimate friends to you, I shall want him to learn from you that I did so, as you know I lately wrote to you about Varro's good service toward me, and you wrote back to me that the matter was a source of the greatest pleasure to you. But I should have preferred that you had written to him that he satisfies me well enough—not because he really did so, but in order that he might do so; for he is, as you know, marvelously eccentric in his ways, "twisting and turning, and nothing [straightforward]—." But for our part we hold fast to that precept, "the ways of those in power [one must endure]—." Yet, by Hercules, that other intimate friend of yours, Hortalus, with how full a hand, how frankly, how eloquently he lifted our praises to the stars, when he spoke about Flaccus's praetorship and about that time of the Allobroges! Take it as certain that nothing could have been said with more affection, more honor, or more abundance. I really do want you to write to him that this was reported to you by me. [2] But what would you write back? For I now think you are coming and are at hand; for so I arranged matters with you in my earlier letter. I look for you eagerly, I long for you intensely—and not more than the situation itself and the times demand. About these affairs what should I write to you except the same thing I have often written? In public affairs there is nothing more hopeless; toward those by whose doing this came about, nothing is held in greater hatred. We, as our judgment and hope and conjecture incline, are fortified by the most steadfast goodwill of men. So fly to us; either you will free us from all distress or you will share in it. I am the briefer for this reason, because, as I hope, in a short time we shall be able to confer face to face about the things we wish. Take care to keep well. Cicero
When I write to you praising any of your friends, I wish you would let them know I have done so. For example, I mentioned in a letter lately Varro’s kindness to me, and you answered that you were delighted to hear it. But I had much rather you had written to him saying he was doing all I wished—not
that he was, but to make him do it. For, as you know, he is an odd creature, “all tortuous thoughts and no—”. But I hold to the maxim, “A great man’s follies.” However, your other friend, Hortalus, most certainly lauded me to the skies in the most liberal, open-hearted and elaborate manner, when he was delivering a speech on Flaccus’ praetorship and that incident of the Allobroges. You may take my word for it that he could not have expressed himself in more affectionate and laudatory terms, nor more fully. I should much like you to write and tell him that I sent you word of it. But I hope you won’t have to write, and are now on your way and quite close after the appeals in my former letter. I am eagerly looking out for you, and in sore need of you: and circumstances and the times call for you as much as I do.
On these affairs I have nothing new to say: the country is in the most desperate position possible, and nothing could exceed the unpopularity of those who are responsible for it. I myself, as I think, hope and imagine, am safeguarded by the staunchest support. So hasten your coming: you will either relieve all my cares or share them with me. If I am rather brief, it is because I hope that I may soon be able to discuss anything I wish with you face to face. Take care of yourself.
Cum aliquem apud te laudaro tuorum familiarium, volam illum scire ex te me id fecisse, ut nuper me scis scripsisse ad te de Varronis erga me officio, te ad me rescripsisse eam rem summae tibi voluptati esse. sed ego mallem ad illum scripsisses mihi illum satis facere, non quo faceret sed ut faceret; mirabiliter enim moratus est sicut nosti, helikta kai ouden—. sed nos tenemus praeceptum illud tas ton kratounton—. at hercule alter tuus familiaris Hortalus quam plena manu, quam ingenue, quam ornate nostras laudes in astra sustulit, cum de Flacci praetura et de illo tempore Allobrogum diceret! sic habeto nec amantius nec honorificentius nec copiosius potuisse dici. ei te hoc scribere a me tibi esse missum sane volo. [2] sed quid tu scribas? quem iam ego venire atque adesse arbitror; ita enim egi tecum superioribus litteris. valde te exspecto, valde desidero neque ego magis quam ipsa res et tempus poscit. his de negotiis quid scribam ad te nisi idem quod saepe? re publica nihil desperatius, iis quorum opera nihil maiore odio. nos, ut opinio et spes et coniectura nostra fert, firmissima benevolentia hominum muniti sumus. qua re advola; aut expedies nos omni molestia aut eris particeps. ideo sum brevior quod, ut spero, coram brevi tempore conferre quae volumus licebit. cura ut valeas. Cicero
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Whenever I praise one of your intimate friends to you, I shall want him to learn from you that I did so, as you know I lately wrote to you about Varro's good service toward me, and you wrote back to me that the matter was a source of the greatest pleasure to you. But I should have preferred that you had written to him that he satisfies me well enough—not because he really did so, but in order that he might do so; for he is, as you know, marvelously eccentric in his ways, "twisting and turning, and nothing [straightforward]—." But for our part we hold fast to that precept, "the ways of those in power [one must endure]—." Yet, by Hercules, that other intimate friend of yours, Hortalus, with how full a hand, how frankly, how eloquently he lifted our praises to the stars, when he spoke about Flaccus's praetorship and about that time of the Allobroges! Take it as certain that nothing could have been said with more affection, more honor, or more abundance. I really do want you to write to him that this was reported to you by me. [2] But what would you write back? For I now think you are coming and are at hand; for so I arranged matters with you in my earlier letter. I look for you eagerly, I long for you intensely—and not more than the situation itself and the times demand. About these affairs what should I write to you except the same thing I have often written? In public affairs there is nothing more hopeless; toward those by whose doing this came about, nothing is held in greater hatred. We, as our judgment and hope and conjecture incline, are fortified by the most steadfast goodwill of men. So fly to us; either you will free us from all distress or you will share in it. I am the briefer for this reason, because, as I hope, in a short time we shall be able to confer face to face about the things we wish. Take care to keep well. Cicero
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
Cum aliquem apud te laudaro tuorum familiarium, volam illum scire ex te me id fecisse, ut nuper me scis scripsisse ad te de Varronis erga me officio, te ad me rescripsisse eam rem summae tibi voluptati esse. sed ego mallem ad illum scripsisses mihi illum satis facere, non quo faceret sed ut faceret; mirabiliter enim moratus est sicut nosti, helikta kai ouden—. sed nos tenemus praeceptum illud tas ton kratounton—. at hercule alter tuus familiaris Hortalus quam plena manu, quam ingenue, quam ornate nostras laudes in astra sustulit, cum de Flacci praetura et de illo tempore Allobrogum diceret! sic habeto nec amantius nec honorificentius nec copiosius potuisse dici. ei te hoc scribere a me tibi esse missum sane volo. [2] sed quid tu scribas? quem iam ego venire atque adesse arbitror; ita enim egi tecum superioribus litteris. valde te exspecto, valde desidero neque ego magis quam ipsa res et tempus poscit. his de negotiis quid scribam ad te nisi idem quod saepe? re publica nihil desperatius, iis quorum opera nihil maiore odio. nos, ut opinio et spes et coniectura nostra fert, firmissima benevolentia hominum muniti sumus. qua re advola; aut expedies nos omni molestia aut eris particeps. ideo sum brevior quod, ut spero, coram brevi tempore conferre quae volumus licebit. cura ut valeas. Cicero