Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 56 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
As soon as I reached Rome and there was someone to whom I could safely entrust a letter to you, I thought nothing should be done before congratulating you, absent though you are, on my return. For I had come to understand—to write you the truth—that in giving me advice you were neither braver nor more prudent than I was myself, nor even, considering my past attentiveness toward you, especially careful in guarding my safety; and yet that you, who in the early days of my error—or rather my madness—had been a partner in it and a comrade in my groundless fear, took our separation most bitterly, and devoted the greatest effort, zeal, diligence, and labor to accomplishing my return.
[2] And so I assure you sincerely of this: that amid the greatest joy and the most longed-for congratulations, one thing alone was wanting to crown my happiness—the sight of you, or rather your embrace. Once I have got hold of that, if I ever let it go again, and if I do not exact in full even all the neglected fruits of your delightful company from the time gone by, then assuredly I shall judge myself not worthy enough of this restoration of my fortunes.
[3] As for me, so far—in the matter of my position that I had thought could most hardly be recovered—I have attained my old distinction in the courts, my authority in the Senate, and my standing with the loyal men [boni], more than I had hoped for. But in my private estate—how it has been shattered, scattered, and plundered you are well aware—I am in great difficulty, and I stand in need not so much of your resources, which I consider my own, as of your counsel, to gather up and set in order what remains of my fortune.
[4] Now, although I suppose that everything has either been written to you by your people, or even carried to you by messengers and rumor, still I will write briefly of those things which I think you would most of all wish to learn from my own letters. On the day before the Nones of August [August 4] I set out from Dyrrachium, on that very day on which the law about me was passed. I came to Brundisium on the Nones of August [August 5]. There my dear little Tullia was waiting for me, on her very birthday, which happened also to be the birthday of the colony of Brundisium and of the temple of Safety [Salus] next to your house—a coincidence that was noticed by the crowd and celebrated with the greatest rejoicing by the people of Brundisium. On the third day before the Ides of August [August 11], while I was at Brundisium, I learned by a letter from Quintus that, amid the wonderful enthusiasm of all ages and ranks and an incredible throng of all Italy, the law had been passed in the centuriate assembly [comitia centuriata]. From there, honored most splendidly by the people of Brundisium, I made my journey in such a way that deputations gathered to me from every quarter with congratulations.
[5] I came to the city in such a manner that there was no man of any rank known to the name-caller [nomenclator] who did not come out to meet me, except those enemies who could not even disguise or deny the fact that they were enemies. When I had come to the Capene Gate, the steps of the temples were filled by the common people of the lowest sort. By them congratulations were signified to me with the loudest applause, and a like throng and like applause attended me all the way to the Capitol, and in the Forum and on the Capitol itself there was a marvelous multitude.
[6] On the next day, in the Senate—which was the day of the Nones of September [September 5]—I gave thanks to the Senate. In those two days, when there was the highest dearness of grain, and people had rushed first to the theater and then to the Senate, crying out at Clodius's instigation that the scarcity of grain was my doing—since during those days the Senate was meeting about the grain supply, and Pompey was being called upon, by the talk not only of the common people but also of the loyal men [boni], to take charge of it, and he himself desired this, and the crowd was demanding by name that I should propose it—I did so, and delivered my opinion carefully. Since the ex-consuls were absent, because they said they could not safely deliver an opinion, except for Messalla and Afranius, a decree of the Senate was passed in accordance with my motion: that arrangements should be made with Pompey to undertake the matter and that a law should be brought forward. When this decree of the Senate had been read out, and the people, after this tasteless new fashion, gave applause at the reading of my name, I held a public meeting [contio]. All the magistrates present granted it, except one praetor and two tribunes of the plebs. On the next day a crowded Senate, and all the ex-consuls, refused Pompey nothing he asked. When he asked for fifteen legates, he named me first, and said that in all things I would be his second self.
The consuls drew up a law by which all authority over the grain supply throughout the whole world would be given to Pompey for five years; Messius drew up another, which gives him control of all the public money, and adds a fleet and an army and a greater command [imperium] in the provinces than that of the men who govern them. That law of ours, the consular one, now seems modest; this one of Messius's is not to be borne. Pompey says he wants the former; his intimates, the latter. The ex-consuls, led by Favonius, grumble; I keep silent, all the more because the pontiffs have so far given no answer about my house. If they remove the religious objection, I shall have a splendid plot; the consuls, in accordance with the decree of the Senate, will assess the value of the building; but if otherwise, they will demolish it, lease it out in their own name, and assess the whole matter.
[8] So my affairs stand: in prosperity, fluid; in adversity, sound. In my private estate I am, as you know, gravely disturbed. Besides, there are certain domestic matters which I do not commit to a letter. My brother [Quintus], endowed with remarkable devotion, virtue, and loyalty, I love as I ought. I await you, and I beg you to hasten your coming, and to come with such a spirit that you do not allow me to be in want of your counsel. We are beginning, as it were, the start of a second life. Already certain men who defended me while I was absent are beginning, now that I am present, to be secretly angry and openly envious. I have urgent need of you.
As soon as I reached Rome and there was anyone to whom I could safely entrust a letter to you, my first thought was to write and thank you for my return, since you are not here to receive my thanks. For I grasped, to tell you the truth, that though in the advice you gave me you showed yourself no wiser and no braver than myself, and indeed, considering my past attentions to you, you were none too energetic in defence of my honour, still, though at first you shared my mistake or rather my madness and my unnecessary fright, it was you who took my exile most to heart and contributed most energy, zeal and perseverance in bringing about my return. And so I can assure you that in the midst of great rejoicing and the most gratifying congratulations, one thing was lacking to fill the cup of my happiness, the sight of you or rather your embrace. When once I have obtained that, I shall certainly think myself undeserving of this renewal of good fortune, if ever I let you go again, and if I do not exact to the full all arrears in the enjoyment of your pleasant society.
As regards my political position, I have attained what I thought would be the hardest thing to recover—my distinction at the Bar, my authority in the House and more popularity with the sound party than I desire. But you know how my private property has been crippled, dissipated, plundered. I
am in great difficulties with it and stand in need not so much of your means, which I know I can look upon as my own, as of your advice to gather the fragments together and arrange matters.
Now, though I suppose you have had all the news from your family or from messengers and rumour, I will give you a short account of everything I think you would rather learn from my letters. On the 4th of August, the very day the law about me was proposed, I started from Dyrrachium, and arrived at Brundisium on the 5th. There my little Tullia was waiting for me, on her own birthday, which; as it happened, was the commemoration day of Brundisium and of the temple of Safety near your house too. The coincidence was noticed and the people of Brundisium held great celebrations. On the 8th of August, while I was still at Brundisium, I heard from Quintus that the law had been passed in the Comitia Centuriata with extraordinary enthusiasm of all ages and ranks in Italy who had flocked to Rome in thousands. Then I started on my journey amid the rejoicings of all the loyal folk of Brundisium, and was met everywhere by deputations offering congratulations. When I came near the city, there was not a soul of any class known to my attendant, who did not come to meet me, except those enemies who could neither hide nor deny their enmity. When I reached the Capenan Gate, the steps of the temples were thronged with the populace. Their joy was exhibited in loud applause: a similar crowd accompanied me with like applause to the Capitol, and in the Forum and on the very Capitol there was an extraordinary gathering.
Next day, on the 5th of September, I returned thanks to the Senate in the House. On those two days bread was very dear and crowds ran first to the theatre and then to the House, crying out at Clodius’ instigation that the dearth of corn was my fault. On the same days there were meetings of the House about the corn supply and Pompey was called upon by poor and rich alike to take the matter in hand. He was more than willing; and the people asked me by name to propose it: so I delivered my opinion carefully. As the ex-consuls, except Messalla and Afranius, were absent, thinking it was not safe to record a vote, a decree was passed in accordance with my proposal that Pompey should be appealed to take the matter in hand and a law should be passed. When this bill was read out, the people received the mention of my name with applause after the new silly fashion: and I delivered an harangue, with the permission of all the magistrates present, except one praetor and two tribunes. On the next day there was a full House and all the ex-consuls were willing to grant Pompey anything. He asked for a committee of fifteen, naming me at the head of them and saying that I should count as his second self in everything. The consuls drew up a law giving Pompey the direction of the whole corn supply in the world for five years: Messius another granting him the control of the treasury, and adding an army and a fleet and higher powers than those of the local officials in the provinces. The law we ex-consuls proposed is regarded now as quite moderate, this
of Messius as perfectly intolerable. Pompey says he prefers the former; his friends that he prefers the latter. Favonius is leading the consular party who rebel against it, while I hold my peace, especially as the pontifices at present have given no answer about my house. If they annul the consecration, I shall have a splendid site. The consuls will value the building according to the decree of the Senate; if not, they will pull it down, lease it out in their own name, and reckon up the whole cost.
So my affairs are
My monetary affairs, as you know, are in an awful muddle: and there are some private matters which I won’t commit to writing. I am devoted to my brother Quintus as his extraordinary affection, virtue and loyalty deserve. I am looking forward to your coming and beg you to come soon, and to come resolved to give me the full benefit of your advice. I am standing at the threshold of a new life. Already those who took my part in my exile are beginning to feel annoyance at my presence, though they disguise it, and to envy me without even taking the trouble to disguise that. I really stand in urgent need of you.
Cum primum Romam veni fuitque cui recte ad te litteras darem, nihil prius faciendum mihi putavi quam ut tibi absenti de reditu nostro gratularer. cognoram enim, ut vere scribam, te in consiliis mihi dandis nec fortiorem nec prudentiorem quam me ipsum nec etiam pro praeterita mea in te observantia nimium in custodia salutis meae diligentem eundemque te, qui primis temporibus erroris nostri aut potius furoris particeps et falsi timoris socius fuisses, acerbissime discidium nostrum tulisse plurimumque operae, studi, diligentiae, laboris ad conficiendum reditum meum contulisse. [2] itaque hoc tibi vere adfirmo, in maxima laetitia et exoptatissima gratulatione unum ad cumulandum gaudium conspectum aut potius complexum mihi tuum defuisse. quem semel nactus si umquam dimisero ac nisi etiam praetermissos fructus tuae suavitatis praeteriti temporis omnis exegero, profecto hac restitutione fortunae me ipse non satis dignum iudicabo. [3] nos adhuc, in nostro statu quod difficillime reciperari posse arbitrati sumus, splendorem nostrum illum forensem et in senatu auctoritatem et apud viros bonos gratiam magis quam optaramus consecuti sumus; in re autem familiari, quae quem ad modum fracta, dissipata, direpta sit non ignoras, valde laboramus tuarumque non tam facultatum quas ego nostras esse iudico quam consiliorum ad conligendas et constituendas reliquias nostras indigemus. [4] nunc etsi omnia aut scripta esse a tuis arbitror aut etiam nuntiis ac rumore perlata, tamen ea scribam brevi quae te puto potissimum ex meis litteris velle cognoscere. Pr. Nonas Sextilis Dyrrachio sum profectus ipso illo die quo lex est lata de nobis. Brundisium veni Nonis Sextilibus. ibi mihi Tulliola mea fuit praesto natali suo ipso die qui casu idem natalis erat et Brundisinae coloniae et tuae vicinae salutis; quae res animadversa a multitudine summa Brundinisorum gratulatione celebrata est. ante diem iii Idus Sextilis cognovi, quom Brundisi essem, litteris Quinti mirifico studio omnium aetatum atque ordinum, incredibili concursu Italiae legem comitiis centuriatis esse perlatam. Inde a Brundisinis honestissime ornatus iter ita feci ut undique ad me cum gratulatione legati convenerint. [5] ad urbem ita veni ut nemo ullius ordinis homo nomenclatori notus fuerit qui mihi obviam non venerit, praeter eos inimicos quibus id ipsum, se inimicos esse, non liceret aut dissimulare aut negare. Cum venissem ad portam Capenam, gradus templorum ab infima plebe completi erant. A qua plausu maximo cum esset mihi gratulatio significata, similis et frequentia et plausus me usque ad Capitolium celebravit in foroque et in ipso Capitolio miranda multitudo fuit. [6] postridie in senatu qui fuit dies Nonarum Septembr. senatui gratias egimus. eo biduo cum esset annonae summa caritas et homines ad theatrum primo, deinde ad senatum concurrissent, impulsu Clodi mea opera frumenti inopiam esse clamarent, cum per eos dies senatus de annona haberetur et ad eius procurationem sermone non solum plebis verum etiam bonorum Pompeius vocaretur idque ipse cuperet multitudoque a me nominatim ut id decernerem postularet, feci et accurate sententiam dixi. Cum abessent consulares, quod tuto se negarent posse sententiam dicere, praeter Messallam et Afranium, factum est senatus consultum in meam sententiam, ut cum Pompeio ageretur ut eam rem susciperet lexque ferretur. quo senatus consulto recitato cum (populus) more hoc insulso et novo plausum meo nomine recitando dedisset, habui contionem. omnes magistratus praesentes praeter unum praetorem et duos tribunos pl. dederunt. postridie senatus frequens et omnes consulares nihil Pompeio postulanti negarunt. ille legatos quindecim cum postularet, me principem nominavit et ad omnia me alterum se fore dixit. legem consules conscripserunt qua Pompeio per quinquennium omnis potestas rei frumentariae toto orbe terrarum daretur, alteram Messius qui omnis pecuniae dat potestatem et adiungit classem et exercitum et maius imperium in provinciis quam sit eorum qui eas obtineant. illa nostra lex consularis nunc modesta videtur, haec messi non ferenda. Pompeius illam velle se dicit, familiares hanc. consulares duce Favonio fremunt; nos tacemus et eo magis quod de domo nostra nihil adhuc pontifices responderunt. qui si sustulerint religionem, aream praeclaram habebimus; superficiem consules ex senatus consulto aestimabunt; sin aliter, +demolientur, suo+ nomine locabunt, rem totam aestimabunt. [8] ita sunt res nostrae, Vt in secundis fluxae, ut in advorsis bonae. in re familiari valde sumus, ut scis, perturbati. praeterea sunt quaedam domestica quae litteris non committo. quin tum fratrem insigni pietate, virtute, fide praeditum sic amo ut debeo. te exspecto et oro ut matures venire eoque animo venias ut me tuo consilio egere non sinas. alterius vitae quoddam initium ordimur. iam quidam qui nos absentis defenderunt incipiunt praesentibus occulte irasci, aperte invidere. vehementer te requirimus.
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As soon as I reached Rome and there was someone to whom I could safely entrust a letter to you, I thought nothing should be done before congratulating you, absent though you are, on my return. For I had come to understand—to write you the truth—that in giving me advice you were neither braver nor more prudent than I was myself, nor even, considering my past attentiveness toward you, especially careful in guarding my safety; and yet that you, who in the early days of my error—or rather my madness—had been a partner in it and a comrade in my groundless fear, took our separation most bitterly, and devoted the greatest effort, zeal, diligence, and labor to accomplishing my return.
[2] And so I assure you sincerely of this: that amid the greatest joy and the most longed-for congratulations, one thing alone was wanting to crown my happiness—the sight of you, or rather your embrace. Once I have got hold of that, if I ever let it go again, and if I do not exact in full even all the neglected fruits of your delightful company from the time gone by, then assuredly I shall judge myself not worthy enough of this restoration of my fortunes.
[3] As for me, so far—in the matter of my position that I had thought could most hardly be recovered—I have attained my old distinction in the courts, my authority in the Senate, and my standing with the loyal men [boni], more than I had hoped for. But in my private estate—how it has been shattered, scattered, and plundered you are well aware—I am in great difficulty, and I stand in need not so much of your resources, which I consider my own, as of your counsel, to gather up and set in order what remains of my fortune.
[4] Now, although I suppose that everything has either been written to you by your people, or even carried to you by messengers and rumor, still I will write briefly of those things which I think you would most of all wish to learn from my own letters. On the day before the Nones of August [August 4] I set out from Dyrrachium, on that very day on which the law about me was passed. I came to Brundisium on the Nones of August [August 5]. There my dear little Tullia was waiting for me, on her very birthday, which happened also to be the birthday of the colony of Brundisium and of the temple of Safety [Salus] next to your house—a coincidence that was noticed by the crowd and celebrated with the greatest rejoicing by the people of Brundisium. On the third day before the Ides of August [August 11], while I was at Brundisium, I learned by a letter from Quintus that, amid the wonderful enthusiasm of all ages and ranks and an incredible throng of all Italy, the law had been passed in the centuriate assembly [comitia centuriata]. From there, honored most splendidly by the people of Brundisium, I made my journey in such a way that deputations gathered to me from every quarter with congratulations.
[5] I came to the city in such a manner that there was no man of any rank known to the name-caller [nomenclator] who did not come out to meet me, except those enemies who could not even disguise or deny the fact that they were enemies. When I had come to the Capene Gate, the steps of the temples were filled by the common people of the lowest sort. By them congratulations were signified to me with the loudest applause, and a like throng and like applause attended me all the way to the Capitol, and in the Forum and on the Capitol itself there was a marvelous multitude.
[6] On the next day, in the Senate—which was the day of the Nones of September [September 5]—I gave thanks to the Senate. In those two days, when there was the highest dearness of grain, and people had rushed first to the theater and then to the Senate, crying out at Clodius's instigation that the scarcity of grain was my doing—since during those days the Senate was meeting about the grain supply, and Pompey was being called upon, by the talk not only of the common people but also of the loyal men [boni], to take charge of it, and he himself desired this, and the crowd was demanding by name that I should propose it—I did so, and delivered my opinion carefully. Since the ex-consuls were absent, because they said they could not safely deliver an opinion, except for Messalla and Afranius, a decree of the Senate was passed in accordance with my motion: that arrangements should be made with Pompey to undertake the matter and that a law should be brought forward. When this decree of the Senate had been read out, and the people, after this tasteless new fashion, gave applause at the reading of my name, I held a public meeting [contio]. All the magistrates present granted it, except one praetor and two tribunes of the plebs. On the next day a crowded Senate, and all the ex-consuls, refused Pompey nothing he asked. When he asked for fifteen legates, he named me first, and said that in all things I would be his second self.
The consuls drew up a law by which all authority over the grain supply throughout the whole world would be given to Pompey for five years; Messius drew up another, which gives him control of all the public money, and adds a fleet and an army and a greater command [imperium] in the provinces than that of the men who govern them. That law of ours, the consular one, now seems modest; this one of Messius's is not to be borne. Pompey says he wants the former; his intimates, the latter. The ex-consuls, led by Favonius, grumble; I keep silent, all the more because the pontiffs have so far given no answer about my house. If they remove the religious objection, I shall have a splendid plot; the consuls, in accordance with the decree of the Senate, will assess the value of the building; but if otherwise, they will demolish it, lease it out in their own name, and assess the whole matter.
[8] So my affairs stand: in prosperity, fluid; in adversity, sound. In my private estate I am, as you know, gravely disturbed. Besides, there are certain domestic matters which I do not commit to a letter. My brother [Quintus], endowed with remarkable devotion, virtue, and loyalty, I love as I ought. I await you, and I beg you to hasten your coming, and to come with such a spirit that you do not allow me to be in want of your counsel. We are beginning, as it were, the start of a second life. Already certain men who defended me while I was absent are beginning, now that I am present, to be secretly angry and openly envious. I have urgent need of you.
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 primum Romam veni fuitque cui recte ad te litteras darem, nihil prius faciendum mihi putavi quam ut tibi absenti de reditu nostro gratularer. cognoram enim, ut vere scribam, te in consiliis mihi dandis nec fortiorem nec prudentiorem quam me ipsum nec etiam pro praeterita mea in te observantia nimium in custodia salutis meae diligentem eundemque te, qui primis temporibus erroris nostri aut potius furoris particeps et falsi timoris socius fuisses, acerbissime discidium nostrum tulisse plurimumque operae, studi, diligentiae, laboris ad conficiendum reditum meum contulisse. [2] itaque hoc tibi vere adfirmo, in maxima laetitia et exoptatissima gratulatione unum ad cumulandum gaudium conspectum aut potius complexum mihi tuum defuisse. quem semel nactus si umquam dimisero ac nisi etiam praetermissos fructus tuae suavitatis praeteriti temporis omnis exegero, profecto hac restitutione fortunae me ipse non satis dignum iudicabo. [3] nos adhuc, in nostro statu quod difficillime reciperari posse arbitrati sumus, splendorem nostrum illum forensem et in senatu auctoritatem et apud viros bonos gratiam magis quam optaramus consecuti sumus; in re autem familiari, quae quem ad modum fracta, dissipata, direpta sit non ignoras, valde laboramus tuarumque non tam facultatum quas ego nostras esse iudico quam consiliorum ad conligendas et constituendas reliquias nostras indigemus. [4] nunc etsi omnia aut scripta esse a tuis arbitror aut etiam nuntiis ac rumore perlata, tamen ea scribam brevi quae te puto potissimum ex meis litteris velle cognoscere. Pr. Nonas Sextilis Dyrrachio sum profectus ipso illo die quo lex est lata de nobis. Brundisium veni Nonis Sextilibus. ibi mihi Tulliola mea fuit praesto natali suo ipso die qui casu idem natalis erat et Brundisinae coloniae et tuae vicinae salutis; quae res animadversa a multitudine summa Brundinisorum gratulatione celebrata est. ante diem iii Idus Sextilis cognovi, quom Brundisi essem, litteris Quinti mirifico studio omnium aetatum atque ordinum, incredibili concursu Italiae legem comitiis centuriatis esse perlatam. Inde a Brundisinis honestissime ornatus iter ita feci ut undique ad me cum gratulatione legati convenerint. [5] ad urbem ita veni ut nemo ullius ordinis homo nomenclatori notus fuerit qui mihi obviam non venerit, praeter eos inimicos quibus id ipsum, se inimicos esse, non liceret aut dissimulare aut negare. Cum venissem ad portam Capenam, gradus templorum ab infima plebe completi erant. A qua plausu maximo cum esset mihi gratulatio significata, similis et frequentia et plausus me usque ad Capitolium celebravit in foroque et in ipso Capitolio miranda multitudo fuit. [6] postridie in senatu qui fuit dies Nonarum Septembr. senatui gratias egimus. eo biduo cum esset annonae summa caritas et homines ad theatrum primo, deinde ad senatum concurrissent, impulsu Clodi mea opera frumenti inopiam esse clamarent, cum per eos dies senatus de annona haberetur et ad eius procurationem sermone non solum plebis verum etiam bonorum Pompeius vocaretur idque ipse cuperet multitudoque a me nominatim ut id decernerem postularet, feci et accurate sententiam dixi. Cum abessent consulares, quod tuto se negarent posse sententiam dicere, praeter Messallam et Afranium, factum est senatus consultum in meam sententiam, ut cum Pompeio ageretur ut eam rem susciperet lexque ferretur. quo senatus consulto recitato cum (populus) more hoc insulso et novo plausum meo nomine recitando dedisset, habui contionem. omnes magistratus praesentes praeter unum praetorem et duos tribunos pl. dederunt. postridie senatus frequens et omnes consulares nihil Pompeio postulanti negarunt. ille legatos quindecim cum postularet, me principem nominavit et ad omnia me alterum se fore dixit. legem consules conscripserunt qua Pompeio per quinquennium omnis potestas rei frumentariae toto orbe terrarum daretur, alteram Messius qui omnis pecuniae dat potestatem et adiungit classem et exercitum et maius imperium in provinciis quam sit eorum qui eas obtineant. illa nostra lex consularis nunc modesta videtur, haec messi non ferenda. Pompeius illam velle se dicit, familiares hanc. consulares duce Favonio fremunt; nos tacemus et eo magis quod de domo nostra nihil adhuc pontifices responderunt. qui si sustulerint religionem, aream praeclaram habebimus; superficiem consules ex senatus consulto aestimabunt; sin aliter, +demolientur, suo+ nomine locabunt, rem totam aestimabunt. [8] ita sunt res nostrae, Vt in secundis fluxae, ut in advorsis bonae. in re familiari valde sumus, ut scis, perturbati. praeterea sunt quaedam domestica quae litteris non committo. quin tum fratrem insigni pietate, virtute, fide praeditum sic amo ut debeo. te exspecto et oro ut matures venire eoque animo venias ut me tuo consilio egere non sinas. alterius vitae quoddam initium ordimur. iam quidam qui nos absentis defenderunt incipiunt praesentibus occulte irasci, aperte invidere. vehementer te requirimus.