Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 56 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
There were many delightful things in your letter, but nothing pleased me more than the "plate of salt fish." As for what you say about that little debt: do not shout victory before you have seen the finish.
I cannot find anything for you in the countryside. In town there is something, and very near my own house, but it is uncertain whether it is for sale. You should know that Antium is Rome's Buthrotum, just as your Buthrotum is Corcyra's. Nothing is quieter, cooler, or lovelier. "This is my dear home."
Since Tyrannio arranged my books, the house seems to have acquired a mind of its own. Your Dionysius and Menophilus did extraordinary work on it. Nothing could be prettier than those shelves of yours now that the books shine out with their title labels.
Farewell. Please write to me about the gladiators, but only if they are doing well. If they have behaved badly, I do not want to know.
Your letter contained many delightful passages, but nothing to beat the “plate of red herrings.” For as to what you say about the little debt, “don’t holloa till you are out of the wood.”
I can’t find anything like a country house for you. In the town there is something, and quite close to me too, but it is not certain if it is for sale. Let me tell you that Antium is the Buthrotum of Rome, and just what your Buthrotum is to Corcyra. Nothing could be quieter or fresher or prettier: “this be my own
sweet home.” Since Tyrannio has arranged my books, the house seems to have acquired a soul: and your Dionysius and Menophilus were of extraordinary service. Nothing could be more charming than those bookcases of yours now that the books are adorned with title-slips. Farewell. Please let me know about the gladiators: but only if they are behaving well; if not, I don’t want to know.
multa me in epistula tua delectarunt sed nihil magis quam patina tyrotarichi. nam de raudusculo quod scribis, mepo meg' eipeis prin teleutesant' ideis aedificati tibi in agris nihil reperio. in oppido est quiddam, de quo est dubium sitne venale, ac proximum quidem nostris aedibus. hoc scito, Antium Buthrotum esse Romae, ut Corcyrae illud tuum (Antium). nihil quietius, nihil alsius, nihil amoenius. eie moi houtos philos oikos. [2] postea vero, quam Tyrannio mihi libros disposuit, mens addita videtur meis aedibus. qua quidem in re mirifica opera Dionysi et Menophili tui fuit. nihil venustius quam illa tua pegmata, postquam mi sillybis libros inlustrarunt. vale. et scribas ad me velim de gladiatoribus, sed ita bene si rem gerunt; non quaero, male si se gesserunt.
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There were many delightful things in your letter, but nothing pleased me more than the "plate of salt fish." As for what you say about that little debt: do not shout victory before you have seen the finish.
I cannot find anything for you in the countryside. In town there is something, and very near my own house, but it is uncertain whether it is for sale. You should know that Antium is Rome's Buthrotum, just as your Buthrotum is Corcyra's. Nothing is quieter, cooler, or lovelier. "This is my dear home."
Since Tyrannio arranged my books, the house seems to have acquired a mind of its own. Your Dionysius and Menophilus did extraordinary work on it. Nothing could be prettier than those shelves of yours now that the books shine out with their title labels.
Farewell. Please write to me about the gladiators, but only if they are doing well. If they have behaved badly, I do not want to know.
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
multa me in epistula tua delectarunt sed nihil magis quam patina tyrotarichi. nam de raudusculo quod scribis, mepo meg' eipeis prin teleutesant' ideis aedificati tibi in agris nihil reperio. in oppido est quiddam, de quo est dubium sitne venale, ac proximum quidem nostris aedibus. hoc scito, Antium Buthrotum esse Romae, ut Corcyrae illud tuum (Antium). nihil quietius, nihil alsius, nihil amoenius. eie moi houtos philos oikos. [2] postea vero, quam Tyrannio mihi libros disposuit, mens addita videtur meis aedibus. qua quidem in re mirifica opera Dionysi et Menophili tui fuit. nihil venustius quam illa tua pegmata, postquam mi sillybis libros inlustrarunt. vale. et scribas ad me velim de gladiatoribus, sed ita bene si rem gerunt; non quaero, male si se gesserunt.