Marcus Tullius Cicero Minor→Marcus Tullius Tiro|c. 47 BC|Cicero|From Athens|To Patrae|AI-assisted
After I had been eagerly waiting for letter-carriers every day, at last they arrived, forty-six days after leaving you. Their arrival was exactly what I had hoped for. I took the greatest joy from the letter of my very kind and very dear father, and then your delightful letter brought my happiness to its height.
So I was no longer sorry that I had paused in writing. Instead, I was glad, because from my silence I gained a great reward: proof of your kindness. I am therefore very happy that you accepted my excuse without hesitation.
I do not doubt, my sweetest Tiro, that the reports coming to you about me are welcome and exactly what you hoped to hear. I will make them good, and I will work so that this new reputation of mine grows greater day by day. So, when you promise to be the trumpet of my good name, you may do it with a firm and steady heart.
The mistakes of my youth brought me such grief and torment that not only does my mind recoil from the deeds themselves, but even my ears shrink from hearing them mentioned. I know perfectly well that you shared in that anxiety and pain, and no wonder. You wanted everything to turn out well for me both for my sake and for yours, since I have always wanted you to be a partner in my good fortune. Since you once suffered sorrow because of me, I will now see to it that your joy because of me is doubled.
You should know that I am attached to Cratippus not as a student but as a son. I gladly hear him lecture, and I also warmly love his personal charm. I spend whole days with him and often part of the night, for I persuade him to dine with me as often as possible. Now that this habit has begun, he often slips in on us without our knowing while we are dining; laying aside the severity of philosophy, he jokes with us most pleasantly. So make every effort to see such a man - so delightful and so excellent - as soon as possible.
What should I say about Bruttius? I never allow him to leave me. His life is frugal and serious, and at the same time his company is utterly delightful, for in him wit is not separated from love of learning and daily philosophical conversation. I have rented a place next door to him and, as far as I can from my narrow means, I support his poverty.
Besides this, I have begun practicing Greek declamation with Cassius; in Latin I want to practice with Bruttius. My close and daily companions are the men whom Cratippus brought with him from Mytilene - learned men, and highly approved by him. I also spend a great deal of time with Epicrates, the leading Athenian, and with Leonides and others like them. So much for how things stand with me.
As for what you write about Gorgias, he was useful in daily declamation, but I put everything aside so long as I obeyed my father's instructions. He had written explicitly that I should dismiss him at once. I did not want to evade the order, lest my excessive eagerness create some suspicion in my father. It also occurred to me that it would be improper for me to pass judgment on my father's judgment. Still, your concern and advice are welcome and gratefully received.
I accept your excuse about the limits of your time, for I know how busy you usually are. I am very glad that you have bought an estate, and I hope that purchase turns out happily for you. Do not be surprised that I congratulate you at this point; it was at almost the same point in your letter that you told me about the purchase. You must put aside your city ways: you have become a Roman countryman.
How vividly I now set your delightful face before my eyes. I seem to see you buying farm equipment, talking with your bailiff, and saving seeds from dessert in the fold of your cloak. But as to the practical matter, I am as sorry as you are that I was not there to help you. Still, do not doubt, my dear Tiro, that I will support you if fortune supports me, especially since I know that this estate was bought for our common benefit.
I am grateful that you took care of my commissions. But I ask you to send me a copyist as quickly as possible, preferably a Greek one, since a great deal of my work is being swallowed up in copying notes. Above all, I want you to take care of your health, so that one day we can enjoy our literary talk together. I commend Anteros to you.
DCCLXXXIII (Fam. XVI, 21) M. CICERO (THE YOUNGER) TO TIRO ATHENS (AUGUST) After I had been anxiously expecting letter-carriers day after day, at length they arrived forty-six days after they left you. Their arrival was most welcome to me: for while I took the greatest possible pleasure in the letter of the kindest and most beloved of fathers, still your most delightful letter put a finishing stroke to my joy. So I no longer repent of having suspended writing for a time, but am rather rejoiced at it; for I have reaped a great reward in your kindness from my pen having been silent. I am therefore exceedingly glad that you have unhesitatingly accepted my excuse. I am sure, dearest Tiro , that the reports about me which reach you answer your best wishes and hopes. I will make them good, and will do my best that this belief in me, which day by day becomes more and more en evidence, shall be doubled. Wherefore you may with confidence and assurance fulfil your promise of being the trumpeter of my reputation. For the errors of my youth have caused me so much remorse and suffering, that not only does my heart shrink from what I did, my very ears abhor the mention of it. And of this anguish and sorrow I know and am assured that you have taken your share. And I don't wonder at it! for while you wished me all success for my sake, you did so also for your own; for I have ever meant you to be my partner in all my good fortunes. Since, therefore, you have suffered sorrow through me, I will now take care that through me your joy shall be doubled. Let me assure you that my very close attachment to Cratippus is that of a son rather than a pupil: for though I enjoy his lectures, I am also specially charmed with his delightful manners. I spend whole days with him, and often part of the night: for I induce him to dine with me as often as possible. This intimacy having been established, he often drops in upon us unexpectedly while we are at dinner, and laying aside the stiff airs of a philosopher joins in our jests with the greatest possible freedom. He is such a man — so delightful, so distinguished — that you should take pains to make his acquaintance at the earliest possible opportunity. I need hardly mention Bruttius , whom I never allow to leave my, side. He is a man of a strict and moral life, as well as being the most delightful company. For in him fun is not divorced from literature and the daily philosophical inquiries which we make in common. I have hired a residence next door to him, and as far as I can with my poor pittance I subsidize his narrow means. Farthermore, I have begun practising declamation in Greek with Cassius ; in Latin I like having my practice with Bruttius . My intimate friends and daily company are those whom Cratippus brought with him from Mitylene — good scholars, of whom he has the highest opinion. I also see a great deal of Epicrates , the leading man at Athens , and Leonides , and other men of that sort. So now you know how I am going on. You remark in your letter on the character of Gorgias . The fact is, I found him very useful in my daily practice of declamation; but I subordinated everything to obeying my father's injunctions, for he had written ordering me to give him up at once. I wouldn't shilly-shally about the business, for fear my making a fuss should cause my father to harbour some suspicion. Moreover, it occurred to me that it would be offensive for me to express an opinion on a decision of my father's. However, your interest and advice are welcome and acceptable. Your apology for lack of time I quite accept; for I know how busy you always are. I air very glad that you have bought an estate, and you have my best wishes for the success of your purchase. Don't be surprised at my congratulations coming in at this point in my letter, for it was at the corresponding point in yours that you told me of your purchase. You are a man of property! You must drop your city manners: you have become a Roman country-gentleman. How clearly I have your dearest face before my eyes at this moment! For I seem to see you buying things for the farm, talking to your bailiff, saving the seeds at dessert in the corner of your cloak. But as to the matter of money, I am as sorry as you that I was not on the spot to help you. But do not doubt, my dear Tiro , of my assisting you in the future, if fortune does but stand by me; especially as I know that this estate has been purchased for our joint advantage. As to my commissions about which you are taking trouble-many thanks! But I beg you to send me a secretary at the earliest opportunity — if possible a Greek; for he will save me a great deal of trouble in copying out notes. Above all, take care of your health, that we may have some literary talk together hereafter. I commend Anteros to you.
XXI. Scr. Athenis exeunte m. Dec. a.u.c. 710. CICERO F. TIRONI SUO DULCISSIMO SAL.
Quum vehementer tabellarios exspectarem quotidie, aliquando venerunt post diem quadragesimum [et] sextum, quam a vobis discesserant; quorum mihi fuit adventus optatissimus; nam, quum maximam cepissem laetitiam ex humanissimi et carissimi patris epistula, tum vero iucundissimae tuae litterae cumulum mihi gaudii attulerunt. Itaque me iam non poenitebat intercapedinem scribendi fecisse, sed potius laetabar; fructum enim magnum humanitatis tuae capiebam ex silentio mearum litterarum. Vehementer igitur gaudeo te meam sine dubitatione accepisse excusationem. Gratos tibi optatosque esse, qui de me rumores afferuntur, non dubito, mi dulcissime Tiro, praestaboque et enitar, ut in dies magis magisque haec nascens de me duplicetur opinio: quare, quod polliceris, te bucinatorem fore existimationis meae, firmo id constantique animo facias licet; tantum enim mihi dolorem cruciatumque attulerunt errata aetatis meae, ut non solum animus a factis, sed aures quoque a commemoratione abhorreant: cuius te sollicitudinis et doloris participem fuisse notum exploratumque est mihi; nec id mirum; nam quum omnia mea causa velles mihi successa, tum etiam tua, socium enim te meorum commodorum semper esse volui. Quoniam igitur tum ex me doluisti, nunc ut duplicetur tuum ex me gaudium, praestabo. Cratippo me scito non ut discipulum, sed ut filium esse coniunctissimum; nam quum audio illum libenter, tum etiam propriam eius suavitatem vehementer amplector: sum totos dies cum eo noctisque saepenumero partem; exoro enim, ut mecum quam saepissime coenet. Hac introducta consuetudine saepe inscientibus nobis et coenantibus obrepit sublataque severitate philosophiae humanissime nobiscum iocatur. Quare da operam, ut hunc talem, tam iucundum, tam excellentem virum videas quam primum. Nam quid ego de Bruttio dicam? quem nullo tempore a me patior discedere, cuius quum frugi severaque est vita, tum etiam iucundissima convictio; non est enim seiunctus iocus a filolag¤ai et quotidiana sujhtÆsei . Huic ego locum in proximo conduxi et, ut possum, ex meis angustiis illius sustento tenuitatem. Praeterea declamitare Graece apud Cassium institui; Latine autem apud Bruttium exerceri volo. Utor familiaribus et quotidianis convictoribus, quos secum Mytilenis Cratippus adduxit, hominibus et doctis et illi probatissimis. Multum etiam mecum est Epicrates, princeps Atheniensium, et Leonides et horum ceteri similes. Tå m¢n oÔn xay' ¾mçw tãde . De Gorgia autem quod mihi scribis, erat quidem ille in quotidiana declamatione utilis, sed omnia postposui, dummodo praeceptis patris parerem, diarrÆdhn enim scripserat, ut eum dimitterem statim: tergiversari nolui, ne mea nimia spoudØ suspicionem ei aliquam importaret, deinde illud etiam mihi sucurrebat, grave esse me de iudicio patris iudicare; tuum tamen studium et consilium gratum acceptumque est mihi. Excusationem angustiarum tui temporis accipio; scio enim, quam soleas esse occupatus. Emisse te praedium vehementer gaudeo feliciterque tibi rem istam evenire cupio—hoc loco me tibi gratulari noli mirari; eodem enim fere loco tu quoque emisse te fecisti me certiorem—. Habes deponendae tibi sunt urbanitates; rusticus Romanus factus es. Quomodo ego mihi nunc ante oculos tuum iucundissimum conspectum propono? videor enim videre ementem te rusticas res, cum villico loquentem, in lacinia servantem ex mensa secunda semina. Sed, quod ad rem pertinet, me tum tibi defuisse aeque ac tu doleo; sed noli dubitare, mi Tiro, quin te sublevaturus sim, si modo fortuna me, praesertim quum sciam communem nobis emptum esse istum fundum. De mandatis quod tibi curae fuit, est mihi gratum; sed peto a te, ut quam celerrime mihi librarius mittatur, maxime quidem Graecus; multum mihi enim eripitur operae in exscribendis hypomnematis. Tu velim in primis cures, ut valeas, ut una sumfilologeðn possimus. Antherum tibi commendo.
◆
After I had been eagerly waiting for letter-carriers every day, at last they arrived, forty-six days after leaving you. Their arrival was exactly what I had hoped for. I took the greatest joy from the letter of my very kind and very dear father, and then your delightful letter brought my happiness to its height.
So I was no longer sorry that I had paused in writing. Instead, I was glad, because from my silence I gained a great reward: proof of your kindness. I am therefore very happy that you accepted my excuse without hesitation.
I do not doubt, my sweetest Tiro, that the reports coming to you about me are welcome and exactly what you hoped to hear. I will make them good, and I will work so that this new reputation of mine grows greater day by day. So, when you promise to be the trumpet of my good name, you may do it with a firm and steady heart.
The mistakes of my youth brought me such grief and torment that not only does my mind recoil from the deeds themselves, but even my ears shrink from hearing them mentioned. I know perfectly well that you shared in that anxiety and pain, and no wonder. You wanted everything to turn out well for me both for my sake and for yours, since I have always wanted you to be a partner in my good fortune. Since you once suffered sorrow because of me, I will now see to it that your joy because of me is doubled.
You should know that I am attached to Cratippus not as a student but as a son. I gladly hear him lecture, and I also warmly love his personal charm. I spend whole days with him and often part of the night, for I persuade him to dine with me as often as possible. Now that this habit has begun, he often slips in on us without our knowing while we are dining; laying aside the severity of philosophy, he jokes with us most pleasantly. So make every effort to see such a man - so delightful and so excellent - as soon as possible.
What should I say about Bruttius? I never allow him to leave me. His life is frugal and serious, and at the same time his company is utterly delightful, for in him wit is not separated from love of learning and daily philosophical conversation. I have rented a place next door to him and, as far as I can from my narrow means, I support his poverty.
Besides this, I have begun practicing Greek declamation with Cassius; in Latin I want to practice with Bruttius. My close and daily companions are the men whom Cratippus brought with him from Mytilene - learned men, and highly approved by him. I also spend a great deal of time with Epicrates, the leading Athenian, and with Leonides and others like them. So much for how things stand with me.
As for what you write about Gorgias, he was useful in daily declamation, but I put everything aside so long as I obeyed my father's instructions. He had written explicitly that I should dismiss him at once. I did not want to evade the order, lest my excessive eagerness create some suspicion in my father. It also occurred to me that it would be improper for me to pass judgment on my father's judgment. Still, your concern and advice are welcome and gratefully received.
I accept your excuse about the limits of your time, for I know how busy you usually are. I am very glad that you have bought an estate, and I hope that purchase turns out happily for you. Do not be surprised that I congratulate you at this point; it was at almost the same point in your letter that you told me about the purchase. You must put aside your city ways: you have become a Roman countryman.
How vividly I now set your delightful face before my eyes. I seem to see you buying farm equipment, talking with your bailiff, and saving seeds from dessert in the fold of your cloak. But as to the practical matter, I am as sorry as you are that I was not there to help you. Still, do not doubt, my dear Tiro, that I will support you if fortune supports me, especially since I know that this estate was bought for our common benefit.
I am grateful that you took care of my commissions. But I ask you to send me a copyist as quickly as possible, preferably a Greek one, since a great deal of my work is being swallowed up in copying notes. Above all, I want you to take care of your health, so that one day we can enjoy our literary talk together. I commend Anteros to 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
XXI. Scr. Athenis exeunte m. Dec. a.u.c. 710. CICERO F. TIRONI SUO DULCISSIMO SAL.
Quum vehementer tabellarios exspectarem quotidie, aliquando venerunt post diem quadragesimum [et] sextum, quam a vobis discesserant; quorum mihi fuit adventus optatissimus; nam, quum maximam cepissem laetitiam ex humanissimi et carissimi patris epistula, tum vero iucundissimae tuae litterae cumulum mihi gaudii attulerunt. Itaque me iam non poenitebat intercapedinem scribendi fecisse, sed potius laetabar; fructum enim magnum humanitatis tuae capiebam ex silentio mearum litterarum. Vehementer igitur gaudeo te meam sine dubitatione accepisse excusationem. Gratos tibi optatosque esse, qui de me rumores afferuntur, non dubito, mi dulcissime Tiro, praestaboque et enitar, ut in dies magis magisque haec nascens de me duplicetur opinio: quare, quod polliceris, te bucinatorem fore existimationis meae, firmo id constantique animo facias licet; tantum enim mihi dolorem cruciatumque attulerunt errata aetatis meae, ut non solum animus a factis, sed aures quoque a commemoratione abhorreant: cuius te sollicitudinis et doloris participem fuisse notum exploratumque est mihi; nec id mirum; nam quum omnia mea causa velles mihi successa, tum etiam tua, socium enim te meorum commodorum semper esse volui. Quoniam igitur tum ex me doluisti, nunc ut duplicetur tuum ex me gaudium, praestabo. Cratippo me scito non ut discipulum, sed ut filium esse coniunctissimum; nam quum audio illum libenter, tum etiam propriam eius suavitatem vehementer amplector: sum totos dies cum eo noctisque saepenumero partem; exoro enim, ut mecum quam saepissime coenet. Hac introducta consuetudine saepe inscientibus nobis et coenantibus obrepit sublataque severitate philosophiae humanissime nobiscum iocatur. Quare da operam, ut hunc talem, tam iucundum, tam excellentem virum videas quam primum. Nam quid ego de Bruttio dicam? quem nullo tempore a me patior discedere, cuius quum frugi severaque est vita, tum etiam iucundissima convictio; non est enim seiunctus iocus a filolag¤ai et quotidiana sujhtÆsei . Huic ego locum in proximo conduxi et, ut possum, ex meis angustiis illius sustento tenuitatem. Praeterea declamitare Graece apud Cassium institui; Latine autem apud Bruttium exerceri volo. Utor familiaribus et quotidianis convictoribus, quos secum Mytilenis Cratippus adduxit, hominibus et doctis et illi probatissimis. Multum etiam mecum est Epicrates, princeps Atheniensium, et Leonides et horum ceteri similes. Tå m¢n oÔn xay' ¾mçw tãde . De Gorgia autem quod mihi scribis, erat quidem ille in quotidiana declamatione utilis, sed omnia postposui, dummodo praeceptis patris parerem, diarrÆdhn enim scripserat, ut eum dimitterem statim: tergiversari nolui, ne mea nimia spoudØ suspicionem ei aliquam importaret, deinde illud etiam mihi sucurrebat, grave esse me de iudicio patris iudicare; tuum tamen studium et consilium gratum acceptumque est mihi. Excusationem angustiarum tui temporis accipio; scio enim, quam soleas esse occupatus. Emisse te praedium vehementer gaudeo feliciterque tibi rem istam evenire cupio—hoc loco me tibi gratulari noli mirari; eodem enim fere loco tu quoque emisse te fecisti me certiorem—. Habes deponendae tibi sunt urbanitates; rusticus Romanus factus es. Quomodo ego mihi nunc ante oculos tuum iucundissimum conspectum propono? videor enim videre ementem te rusticas res, cum villico loquentem, in lacinia servantem ex mensa secunda semina. Sed, quod ad rem pertinet, me tum tibi defuisse aeque ac tu doleo; sed noli dubitare, mi Tiro, quin te sublevaturus sim, si modo fortuna me, praesertim quum sciam communem nobis emptum esse istum fundum. De mandatis quod tibi curae fuit, est mihi gratum; sed peto a te, ut quam celerrime mihi librarius mittatur, maxime quidem Graecus; multum mihi enim eripitur operae in exscribendis hypomnematis. Tu velim in primis cures, ut valeas, ut una sumfilologeðn possimus. Antherum tibi commendo.