Marcus Tullius Cicero→Marcus Tullius Tiro|c. 47 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Patrae|AI-assisted
Although I sent Harpalus this morning, still, since I had someone to whom I could safely give a letter, I wanted to write to you again about the same matters, even though there was nothing new. It is not that I distrust your diligence; the importance of the business unsettles me.
The prow and stern, as the Greek proverb says, of my sending you away from me was this: that you might straighten out our accounts. Ofilius and Aurelius must be paid in any case. From Aulus Flamma, if you cannot squeeze out the whole amount, I want you to get at least some part, and above all to make sure the installment due on January 1 is ready. You will settle the assignment of debts; you will see about ready payment.
So much for household business. On public affairs, send me everything certain: what Octavian is doing, what Antony is doing, what people think, and what you think will happen. I can barely keep myself from rushing back. But if I wait, it is for your letter.
And know this: Balbus was at Aquinum at the time you were told, and Hirtius was there the next day. I think both were going to the waters. But what they did there - well, tell me if you can.
Make sure Dolabella's agents are reminded. Also call on Papia. Goodbye.
DCCCIII (Fam. XVI, 24) TO TIRO (AT ROME) ARPINUM (NOVEMBER) Though I sent Harpalus this morning, yet since I had a man to whom I could safely intrust a letter, in spite of there being nothing new to say, I determined to write repeatedly to you on the same subjects: not because I did not feel confidence in your assiduity, but because the gravity of the business leaves me no rest. The top and tail (or, as the Greek proverb has it, the prow and stern) of my motive in sending you from my side was that you might put my financial affairs straight. Let Ofilius and Aurelius in any case be paid. If you can't get the whole sum out of Flamma , get a part of it: above all, see that the installment (from Dolabella ) is duly paid on the 1st of January. Settle about the assignment of debts: see to the ready-money payments. So much for my private concerns. On public affairs send me all trustworthy intelligence: what Octavian , what Antony is doing; what the general opinion is; what you think is going to happen. I can scarcely pre vent myself hurrying to Rome . But, hush! I am waiting anxiously for a letter from you. Yes, Balbus was at Arpinum on the day you were told, and the next day came Hirtius . Both I think were bound for the waters. But it is all one to me! Take care that Dolabella 's agents are reminded. Dun Papia also. Good-bye.
XXIV. Scr. mense Maio a.u.c. 710. TULLIUS TIRONI SAL.
Etsi mane Harpalum miseram, tamen, quum haberem, cui recte darem litteras, etsi novi nihil erat, iisdem de rebus volui ad te saepius scribere, non quin confiderem diligentiae tuae, sed rei me magnitudo movebat. Mihi prora et puppis, ut Graecorum proverbium est, fuit a me tui dimittendi, ut rationes nostras explicares. Ofillio et Aurelio utique satisfiat. A. Flamma, si non potes omne, partem aliquam velim extorqueas, in primisque, ut expedita sit pensio K. Ian. De attributione conficies, de repraesentatione videbis. De domesticis rebus hactenus; de publicis omnia mihi certa: quid Octavius, quid Antonius, quae hominum opinio, quid futurum putes. Ego vix teneor, quin accurram; sed si litteras tuas exspecto. Et scito Balbum tum fuisse Aquini, quum tibi est dictum, et postridie Hirtium: puto utrumque ad aquas; sed quid egerint—. Dolabellae procuratores fac ut admoneantur: appellabis etiam Papiam. Vale.
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Although I sent Harpalus this morning, still, since I had someone to whom I could safely give a letter, I wanted to write to you again about the same matters, even though there was nothing new. It is not that I distrust your diligence; the importance of the business unsettles me.
The prow and stern, as the Greek proverb says, of my sending you away from me was this: that you might straighten out our accounts. Ofilius and Aurelius must be paid in any case. From Aulus Flamma, if you cannot squeeze out the whole amount, I want you to get at least some part, and above all to make sure the installment due on January 1 is ready. You will settle the assignment of debts; you will see about ready payment.
So much for household business. On public affairs, send me everything certain: what Octavian is doing, what Antony is doing, what people think, and what you think will happen. I can barely keep myself from rushing back. But if I wait, it is for your letter.
And know this: Balbus was at Aquinum at the time you were told, and Hirtius was there the next day. I think both were going to the waters. But what they did there - well, tell me if you can.
Make sure Dolabella's agents are reminded. Also call on Papia. Goodbye.
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
XXIV. Scr. mense Maio a.u.c. 710. TULLIUS TIRONI SAL.
Etsi mane Harpalum miseram, tamen, quum haberem, cui recte darem litteras, etsi novi nihil erat, iisdem de rebus volui ad te saepius scribere, non quin confiderem diligentiae tuae, sed rei me magnitudo movebat. Mihi prora et puppis, ut Graecorum proverbium est, fuit a me tui dimittendi, ut rationes nostras explicares. Ofillio et Aurelio utique satisfiat. A. Flamma, si non potes omne, partem aliquam velim extorqueas, in primisque, ut expedita sit pensio K. Ian. De attributione conficies, de repraesentatione videbis. De domesticis rebus hactenus; de publicis omnia mihi certa: quid Octavius, quid Antonius, quae hominum opinio, quid futurum putes. Ego vix teneor, quin accurram; sed si litteras tuas exspecto. Et scito Balbum tum fuisse Aquini, quum tibi est dictum, et postridie Hirtium: puto utrumque ad aquas; sed quid egerint—. Dolabellae procuratores fac ut admoneantur: appellabis etiam Papiam. Vale.