Marcus Tullius Cicero→Marcus Terentius Varro|c. 45 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome|Human translated
For my part, it seems to me that the Nones will come soon enough, and not only because of the state of the republic but also because of the season. Therefore I approve of that date, and I shall follow the same schedule myself. As for our decision, I would not think we should regret it even if those who did not follow it had no regrets. For we followed not hope but duty, and we abandoned not duty but despair. So we were more conscientious than those who did not stir from home, and more sensible than those who, having lost their resources, did not return home. But what I cannot bear at all is the severity of idle men; and however matters stand, I fear those who fell in the war more than I care about those whom we fail to satisfy because we are alive. If I have time to come to the Tusculan estate before the Nones, I shall see you there; if not, I shall follow you to Cumae and give you advance notice, so that the bath may be ready.
CDLXI (Fam. IX, 5) TO M. TERENTIUS VARRO (AT TUSCULUM) ROME (LATE IN MAY) Yes, I think the 5th of next month will be in very good time, both in consideration of the state of public affairs and of the season of the year. Wherefore I approve of that day: and will myself accordingly aim at the same. I should not have thought that we ought to repent of our policy, even if those who did not adopt it were not now repentant. For our guiding star was not advantage, but duty: and what we abandoned was not duty, but a hopeless task. So we showed greater sensitiveness to honour than those who never stirred from home, and greater reasonableness than those who did not return home when all was lost. But nothing irritates me so much as the severe Criticism of the do-nothings, and I am more inclined to feel scrupulous about those who fell in the war, than to trouble myself about those who are angry with us for being alive. If I find a spare moment for coming to Tusculum before the 5th, I will see you there: if not, I will follow you to your Cuman villa, and give you notice beforehand, that the bath may be got ready.
V. Scr. Romae mense Iunio a.u.c. 708. CICERO VARRONI.
Mihi vero ad Nonas bene maturum videtur fore, neque solum propter rei publicae, sed etiam propter anni tempus; quare istum diem probo, itaque eundem ipse sequar. Consilii nostri, ne si eos quidem, qui id secuti non sunt, non poeniteret, nobis poenitendum putarem; secuti enim sumus non spem, sed officium, reliquimus autem non officium, sed desperationem: ita verecundiores fuimus, quam qui se domo non commoverunt, saniores, quam qui amissis opibus domum non reverterunt. Sed nihil minus fero quam severitatem otiosorum et, quoquo modo se res habet, magis illos vereor, qui in bello occiderunt, quam hos curo, quibus non satisfacimus, quia vivimus. Mihi si spatium fuerit in Tusculanum ante Nonas veniendi, istic te videbo; si minus, persequar in Cumanum et ante te certiorem faciam, ut lavatio parata sit.
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For my part, it seems to me that the Nones will come soon enough, and not only because of the state of the republic but also because of the season. Therefore I approve of that date, and I shall follow the same schedule myself. As for our decision, I would not think we should regret it even if those who did not follow it had no regrets. For we followed not hope but duty, and we abandoned not duty but despair. So we were more conscientious than those who did not stir from home, and more sensible than those who, having lost their resources, did not return home. But what I cannot bear at all is the severity of idle men; and however matters stand, I fear those who fell in the war more than I care about those whom we fail to satisfy because we are alive. If I have time to come to the Tusculan estate before the Nones, I shall see you there; if not, I shall follow you to Cumae and give you advance notice, so that the bath may be ready.
Human translation - ToposText / Shuckburgh
Latin / Greek Original
V. Scr. Romae mense Iunio a.u.c. 708. CICERO VARRONI.
Mihi vero ad Nonas bene maturum videtur fore, neque solum propter rei publicae, sed etiam propter anni tempus; quare istum diem probo, itaque eundem ipse sequar. Consilii nostri, ne si eos quidem, qui id secuti non sunt, non poeniteret, nobis poenitendum putarem; secuti enim sumus non spem, sed officium, reliquimus autem non officium, sed desperationem: ita verecundiores fuimus, quam qui se domo non commoverunt, saniores, quam qui amissis opibus domum non reverterunt. Sed nihil minus fero quam severitatem otiosorum et, quoquo modo se res habet, magis illos vereor, qui in bello occiderunt, quam hos curo, quibus non satisfacimus, quia vivimus. Mihi si spatium fuerit in Tusculanum ante Nonas veniendi, istic te videbo; si minus, persequar in Cumanum et ante te certiorem faciam, ut lavatio parata sit.