Letter 15: Cicero writes to Quintus in the country from Rome in 15 February 54 BC.
Marcus Tullius Cicero→Quintus Tullius Cicero|c. 54 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Quintus' country estate|AI-assisted
familypoliticsadministration
Imported from the public-domain Shuckburgh translation with Latin text paired from The Latin Library.
Written at Rome, on the sixteenth day before the Kalends of March, in the 700th year from the founding of the City [14 February 54 BC].
Marcus to his brother Quintus, greetings.
1. I laughed at your "black snow," and it does me a great deal of good that you are in a cheerful frame of mind and ready for a joke. About Pompey I agree with you, or rather you agree with me; for, as you know, I have long been harping on that Caesar of yours: believe me, he is in my heart's embrace, and I am not loosening my hold. 2. Now learn what happened on the Ides. It was the tenth day for Caelius; Domitius did not have a full complement of jurors. I am afraid that loathsome, savage fellow, Pola Servius, may come forward for the prosecution; for our friend Caelius is being fiercely assailed by the Clodian clan. Nothing is certain as yet, but we are anxious. On that same day, then, a crowded Senate was granted an audience to the Tyrians; in crowds against them came the Syrian publicani [the tax-farming companies that held the contracts for Syria]. Gabinius was vehemently harried; the publicani, however, were attacked by Domitius for having escorted him with their horses. Our friend Lucius Lamia, somewhat more fiercely, when Domitius had said, "These things have come about through your fault, Roman knights; for you give your verdicts loosely," replied, "We give the verdicts, but you give the testimonials." 3. Nothing was accomplished that day: nightfall broke up the session. On the comitial days that follow the Quirinalia [the festival of Quirinus, 17 February], Appius interprets the situation to mean that he is not prevented by the Pupian law from holding a meeting of the Senate, and that, by what was enacted in the Gabinian law, he is even compelled, from the Kalends of February until the Kalends of March, to grant the Senate to embassies every day: so it is thought that the elections are being pushed back into the month of March; but nevertheless the tribunes of the plebs say that, on these comitial days, they will bring the matter of Gabinius forward. I am gathering everything together, so that I may write you something new; but, as you see, the subject matter itself fails me. 4. And so I turn back to Callisthenes and to Philistus, in whom I see you have been steeping yourself. Callisthenes, indeed, offers an ordinary and well-worn sort of treatment, in the manner in which several of the Greeks have spoken; but that Sicilian [Philistus] is first-rate, dense, sharp, concise, almost a Thucydides in miniature. But which of his books you have had-for there are two corpora-or whether both, I do not know. The work "On Dionysius" pleases me more; for Dionysius himself is a great old hand at intrigue, and a very close friend of Philistus. But as for what you add in your postscript-whether you should set your hand to writing history-with my encouragement you may, and, since you keep furnishing me with couriers, you shall have an account of today's doings at the Lupercalia. Enjoy yourself with our dear young Cicero as delightfully as you can.
Your "black snow" made me laugh, and I am very glad that you are in a cheerful frame of mind and ready for a joke. As to Pompey, I agree with you, or rather you agree with me. For, as you know, I have long been singing the praises of your Caesar. Believe me, he is very close to my heart, and I am not going to let him slip from his place. Now for the history of the Ides (13th). It was Caelius's tenth day. Domitius had not obtained a full panel. I am afraid that foul ruffian, Servius Pola, will appear for the prosecution. For our friend Caelius has a dead set made at him by the Clodian gens. There is nothing certain as yet, but I am afraid. On the same day there was a full house for the case of the Tyrians: the publicani of Syria appeared in large numbers against them. Gabinius was abused roundly: the publicani were also denounced by (the consul) Domitius for having escorted him on his start on horseback. Our friend Lucius Lamia was somewhat insolent: for on Domitius saying, "It is your fault, equites of Rome, that such things have happened: for you give verdicts laxly," he said, "Yes, we give verdicts, but you senators give evidence of character." Nothing was done that day: the house stood adjourned at nightfall. On the comitial days which follow the Quirinalia (17th February), Appius holds the view that he is not prevented by the lex Pupia from holding a meeting of the senate, and that by the lex Gabinia he is even compelled to have a meeting for the legations from the 1st of February to the 1st of March. And so the elections are supposed to be put off till March. Nevertheless, on these comitial days the tribunes say that they will bring forward the case of Gabinius. I collect every item of intelligence, that I may have some news to tell you: but, as you see, I am short of material. Accordingly, I return to Callisthenes and Philistus, in whom I see that you have been wallowing. Callisthenes is a commonplace and hackneyed piece of business, like a good many Greeks. The Sicilian is a first-rate writer, terse, sagacious, concise, almost a minor Thucydides; but which of his two books you have—for there are two works—I don't know. That about Dionysius is my favourite. For Dionysius himself is a magnificent intriguer, and was familiarly known to Philistus. But as to your postscript—are you really going in for writing history? You have my blessing on your project: and since you furnish me with letter-carriers, you shall hear today's transactions on the Lupercalia (15th February). Enjoy yourself with our dear boy to your heart's content.
XI. Scr. Romae a. d. XVI. Kal. Martias a.u.c. 700.
MARCUS QUINTO FRATRI SALUTEM.
1. Risi "nivem atram," teque hilari animo esse et prompto ad iocandum valde me iuvat. De Pompeio assentior tibi, vel tu potius mihi; nam, ut scis, iampridem istum canto Caesarem: mihi crede, in sinu est, neque ego discingor. 2. Cognosce nunc Idus: decimus erat Caelio dies; Domitius iudices ad numerum non habuit. Vereor, ne homo teter et ferus, Pola Servius, ad accusationem veniat; nam noster Caelius valde oppugnatur a gente Clodia. Certi nihil est adhuc, sed veremur. Eodem igitur die Tyriis est senatus datus frequens; frequentes contra Syriaci publicani. Vehementer vexatus Gabinius; exagitati tamen a Domitio publicani, quod eum essent cum equis prosecuti. L. noster Lamia paullo ferocius, cum Domitius dixisset: "vestra culpa haec acciderunt, equites Romani; dissolute enim iudicatis," "nos iudicamus, vox laudatis," inquit. 3. Actum est eo die nihil: nox diremit. Comitialibus diebus, qui Quirinalia sequuntur, Appius interpretatur non impediri se lege Pupia, quo minus habeat senatum, et, quod Gabinia sanctum sit, etiam cogi ex Kal. Febr. usque ad Kal. Martias legatis senatum quotidie dare: ita putantur detrudi comitia in mensem Martium; sed tamen his comitialibus tribuni pl. de Gabinio se acturos esse dicunt. Omnia colligo, ut novi scribam aliquid ad te; sed, ut vides, res me ipsa deficit: 4. itaque ad Callisthenem et ad Philistum redeo, in quibus te video volutatum. Callisthenes quidem vulgare et notum negotium, quemadmodum aliquot Graeci locuti sunt: Siculus ille capitalis, creber, acutus, brevis, paene pusillus Thucydides; sed, utros eius habueris libros—duo enim sunt corpora—an utrosque, nescio. Me magis "de Dionysio" delectat; ipse est enim veterator magnus et perfamiliaris Philisto Dionysius. Sed, quod ascribis, aggrediarisne ad historiam, me auctore potes, et, quoniam tabellarios subministras, hodierni diei res gestas Lupercalibus habebis. Oblecta te cum Cicerone nostro quam bellissime.
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Written at Rome, on the sixteenth day before the Kalends of March, in the 700th year from the founding of the City [14 February 54 BC].
Marcus to his brother Quintus, greetings.
1. I laughed at your "black snow," and it does me a great deal of good that you are in a cheerful frame of mind and ready for a joke. About Pompey I agree with you, or rather you agree with me; for, as you know, I have long been harping on that Caesar of yours: believe me, he is in my heart's embrace, and I am not loosening my hold. 2. Now learn what happened on the Ides. It was the tenth day for Caelius; Domitius did not have a full complement of jurors. I am afraid that loathsome, savage fellow, Pola Servius, may come forward for the prosecution; for our friend Caelius is being fiercely assailed by the Clodian clan. Nothing is certain as yet, but we are anxious. On that same day, then, a crowded Senate was granted an audience to the Tyrians; in crowds against them came the Syrian publicani [the tax-farming companies that held the contracts for Syria]. Gabinius was vehemently harried; the publicani, however, were attacked by Domitius for having escorted him with their horses. Our friend Lucius Lamia, somewhat more fiercely, when Domitius had said, "These things have come about through your fault, Roman knights; for you give your verdicts loosely," replied, "We give the verdicts, but you give the testimonials." 3. Nothing was accomplished that day: nightfall broke up the session. On the comitial days that follow the Quirinalia [the festival of Quirinus, 17 February], Appius interprets the situation to mean that he is not prevented by the Pupian law from holding a meeting of the Senate, and that, by what was enacted in the Gabinian law, he is even compelled, from the Kalends of February until the Kalends of March, to grant the Senate to embassies every day: so it is thought that the elections are being pushed back into the month of March; but nevertheless the tribunes of the plebs say that, on these comitial days, they will bring the matter of Gabinius forward. I am gathering everything together, so that I may write you something new; but, as you see, the subject matter itself fails me. 4. And so I turn back to Callisthenes and to Philistus, in whom I see you have been steeping yourself. Callisthenes, indeed, offers an ordinary and well-worn sort of treatment, in the manner in which several of the Greeks have spoken; but that Sicilian [Philistus] is first-rate, dense, sharp, concise, almost a Thucydides in miniature. But which of his books you have had-for there are two corpora-or whether both, I do not know. The work "On Dionysius" pleases me more; for Dionysius himself is a great old hand at intrigue, and a very close friend of Philistus. But as for what you add in your postscript-whether you should set your hand to writing history-with my encouragement you may, and, since you keep furnishing me with couriers, you shall have an account of today's doings at the Lupercalia. Enjoy yourself with our dear young Cicero as delightfully as you can.
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
XI. Scr. Romae a. d. XVI. Kal. Martias a.u.c. 700. MARCUS QUINTO FRATRI SALUTEM.
1. Risi "nivem atram," teque hilari animo esse et prompto ad iocandum valde me iuvat. De Pompeio assentior tibi, vel tu potius mihi; nam, ut scis, iampridem istum canto Caesarem: mihi crede, in sinu est, neque ego discingor. 2. Cognosce nunc Idus: decimus erat Caelio dies; Domitius iudices ad numerum non habuit. Vereor, ne homo teter et ferus, Pola Servius, ad accusationem veniat; nam noster Caelius valde oppugnatur a gente Clodia. Certi nihil est adhuc, sed veremur. Eodem igitur die Tyriis est senatus datus frequens; frequentes contra Syriaci publicani. Vehementer vexatus Gabinius; exagitati tamen a Domitio publicani, quod eum essent cum equis prosecuti. L. noster Lamia paullo ferocius, cum Domitius dixisset: "vestra culpa haec acciderunt, equites Romani; dissolute enim iudicatis," "nos iudicamus, vox laudatis," inquit. 3. Actum est eo die nihil: nox diremit. Comitialibus diebus, qui Quirinalia sequuntur, Appius interpretatur non impediri se lege Pupia, quo minus habeat senatum, et, quod Gabinia sanctum sit, etiam cogi ex Kal. Febr. usque ad Kal. Martias legatis senatum quotidie dare: ita putantur detrudi comitia in mensem Martium; sed tamen his comitialibus tribuni pl. de Gabinio se acturos esse dicunt. Omnia colligo, ut novi scribam aliquid ad te; sed, ut vides, res me ipsa deficit: 4. itaque ad Callisthenem et ad Philistum redeo, in quibus te video volutatum. Callisthenes quidem vulgare et notum negotium, quemadmodum aliquot Graeci locuti sunt: Siculus ille capitalis, creber, acutus, brevis, paene pusillus Thucydides; sed, utros eius habueris libros—duo enim sunt corpora—an utrosque, nescio. Me magis "de Dionysio" delectat; ipse est enim veterator magnus et perfamiliaris Philisto Dionysius. Sed, quod ascribis, aggrediarisne ad historiam, me auctore potes, et, quoniam tabellarios subministras, hodierni diei res gestas Lupercalibus habebis. Oblecta te cum Cicerone nostro quam bellissime.