Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. -66 AD|Cicero|AI-assisted
That Teucris woman is a truly slow affair, and Cornelius has not returned to Terentia since. I suppose we must resort to Considius, Axius, and Selicius, for Caecilius's relatives cannot pry a coin from him at less than twelve percent interest. But to return to those first matters, I have never seen anything more shameless, more cunning, or more sluggish. "I am sending a freedman; I have given Titus instructions." Nothing but pretexts and delays — but perhaps this may turn out to be providential for us. For Pompey's advance men report that Pompey will openly push for Antony to be superseded, and at the same time a praetor will bring the matter before the people. The situation is such that I cannot honorably defend the man either in the eyes of the respectable citizens or in popular estimation, nor do I wish to — which is the most important point. For something has happened, the full nature of which I entrust to you to investigate. I have a freedman, a thoroughly worthless fellow — I mean Hilarus, the accountant and your client. About him Valerius the interpreter sends me word, and Thyillus writes that he has heard this: that the man is with Antony, and further that Antony keeps saying, when extorting money, that a share is being sought on my behalf and that I have sent the freedman as guardian of our joint profits. I am not mildly disturbed, yet I have not believed it; but certainly there has been some talk. Investigate the whole matter, find out the truth, look into it thoroughly, and remove that scoundrel from those parts if you can manage it by any means. Valerius named Gnaeus Plancius as the source of this talk. I entrust the entire matter to you plainly, so that you may see what it amounts to. It is well established that Pompey is most friendly to us. The divorce of Mucia is strongly approved. Publius Clodius, son of Appius — I believe you have heard — was caught in women's clothing in the house of Gaius Caesar during the rites performed on behalf of the people, and was saved and smuggled out by a slave girl's hands; the affair is one of remarkable scandal. I know for certain that this distresses you. I have nothing further to write to you, and indeed I was rather troubled while writing. For our charming young reader Sositheus has died, and his death has moved me more than the death of a slave might seem to warrant. I would like you to write to us often. If you have no real news, write whatever comes to mind. The Kalends of January, in the consulship of Marcus Messalla and Marcus Piso.
Teucris is an unconscionably slow coach and Cornelius has never come
back to Terentia: so I suppose I shall have to turn to Considius, Axius
or Selicius. Even his relatives can’t screw a penny out of Caecilius at
less than 12 per cent. But to return to the point; Teucris’ behaviour is
the most shameless mixture of cunning and laziness I have ever seen.
“I’m sending a freedman,” says she, or “I’ve given Titus a commission.”
All excuses and delays! But perhaps “_dieu dispose_”; for Pompey’s
advance party bring news that he is going to move for Antony’s
oportere, eodemque tempore aget praetor ad populum. Res eius modi est,
ut ego nec per bonorum nec per popularem existimationem honeste possim
hominem defendere, nec mihi libeat, quod vel maximum est. Etenim accidit
hoc, quod totum cuius modi sit, mando tibi, ut perspicias. Libertum ego
habeo sane nequam hominem, Hilarum dico, ratiocinatorem et clientem
tuum. De eo mihi Valerius interpres nuntiat, Thyillusque se audisse
scribit haec, esse hominem cum Antonio; Antonium porro in cogendis
pecuniis dictitare partem mihi quaeri et a me custodem communis quaestus
libertum esse missum. Non sum mediocriter commotus neque tamen credidi,
sed certe aliquid sermonis fuit. Totum investiga, cognosce, perspice et
nebulonem illum, si quo pacto potes, ex istis locis amove. Huius
sermonis Valerius auctorem Cn. Plancium nominabat. Mando tibi plane
totum, ut videas cuius modi sit.
Pompeium nobis amicissimum constat esse. Divortium Muciae vehementer
probatur. P. Clodium, Appi f., credo te audisse cum veste muliebri
deprehensum domi C. Caesaris, cum pro populo fieret, eumque per manus
servulae servatum et eductum; rem esse insigni infamia. Quod te moleste
ferre certo scio.
Quod praeterea ad te scribam, non habeo, et mehercule eram in scribendo
conturbatior. Nam puer festivus anagnostes noster Sositheus decesserat,
meque plus quam servi mors debere videbatur, commoverat.
retirement, and a praetor will bring the motion forward. Under my
circumstances I couldn’t honourably champion him. I should lose the
respect of both parties if I did: and what’s more, I wouldn’t, if I
could, in view of certain things that have happened, to which I should
like to call your attention. There’s a freedman of mine, an utter
scoundrel—Hilarus I mean—an accountant and a client of yours. Valerius
the interpreter sends me news of him, and Thyillus says he has heard too
that the fellow is with Antony, and that Antony, when he is making
requisitions, always asserts that part is levied on my authority, and
that I have sent a freedman to look after my share. I am considerably
annoyed, though I hardly believe the story: but there has been a good
deal of talk. Look into the matter thoroughly and try to get to the
bottom of it, and, if you possibly can, get that rascal shifted.
Valerius mentioned Cn. Plancius as his authority for the statement. I
leave the whole matter entirely in your hands to investigate.
I am assured that Pompey is on the best of terms with me. Mucia’s
divorce meets with every one’s approval. I expect you have heard that P.
Clodius, son of Appius, was discovered in woman’s clothes in C. Caesar’s
house, where the sacrifice was going on: but a servant girl managed to
smuggle him out. It has created a public scandal: and I am sure you will
be sorry to hear of it.
I don’t think I have any other news for you: and I’m sorry to say I’ve
been rather upset while writing. My reader Sositheus, a charming fellow,
has died; and I am more upset about it than anyone would suppose I
should be about a slave’s death. Please
Tu velim saepe ad nos scribas. Si rem nullam habebis, quod in buccam
venerit, scribito. Kal. Ianuariis M. Messalla, M. Pisone coss.
Teucris illa lentum sane negotium, neque Cornelius ad Terentiam postea rediit. Opinor, ad Considium, Axium, Selicium confugiendum est; nam a Caecilio propinqui minore centesimis nummum movere non possunt. Sed ut ad prima illa redeam, nihil ego illa impudentius, astutius, lentius vidi. " Libertum mitto, Titomandavi." Skepseis atque anabolai sed nescio an tautomaton hemon . Nam mihi Pompeiani prodromi nuntiant aperte Pompeium acturum Antonio succedi oportere, eodemque tempore aget praetor ad populum. Res eius modi est, ut ego nec per bonorum nec per popularem existimationem honeste possim hominem defendere, nec mihi libeat, quod vel maximum est. Etenim accidit hoc, quod totum cuius modi sit, mando tibi, ut perspicias. Libertum ego habeo sane nequam hominem, Hilarum dico, ratiocinatorem et clientem tuum. De eo mihi Valerius interpres nuntiat, Thyillusque se audisse scribit haec, esse hominem cum Antonio; Antonium porro in cogendis pecuniis dictitare partem mihi quaeri et a me custodem communis quaestus libertum esse missum. Non sum mediocriter commotus neque tamen credidi, sed certe aliquid sermonis fuit. Totum investiga, cognosce, perspice et nebulonem illum, si quo pacto potes, ex istis locis amove. Huius sermonis Valerius auctorem Cn. Plancium nominabat. Mando tibi plane totum, ut videas cuius modi sit. Pompeium nobis amicissimum constat esse. Divortium Muciae vehementer probatur. P. Clodium, Appi f., credo te audisse cum veste muliebri deprehensum domi C. Caesaris, cum pro populo fieret, eumque per manus servulae servatum et eductum; rem esse insigni infamia. Quod te moleste ferre certo scio. Quod praeterea ad te scribam, non habeo, et me hercule eram in scribendo conturbatior. Nam puer festivus anagnostes noster Sositheus decesserat, meque plus quam servi mors debere videbatur, commoverat. Tu velim saepe ad nos scribas. Si rem nullam habebis, quod in buccam venerit, scribito. Kal. Ianuariis M. Messalla, M. Pisone coss.
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That Teucris woman is a truly slow affair, and Cornelius has not returned to Terentia since. I suppose we must resort to Considius, Axius, and Selicius, for Caecilius's relatives cannot pry a coin from him at less than twelve percent interest. But to return to those first matters, I have never seen anything more shameless, more cunning, or more sluggish. "I am sending a freedman; I have given Titus instructions." Nothing but pretexts and delays — but perhaps this may turn out to be providential for us. For Pompey's advance men report that Pompey will openly push for Antony to be superseded, and at the same time a praetor will bring the matter before the people. The situation is such that I cannot honorably defend the man either in the eyes of the respectable citizens or in popular estimation, nor do I wish to — which is the most important point. For something has happened, the full nature of which I entrust to you to investigate. I have a freedman, a thoroughly worthless fellow — I mean Hilarus, the accountant and your client. About him Valerius the interpreter sends me word, and Thyillus writes that he has heard this: that the man is with Antony, and further that Antony keeps saying, when extorting money, that a share is being sought on my behalf and that I have sent the freedman as guardian of our joint profits. I am not mildly disturbed, yet I have not believed it; but certainly there has been some talk. Investigate the whole matter, find out the truth, look into it thoroughly, and remove that scoundrel from those parts if you can manage it by any means. Valerius named Gnaeus Plancius as the source of this talk. I entrust the entire matter to you plainly, so that you may see what it amounts to. It is well established that Pompey is most friendly to us. The divorce of Mucia is strongly approved. Publius Clodius, son of Appius — I believe you have heard — was caught in women's clothing in the house of Gaius Caesar during the rites performed on behalf of the people, and was saved and smuggled out by a slave girl's hands; the affair is one of remarkable scandal. I know for certain that this distresses you. I have nothing further to write to you, and indeed I was rather troubled while writing. For our charming young reader Sositheus has died, and his death has moved me more than the death of a slave might seem to warrant. I would like you to write to us often. If you have no real news, write whatever comes to mind. The Kalends of January, in the consulship of Marcus Messalla and Marcus Piso.
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
Teucris illa lentum sane negotium, neque Cornelius ad Terentiam postea rediit. Opinor, ad Considium, Axium, Selicium confugiendum est; nam a Caecilio propinqui minore centesimis nummum movere non possunt. Sed ut ad prima illa redeam, nihil ego illa impudentius, astutius, lentius vidi. " Libertum mitto, Titomandavi." Skepseis atque anabolai sed nescio an tautomaton hemon . Nam mihi Pompeiani prodromi nuntiant aperte Pompeium acturum Antonio succedi oportere, eodemque tempore aget praetor ad populum. Res eius modi est, ut ego nec per bonorum nec per popularem existimationem honeste possim hominem defendere, nec mihi libeat, quod vel maximum est. Etenim accidit hoc, quod totum cuius modi sit, mando tibi, ut perspicias. Libertum ego habeo sane nequam hominem, Hilarum dico, ratiocinatorem et clientem tuum. De eo mihi Valerius interpres nuntiat, Thyillusque se audisse scribit haec, esse hominem cum Antonio; Antonium porro in cogendis pecuniis dictitare partem mihi quaeri et a me custodem communis quaestus libertum esse missum. Non sum mediocriter commotus neque tamen credidi, sed certe aliquid sermonis fuit. Totum investiga, cognosce, perspice et nebulonem illum, si quo pacto potes, ex istis locis amove. Huius sermonis Valerius auctorem Cn. Plancium nominabat. Mando tibi plane totum, ut videas cuius modi sit. Pompeium nobis amicissimum constat esse. Divortium Muciae vehementer probatur. P. Clodium, Appi f., credo te audisse cum veste muliebri deprehensum domi C. Caesaris, cum pro populo fieret, eumque per manus servulae servatum et eductum; rem esse insigni infamia. Quod te moleste ferre certo scio. Quod praeterea ad te scribam, non habeo, et me hercule eram in scribendo conturbatior. Nam puer festivus anagnostes noster Sositheus decesserat, meque plus quam servi mors debere videbatur, commoverat. Tu velim saepe ad nos scribas. Si rem nullam habebis, quod in buccam venerit, scribito. Kal. Ianuariis M. Messalla, M. Pisone coss.