Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. -49 AD|Cicero|AI-assisted
The one act needed to crown Pompey's disgrace is the desertion of
Domitius. I don't agree with the universal opinion that he is sure to
help him. "Will he desert so distinguished a citizen as Domitius and
those with him, even though he has thirty cohorts at his command?"
Unless I am greatly mistaken he will desert him. He is incredibly
alarmed, and has no thought but flight; and you want me to go with him;
for I see what you think. Yes, I have a foe to flee from, but no friend
to follow. As for your praise of that remark of mine, which you quote
and call so memorable, that I would rather be conquered with Pompey
than conquer with Caesar, well, I would: but it must be with Pompey
my old hero or ideal. As to the Pompey of to-day, who flees before he
knows from whom he is running or where to run; who has betrayed us,
abandoned his country and deserted
si malui, contigit, victus sum. Quod superest, nec ista videre possum,
quae numquam timui ne viderem, nec mehercule istum, propter quem mihi
non modo meis, sed memet ipso carendum est.
Ad Philotimum scripsi de viatico sive a Moneta (nemo enim solvit) sive
ab Oppiis, tuis contubernalibus. Cetera apposita tibi mandabo.
Vnum etiam restat amico nostro ad omne dedecus ut Domitio non subveniat. 'at nemo dubitat quin subsidio venturus sit.' ego non puto. 'deseret igitur talem civem et eos quos una scis esse cum habeat praesertim is ipse cohortis triginta?' Nisi me omnia fallunt, deseret. incredibiliter pertimuit, nihil spectat nisi fugam. [2] quoi tu (video enim quid sentias) me comitem putas debere esse. ego vero quem fugiam habeo, quem sequar non habeo. quod enim tu meum laudas et memorandum dicis, malle quod dixerim me cum Pompeio vinci quam cum istis vincere, ego vero malo sed cum illo Pompeio qui tum erat aut qui mihi esse videbatur, cum hoc vero qui ante fugit quam scit aut quem fugiat aut quo, qui nostra tradidit, qui patriam reliquit, Italiam relinquit, si malui, contigit, victus sum. quod superest, nec ista videre possum quae numquam timui ne viderem nec me hercule istum propter quem mihi non modo meis sed memet ipso carendum est. [3] ad Philotimum scripsi de viatico sive a Moneta (nemo enim solvit) sive ab Oppiis tuis contubernalibus. cetera apposita tibi mandabo.
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The one act needed to crown Pompey's disgrace is the desertion of Domitius. I don't agree with the universal opinion that he is sure to help him. "Will he desert so distinguished a citizen as Domitius and those with him, even though he has thirty cohorts at his command?" Unless I am greatly mistaken he will desert him. He is incredibly alarmed, and has no thought but flight; and you want me to go with him; for I see what you think. Yes, I have a foe to flee from, but no friend to follow. As for your praise of that remark of mine, which you quote and call so memorable, that I would rather be conquered with Pompey than conquer with Caesar, well, I would: but it must be with Pompey my old hero or ideal. As to the Pompey of to-day, who flees before he knows from whom he is running or where to run; who has betrayed us, abandoned his country and deserted
si malui, contigit, victus sum. Quod superest, nec ista videre possum, quae numquam timui ne viderem, nec mehercule istum, propter quem mihi non modo meis, sed memet ipso carendum est.
Ad Philotimum scripsi de viatico sive a Moneta (nemo enim solvit) sive ab Oppiis, tuis contubernalibus. Cetera apposita tibi mandabo.
Latin / Greek Original
Vnum etiam restat amico nostro ad omne dedecus ut Domitio non subveniat. 'at nemo dubitat quin subsidio venturus sit.' ego non puto. 'deseret igitur talem civem et eos quos una scis esse cum habeat praesertim is ipse cohortis triginta?' Nisi me omnia fallunt, deseret. incredibiliter pertimuit, nihil spectat nisi fugam. [2] quoi tu (video enim quid sentias) me comitem putas debere esse. ego vero quem fugiam habeo, quem sequar non habeo. quod enim tu meum laudas et memorandum dicis, malle quod dixerim me cum Pompeio vinci quam cum istis vincere, ego vero malo sed cum illo Pompeio qui tum erat aut qui mihi esse videbatur, cum hoc vero qui ante fugit quam scit aut quem fugiat aut quo, qui nostra tradidit, qui patriam reliquit, Italiam relinquit, si malui, contigit, victus sum. quod superest, nec ista videre possum quae numquam timui ne viderem nec me hercule istum propter quem mihi non modo meis sed memet ipso carendum est. [3] ad Philotimum scripsi de viatico sive a Moneta (nemo enim solvit) sive ab Oppiis tuis contubernalibus. cetera apposita tibi mandabo.