Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. -49 AD|Cicero|AI-assisted
[1] Not only the plans of humble men like ourselves, but even those of the most distinguished men, are usually judged by their outcome rather than by their intention. Nevertheless, relying on your kindness, I shall set forth what seems most true to us concerning the whole situation. If this is followed, I trust your wisdom will easily defend our counsel. [2] If it was Caesar alone we had to deal with and not also the dregs of the whole world, the matter would be more manageable. We see from Caesar's letters that he is very dissatisfied with our friend Pompey's flight. But see the kind of men that have flocked to us: first, there are the debtors, among whom you have the famous Curio; then the deserters, among whom you have L. Metellus and Q. Cassius. Then come the military tribunes and the centurions. Yet a civil war, if it must be waged, is better conducted under a constitutional general than under one who says the Republic has been subverted. We were never in favor of peace, but we followed the constitutional generals even though their decisions were wrongheaded. [3] Now what could be more disgraceful than our leaving Italy? And if staying was honorable, why has everyone left? We yielded to the moment, just as many others in many commonwealths have yielded, and have followed the established authority. If, as we set out, we had achieved any success, I would now be in favor of what you call a moderate course. But the case is as it is. I ask that you defend us. I hope I shall see you.
[1] nedum hominum humilium, ut nos sumus, sed etiam amplissimorum virorum consilia ex eventu, non ex voluntate a plerisque probari solent. tamen freti tua humanitate quod verissimum nobis videbitur de eo quod ad nos scripsisti tibi consilium dabimus. quod si non fuerit prudens, at certe ab optima fide et optimo animo proficiscetur. nos si id quod nostro iudicio Caesarem facere oportere existimamus, ut, simul Romam venerit, agat de reconciliatione gratiae suae et Pompei, id eum facturum ex ipso cognovissemus, te hortari <non desineremus> ut velles iis rebus interesse, quo facilius et maiore cum dignitate per te qui utrique es coniunctus res tota confieret, aut si ex contrario putaremus Caesarem id non facturum et etiam velle cum Pompeio bellum gerere sciremus, numquam tibi suaderemus contra hominem optime de te meritum arma ferres, sicuti te semper oravimus ne contra Caesarem pugnares. [2] sed cum etiam nunc quid facturus Caesar sit magis opinari quam scire <possimus>, non possumus nisi hoc, non videri eam tuam esse dignitatem neque fidem omnibus cognitam ut contra alterutrum, cum utrique sis maxime necessarius, arma feras, et hoc non dubitamus quin Caesar pro sua humanitate maxime sit probaturus. nos tamen, si tibi videbitur, ad Caesarem scribemus ut nos certiores faciat quid de hac re acturus sit. A quo si erit nobis rescriptum, statim quae sentiemus ad te scribemus et tibi fidem faciemus nos ea suadere quae nobis videntur tuae dignitati, non Caesaris actioni esse utilissima, et hoc Caesarem pro indulgentia in suos probaturum putamus.
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[1] Not only the plans of humble men like ourselves, but even those of the most distinguished men, are usually judged by their outcome rather than by their intention. Nevertheless, relying on your kindness, I shall set forth what seems most true to us concerning the whole situation. If this is followed, I trust your wisdom will easily defend our counsel. [2] If it was Caesar alone we had to deal with and not also the dregs of the whole world, the matter would be more manageable. We see from Caesar's letters that he is very dissatisfied with our friend Pompey's flight. But see the kind of men that have flocked to us: first, there are the debtors, among whom you have the famous Curio; then the deserters, among whom you have L. Metellus and Q. Cassius. Then come the military tribunes and the centurions. Yet a civil war, if it must be waged, is better conducted under a constitutional general than under one who says the Republic has been subverted. We were never in favor of peace, but we followed the constitutional generals even though their decisions were wrongheaded. [3] Now what could be more disgraceful than our leaving Italy? And if staying was honorable, why has everyone left? We yielded to the moment, just as many others in many commonwealths have yielded, and have followed the established authority. If, as we set out, we had achieved any success, I would now be in favor of what you call a moderate course. But the case is as it is. I ask that you defend us. I hope I shall see you.
Latin / Greek Original
[1] nedum hominum humilium, ut nos sumus, sed etiam amplissimorum virorum consilia ex eventu, non ex voluntate a plerisque probari solent. tamen freti tua humanitate quod verissimum nobis videbitur de eo quod ad nos scripsisti tibi consilium dabimus. quod si non fuerit prudens, at certe ab optima fide et optimo animo proficiscetur. nos si id quod nostro iudicio Caesarem facere oportere existimamus, ut, simul Romam venerit, agat de reconciliatione gratiae suae et Pompei, id eum facturum ex ipso cognovissemus, te hortari <non desineremus> ut velles iis rebus interesse, quo facilius et maiore cum dignitate per te qui utrique es coniunctus res tota confieret, aut si ex contrario putaremus Caesarem id non facturum et etiam velle cum Pompeio bellum gerere sciremus, numquam tibi suaderemus contra hominem optime de te meritum arma ferres, sicuti te semper oravimus ne contra Caesarem pugnares. [2] sed cum etiam nunc quid facturus Caesar sit magis opinari quam scire <possimus>, non possumus nisi hoc, non videri eam tuam esse dignitatem neque fidem omnibus cognitam ut contra alterutrum, cum utrique sis maxime necessarius, arma feras, et hoc non dubitamus quin Caesar pro sua humanitate maxime sit probaturus. nos tamen, si tibi videbitur, ad Caesarem scribemus ut nos certiores faciat quid de hac re acturus sit. A quo si erit nobis rescriptum, statim quae sentiemus ad te scribemus et tibi fidem faciemus nos ea suadere quae nobis videntur tuae dignitati, non Caesaris actioni esse utilissima, et hoc Caesarem pro indulgentia in suos probaturum putamus.