Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. -49 AD|Cicero|AI-assisted
On the 14th of May Hortensius came to me, just as I had written my
letter. I wish his conduct were always as it is now. You would
never believe how gushing he was, and I intend to take advantage of it.
Then Serapion came with a letter from you. Before I opened it, I told
him that you had written to me about him before, as you had done. Then
when I had read the letter, I told him the rest in full detail, and
upon my word I like the man; for I think him to be learned and upright.
Moreover I think I will use his ship and make him my fellow-passenger.
Or "I wish he would always confine himself to writing." But the
passage may be corrupt.
Inflammation of the eyes often breaks out again, not indeed very
troublesome, but enough to prevent my writing. That your health has
recovered from your old complaint and your new attacks I am glad.
I wish I had Ocella here: for it looks as if things are going to be
rather easier. Just now the equinox is delaying me. It has been very
boisterous. When that is over, I only hope Hortensius may keep to the
same mind. So far he could not be more generous.
You wonder about the passport I mentioned, as if I hinted you were
guilty of some crime. You say you can't discover how it came into my
mind. For my part since you wrote that you meditated leaving, and I had
heard that a passport was indispensable, I decided you must have one:
and also because you had taken out a passport for the boys. That was
the reason for my opinion, but please write and tell me
velim scire, quid cogites, in primisque, si quid etiam nunc novi est.
XVII K. Iun.
[1] Sine dubio errasse nos confitendum est. 'at semel, at una in re.' immo omnia quo diligentius cogitata eo facta sunt imprudentius. alla ta men protetuchthai easomen achnumenoi per. in reliquis modo ne ruamus. iubes de profectione me providere. quid provideam? ita patent omnia quae accidere possunt ut, ea si vitem, sedendum sit cum dedecore et dolore, si neglegam, periculum sit ne in manus incidam perditorum. sed vide quantis in miseriis simus. optandum interdum videtur ut aliquam accipiamus ab istis quamvis acerbam iniuriam, ut tyranno in odio fuisse videamur. [2] quod si nobis is cursus quem speraram pateret, effecissem aliquid profecto, ut tu optas et hortaris, dignum nostra mora. sed mirificae sunt custodiae et quidem ille ipse Curio suspectus. qua re vi aut clam agendum est et si +vi forte ne cum pestate clamaut emistis. in quo si quod sphalma, vides quam turpe sit. trahimur, nec fugiendum si quid violentius. [3] de Caelio saepe mecum agito nec, si quid habuero tale, a dimittam. Hispanias spero firmas esse. Massiliensium factum cum ipsum per se luculentum est tum mihi argumento est recte esse in Hispaniis. minus enim auderent, si aliter esset et scirent; nam et vicini et diligentes sunt. odium autem recte animadvertis significatum <in> theatro. legiones etiam has quas in Italia assumpsit alienissimas esse video. sed tamen nihil inimicius quam sibi ipse. illud recte times ne ruat. si desperarit, certe ruet. quo magis efficiendum aliquid est, fortuna velim meliore, animo Caeliano. sed primum quidque. quod, qualecumque erit, continuo scies. [4] nos iuveni, ut rogas, suppeditabimus et Peloponnesum ipsam sustinebimus. est enim indoles, modo aliquod +hoc sit êthos akimoan+. quod si adhuc nullum est, esse tamen potest, aut aretê non est didakton, quod mihi persuaderi non potest.
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On the 14th of May Hortensius came to me, just as I had written my letter. I wish his conduct were always as it is now. You would never believe how gushing he was, and I intend to take advantage of it. Then Serapion came with a letter from you. Before I opened it, I told him that you had written to me about him before, as you had done. Then when I had read the letter, I told him the rest in full detail, and upon my word I like the man; for I think him to be learned and upright. Moreover I think I will use his ship and make him my fellow-passenger.
Or "I wish he would always confine himself to writing." But the passage may be corrupt.
Inflammation of the eyes often breaks out again, not indeed very troublesome, but enough to prevent my writing. That your health has recovered from your old complaint and your new attacks I am glad.
I wish I had Ocella here: for it looks as if things are going to be rather easier. Just now the equinox is delaying me. It has been very boisterous. When that is over, I only hope Hortensius may keep to the same mind. So far he could not be more generous.
You wonder about the passport I mentioned, as if I hinted you were guilty of some crime. You say you can't discover how it came into my mind. For my part since you wrote that you meditated leaving, and I had heard that a passport was indispensable, I decided you must have one: and also because you had taken out a passport for the boys. That was the reason for my opinion, but please write and tell me
velim scire, quid cogites, in primisque, si quid etiam nunc novi est.
XVII K. Iun.
Latin / Greek Original
[1] Sine dubio errasse nos confitendum est. 'at semel, at una in re.' immo omnia quo diligentius cogitata eo facta sunt imprudentius. alla ta men protetuchthai easomen achnumenoi per. in reliquis modo ne ruamus. iubes de profectione me providere. quid provideam? ita patent omnia quae accidere possunt ut, ea si vitem, sedendum sit cum dedecore et dolore, si neglegam, periculum sit ne in manus incidam perditorum. sed vide quantis in miseriis simus. optandum interdum videtur ut aliquam accipiamus ab istis quamvis acerbam iniuriam, ut tyranno in odio fuisse videamur. [2] quod si nobis is cursus quem speraram pateret, effecissem aliquid profecto, ut tu optas et hortaris, dignum nostra mora. sed mirificae sunt custodiae et quidem ille ipse Curio suspectus. qua re vi aut clam agendum est et si +vi forte ne cum pestate clamaut emistis. in quo si quod sphalma, vides quam turpe sit. trahimur, nec fugiendum si quid violentius. [3] de Caelio saepe mecum agito nec, si quid habuero tale, a dimittam. Hispanias spero firmas esse. Massiliensium factum cum ipsum per se luculentum est tum mihi argumento est recte esse in Hispaniis. minus enim auderent, si aliter esset et scirent; nam et vicini et diligentes sunt. odium autem recte animadvertis significatum <in> theatro. legiones etiam has quas in Italia assumpsit alienissimas esse video. sed tamen nihil inimicius quam sibi ipse. illud recte times ne ruat. si desperarit, certe ruet. quo magis efficiendum aliquid est, fortuna velim meliore, animo Caeliano. sed primum quidque. quod, qualecumque erit, continuo scies. [4] nos iuveni, ut rogas, suppeditabimus et Peloponnesum ipsam sustinebimus. est enim indoles, modo aliquod +hoc sit êthos akimoan+. quod si adhuc nullum est, esse tamen potest, aut aretê non est didakton, quod mihi persuaderi non potest.