Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. -47 AD|Cicero|AI-assisted
To my sorrows, which are incalculable, there has come an addition
in the news that is brought me about the two Quinti. My friend P.
Terentius was acting as deputy to the collector of port-dues and
pasture tax in Asia, and he saw young Quintus at Ephesus on the 8th
of December and gave him a cordial invitation on account of our
friendship. And when he asked him something about me, Quintus told
him that I was his deadliest enemy and showed him the manuscript of a
speech which he said he was going to deliver before Caesar against me.
Terentius said all he could to dissuade him from such folly. Afterwards
at Patrae the elder Quintus talked freely to him in the same scandalous
strain. What a rage he is in you will have inferred from the letters
I sent you. I am sure this will grieve you. To me it is positive
torture, especially as I don't expect I shall even have a chance of
expostulating with them.
The news I get about the state of affairs in Africa is quite different
to what you sent me. They say that all is as strong and as ready as
possible. Then there are Spain and Italy alienated from Caesar; his
legions are not what they were either in strength or in loyalty; and
in the city things are in a poor plight; I cannot get a moment's
peace except when I am reading your letters. They would certainly be
more frequent, if you had any news which you thought would lighten my
sorrows. Still I beg you not to neglect writing to me, whatever the
news may be; and, if you cannot bring yourself to hate those who have
shown such unfeeling hostility to me, at
non ut aliquid proficias, sed ut tibi me carum esse sentiant. Plura
ad te scribam, si mihi ad eas litteras, quas proxime ad te dedi,
rescripseris. Vale.
XII K. Febr.
[1] ego vero et incaute, ut scribis, et celerius quam oportuit feci nec in ulla sum spe quippe qui exceptionibus edictorum retinear. quae si non essent sedulitate effectae et benivolentie va , liceret mihi abire in solitudines aliquas. nunc ne id quidem licet. quid autem me iuvat quod ante initum tribunatum veni, si ipsum quod veni nihil iuvat? iam quid sperem ab eo qui mihi amicus numquam fuit, cum iam lege etiam sim confectus et oppressus? cotidie iam Balbi ad me litterae languidiores multaeque multorum ad illum fortasse contra me. meo vitio pereo; nihil mihi mali casus attulit, omnia culpa contracta sunt. ego enim cum genus belli viderem, imparata et infirma omnia contra paratissimos, statueram quid facerem ceperamque consilium non tam forte quam mihi praeter ceteros concedendum. [2] cessi meis vel potius parui. ex quibus unus qua mente fuerit, is quem tu mihi commendas, cognosces ex ipsius litteris quae ad te et ad alios misit. quas ego numquam aperuissem, nisi res acta sic esset. delatus est ad me fasciculus. solvi, si quid ad me esset litterarum. nihil erat, epistula Vatinio et ligurio altera. iussi ad eos deferri. illi ad me statim ardentes dolore venerunt scelus hominis clamantes; epistulas mihi legerunt plenas omnium in me probrorum. hic ligurius furere, 'se enim scire summo illum in odio fuisse Caesari. illum tamen non modo favisse sed etiam tantam illi pecuniam dedisse honoris mei causa. hoc ego dolore accepto volui scire quid scripsisset ad ceteros; ipsi enim illi putavi perniciosum fore, si eius hoc tantum scelus percrebruisset. cognovi eiusdem generis. ad te misi. quas si putabis illi ipsi utile esse reddi, reddes. nil me laedet. nam quod resignatae sunt, habet, opinor, eius signum Pomponia. hac ille acerbitate initio navigationis cum usus esset, tanto me dolore adfecit ut postea iacuerim, neque nunc tam pro se quam contra me laborare dicitur. [3] ita omnibus rebus urgeor; quas sustinere vix possum vel plane nullo modo possum. quibus in miseriis una est pro omnibus quod istam miseram patrimonio, fortuna omni spoliatam relinquam. qua re te, (ut) polliceris, videre plane velim. Alium enim cui illam commendem habeo neminem, quoniam matri quoque eadem intellexi esse parata quae mihi. sed si me non offendes, satis tamen habeto commendatam patruumque in ea quantum poteris mitigato. haec ad te die natali meo scripsi. quo utinam susceptus non essem aut ne quid ex eadem matre postea natum esset! plura scribere fletu prohibeor.
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To my sorrows, which are incalculable, there has come an addition in the news that is brought me about the two Quinti. My friend P. Terentius was acting as deputy to the collector of port-dues and pasture tax in Asia, and he saw young Quintus at Ephesus on the 8th of December and gave him a cordial invitation on account of our friendship. And when he asked him something about me, Quintus told him that I was his deadliest enemy and showed him the manuscript of a speech which he said he was going to deliver before Caesar against me. Terentius said all he could to dissuade him from such folly. Afterwards at Patrae the elder Quintus talked freely to him in the same scandalous strain. What a rage he is in you will have inferred from the letters I sent you. I am sure this will grieve you. To me it is positive torture, especially as I don't expect I shall even have a chance of expostulating with them.
The news I get about the state of affairs in Africa is quite different to what you sent me. They say that all is as strong and as ready as possible. Then there are Spain and Italy alienated from Caesar; his legions are not what they were either in strength or in loyalty; and in the city things are in a poor plight; I cannot get a moment's peace except when I am reading your letters. They would certainly be more frequent, if you had any news which you thought would lighten my sorrows. Still I beg you not to neglect writing to me, whatever the news may be; and, if you cannot bring yourself to hate those who have shown such unfeeling hostility to me, at
non ut aliquid proficias, sed ut tibi me carum esse sentiant. Plura ad te scribam, si mihi ad eas litteras, quas proxime ad te dedi, rescripseris. Vale.
XII K. Febr.
Latin / Greek Original
[1] ego vero et incaute, ut scribis, et celerius quam oportuit feci nec in ulla sum spe quippe qui exceptionibus edictorum retinear. quae si non essent sedulitate effectae et benivolentie va , liceret mihi abire in solitudines aliquas. nunc ne id quidem licet. quid autem me iuvat quod ante initum tribunatum veni, si ipsum quod veni nihil iuvat? iam quid sperem ab eo qui mihi amicus numquam fuit, cum iam lege etiam sim confectus et oppressus? cotidie iam Balbi ad me litterae languidiores multaeque multorum ad illum fortasse contra me. meo vitio pereo; nihil mihi mali casus attulit, omnia culpa contracta sunt. ego enim cum genus belli viderem, imparata et infirma omnia contra paratissimos, statueram quid facerem ceperamque consilium non tam forte quam mihi praeter ceteros concedendum. [2] cessi meis vel potius parui. ex quibus unus qua mente fuerit, is quem tu mihi commendas, cognosces ex ipsius litteris quae ad te et ad alios misit. quas ego numquam aperuissem, nisi res acta sic esset. delatus est ad me fasciculus. solvi, si quid ad me esset litterarum. nihil erat, epistula Vatinio et ligurio altera. iussi ad eos deferri. illi ad me statim ardentes dolore venerunt scelus hominis clamantes; epistulas mihi legerunt plenas omnium in me probrorum. hic ligurius furere, 'se enim scire summo illum in odio fuisse Caesari. illum tamen non modo favisse sed etiam tantam illi pecuniam dedisse honoris mei causa. hoc ego dolore accepto volui scire quid scripsisset ad ceteros; ipsi enim illi putavi perniciosum fore, si eius hoc tantum scelus percrebruisset. cognovi eiusdem generis. ad te misi. quas si putabis illi ipsi utile esse reddi, reddes. nil me laedet. nam quod resignatae sunt, habet, opinor, eius signum Pomponia. hac ille acerbitate initio navigationis cum usus esset, tanto me dolore adfecit ut postea iacuerim, neque nunc tam pro se quam contra me laborare dicitur. [3] ita omnibus rebus urgeor; quas sustinere vix possum vel plane nullo modo possum. quibus in miseriis una est pro omnibus quod istam miseram patrimonio, fortuna omni spoliatam relinquam. qua re te, (ut) polliceris, videre plane velim. Alium enim cui illam commendem habeo neminem, quoniam matri quoque eadem intellexi esse parata quae mihi. sed si me non offendes, satis tamen habeto commendatam patruumque in ea quantum poteris mitigato. haec ad te die natali meo scripsi. quo utinam susceptus non essem aut ne quid ex eadem matre postea natum esset! plura scribere fletu prohibeor.