Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. -46 AD|Cicero|AI-assisted
I have scribbled a note with all you want on a tablet, and given it to
Eros—quite shortly, but more than you ask for. In it I have spoken about
my son, of whose intentions you gave me the first hint. I took a most
liberal tone with him, and, if you think it convenient, I should like
you to ask him about that. But why put it off? I pointed out that you
had told me what he wished to do and what he wanted: "he wished to go to
Spain, and wanted a liberal allowance." As for the allowance, I said I
would give him as much as Publilius or Lentulus the flamen gave their
sons. Against Spain I brought forward two arguments, the first, the one
I used to you, that I was afraid of adverse criticism: "Was it not
enough that we abandoned one side? Must we take the other?" The second
that he would be annoyed, if his cousin enjoyed Caesar's intimacy and
general goodwill more than he did. I should prefer him to make use of my
liberal offer rather than of his liberty. However I gave him permission;
for I saw you did not really dislike the idea. I shall think the matter
over carefully, and I hope you will too. It is an important point: to
stay is simple, to go risky. But we shall see.
De Balbo et in codicillis scripseram et ita cogito, simul ac redierit.
Sin ille tardius, ego tamen triduum, et, quod praeterii, Dolabella etiam
mecum.
de Caelio vide, quaeso, ne quae lacuna sit in auro. ego ista non novi. sed certe in collubo est detrimenti satis. huc aurum si accedit--sed quid loquor? tu videbis. habes Hegesiae genus, quod Varro laudat. [2] venio ad Tyrannionem. ain tu? verum hoc fuit? sine me? at ego quotiens, cum essem otiosus, sine te tamen nolui? quo modo hoc ergo lues? Vno scilicet si mihi librum miseris; quod ut facias etiam atque etiam rogo. etsi me non magis liber ipse delectabit quam tua admiratio delectavit. amo enim pa/nta filhdei/mona teque istam tam tenuem qewri/an tam valde admiratum esse gaudeo. etsi tua quidem sunt eius modi omnia. scire enim vis; quo uno animus alitur. sed, quaeso, quid ex ista acuta et gravi refertur ad te/loj ? sed longa oratio est, et tu occupatus es in meo quidem fortasse aliquo negotio. et pro isto asso sole quo tu abusus es in nostro pratulo a te nitidum solem unctumque repetemus. sed ad prima redeo. librum, si me amas, mitte. tuus est enim profecto, quoniam quidem est missus ad te. Chreme/s, tantumne ab re/ tua est oti/ tibi , ut etiam oratorem legas? macte virtute! mihi quidem gratum <est> et erit gratius si non modo in tuis libris sed etiam in aliorum per librarios tuos 'Aristophanem' reposueris pro 'Eupoli.' [4] Caesar autem mihi inridere visus est 'quaeso' illud tuum, quod erat et eu)pine\j et urbanum. ita porro te sine cura esse iussit ut mihi quidem dubitationem omnem tolleret. Atticam doleo <tam> diu; sed quoniam iam sine horrore est, spero esse ut volumus.
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I have scribbled a note with all you want on a tablet, and given it to Eros—quite shortly, but more than you ask for. In it I have spoken about my son, of whose intentions you gave me the first hint. I took a most liberal tone with him, and, if you think it convenient, I should like you to ask him about that. But why put it off? I pointed out that you had told me what he wished to do and what he wanted: "he wished to go to Spain, and wanted a liberal allowance." As for the allowance, I said I would give him as much as Publilius or Lentulus the flamen gave their sons. Against Spain I brought forward two arguments, the first, the one I used to you, that I was afraid of adverse criticism: "Was it not enough that we abandoned one side? Must we take the other?" The second that he would be annoyed, if his cousin enjoyed Caesar's intimacy and general goodwill more than he did. I should prefer him to make use of my liberal offer rather than of his liberty. However I gave him permission; for I saw you did not really dislike the idea. I shall think the matter over carefully, and I hope you will too. It is an important point: to stay is simple, to go risky. But we shall see.
De Balbo et in codicillis scripseram et ita cogito, simul ac redierit. Sin ille tardius, ego tamen triduum, et, quod praeterii, Dolabella etiam mecum.
Latin / Greek Original
de Caelio vide, quaeso, ne quae lacuna sit in auro. ego ista non novi. sed certe in collubo est detrimenti satis. huc aurum si accedit--sed quid loquor? tu videbis. habes Hegesiae genus, quod Varro laudat. [2] venio ad Tyrannionem. ain tu? verum hoc fuit? sine me? at ego quotiens, cum essem otiosus, sine te tamen nolui? quo modo hoc ergo lues? Vno scilicet si mihi librum miseris; quod ut facias etiam atque etiam rogo. etsi me non magis liber ipse delectabit quam tua admiratio delectavit. amo enim pa/nta filhdei/mona teque istam tam tenuem qewri/an tam valde admiratum esse gaudeo. etsi tua quidem sunt eius modi omnia. scire enim vis; quo uno animus alitur. sed, quaeso, quid ex ista acuta et gravi refertur ad te/loj ? sed longa oratio est, et tu occupatus es in meo quidem fortasse aliquo negotio. et pro isto asso sole quo tu abusus es in nostro pratulo a te nitidum solem unctumque repetemus. sed ad prima redeo. librum, si me amas, mitte. tuus est enim profecto, quoniam quidem est missus ad te. Chreme/s, tantumne ab re/ tua est oti/ tibi , ut etiam oratorem legas? macte virtute! mihi quidem gratum <est> et erit gratius si non modo in tuis libris sed etiam in aliorum per librarios tuos 'Aristophanem' reposueris pro 'Eupoli.' [4] Caesar autem mihi inridere visus est 'quaeso' illud tuum, quod erat et eu)pine\j et urbanum. ita porro te sine cura esse iussit ut mihi quidem dubitationem omnem tolleret. Atticam doleo <tam> diu; sed quoniam iam sine horrore est, spero esse ut volumus.