Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. -58 AD|Cicero|AI-assisted
I strongly approve that this is indeed the case and that your uncle has fulfilled his duty most vigorously. I will say that I rejoice, if I may be permitted to use that word. Wretched me! How everything would have gone according to plan, if only the courage, the judgment, and the loyalty of those in whom we placed our trust had not failed us! I do not wish to gather all these reflections lest I increase my grief; but I am certain that you can call to mind what our life was, what pleasure it held, what dignity. To recover all this, by all that is dear to us, press forward as you are doing, and see to it that I spend the anniversary of my return in your most delightful house, with you and with my family. Though I most wanted to wait for this hope and expectation that is being held out to us by staying with you in Epirus, what is written to me suggests it would be more convenient for us to be in the same place. [2] About my house and Curio's speech, it is as you write. In the general restoration of my position, if only it is restored to us, everything will be included; and of all things I desire nothing more than my house. But I give you no specific instructions; I entrust myself entirely to your affection and loyalty. That you have freed yourself from all other business despite so great an inheritance is very pleasing to me. That you promise your resources for my welfare so that I may be aided by you above all others — I see how great a support this is and I understand that you both undertake and are able to sustain many aspects of my preservation, and that there is no need to ask you to do so. Since you forbid me to suspect that anything has occurred in your mind that might seem wrongly done or neglected by me toward you, I will comply and free myself from that anxiety, though I shall owe you all the more in proportion as your kindness toward me has surpassed mine toward you. I would like you to write to me what you see, what you learn, and what is happening, and to urge all your people to work for my restoration. Sestius's bill has neither sufficient dignity nor sufficient safeguards. For it ought to be proposed by name and the provisions about my property need to be more carefully drafted — please see to this. Given on the 4th day before the Nones of October, at Thessalonica.
quod quidem ita esse et avunculum tuum functum esse officio vehementissime probo, gaudere me tum dicam, si mihi hoc verbo licebit uti. me miserum! quam omnia essent ex sententia, si nobis animus, si consilium, si fides eorum quibus credidimus non defuisset! quae conligere nolo ne augeam maerorem; sed tibi venire in mentem certo scio quae vita esset nostra, quae suavitas, quae dignitas. ad quae reciperanda, per fortunas! incumbe, ut facis, diemque natalem reditus mei cura ut in tuis aedibus amoenissimis agam tecum et cum meis. ego huic spei et exspectationi quae nobis proponitur maxime tamen volui praestolari apud te in Epiro, sed ita ad me scribitur ut putem esse commodius nos eisdem in locis esse. [2] de domo et Curionis oratione ut scribis ita est. in universa salute, si ea modo nobis restituetur, inerunt omnia; ex quibus nihil malo quam domum. sed tibi nihil mando nominatim, totum me tuo amori fideique commendo. quod te in tanta hereditate ab omni occupatione expedisti, valde mihi gratum est. quod facultates tuas ad meam salutem polliceris ut omnibus rebus a te praeter ceteros iuver, id quantum sit praesidium video intellegoque te multas partis meae salutis et suscipere et posse sustinere neque ut ita facias rogandum esse. quod me vetas quicquam suspicari accidisse ad animum tuum quod secus a me erga te commissum aut praetermissum videretur, geram tibi morem et liberabor ista cura, tibi tamen eo plus debebo quo tua in me humanitas fuerit excelsior quam in te mea. velim quid videas, quid intellegas, quid agatur ad me scribas tuosque omnis ad nostram salutem adhortere. rogatio Sesti neque dignitatis satis habet nec cautionis. nam et nominatim ferri oportet et de bonis diligentius scribi, et id animadvertas velim. data iiii Nonas Octobris Thessalonicae.
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I strongly approve that this is indeed the case and that your uncle has fulfilled his duty most vigorously. I will say that I rejoice, if I may be permitted to use that word. Wretched me! How everything would have gone according to plan, if only the courage, the judgment, and the loyalty of those in whom we placed our trust had not failed us! I do not wish to gather all these reflections lest I increase my grief; but I am certain that you can call to mind what our life was, what pleasure it held, what dignity. To recover all this, by all that is dear to us, press forward as you are doing, and see to it that I spend the anniversary of my return in your most delightful house, with you and with my family. Though I most wanted to wait for this hope and expectation that is being held out to us by staying with you in Epirus, what is written to me suggests it would be more convenient for us to be in the same place. [2] About my house and Curio's speech, it is as you write. In the general restoration of my position, if only it is restored to us, everything will be included; and of all things I desire nothing more than my house. But I give you no specific instructions; I entrust myself entirely to your affection and loyalty. That you have freed yourself from all other business despite so great an inheritance is very pleasing to me. That you promise your resources for my welfare so that I may be aided by you above all others — I see how great a support this is and I understand that you both undertake and are able to sustain many aspects of my preservation, and that there is no need to ask you to do so. Since you forbid me to suspect that anything has occurred in your mind that might seem wrongly done or neglected by me toward you, I will comply and free myself from that anxiety, though I shall owe you all the more in proportion as your kindness toward me has surpassed mine toward you. I would like you to write to me what you see, what you learn, and what is happening, and to urge all your people to work for my restoration. Sestius's bill has neither sufficient dignity nor sufficient safeguards. For it ought to be proposed by name and the provisions about my property need to be more carefully drafted — please see to this. Given on the 4th day before the Nones of October, at Thessalonica.
Latin / Greek Original
quod quidem ita esse et avunculum tuum functum esse officio vehementissime probo, gaudere me tum dicam, si mihi hoc verbo licebit uti. me miserum! quam omnia essent ex sententia, si nobis animus, si consilium, si fides eorum quibus credidimus non defuisset! quae conligere nolo ne augeam maerorem; sed tibi venire in mentem certo scio quae vita esset nostra, quae suavitas, quae dignitas. ad quae reciperanda, per fortunas! incumbe, ut facis, diemque natalem reditus mei cura ut in tuis aedibus amoenissimis agam tecum et cum meis. ego huic spei et exspectationi quae nobis proponitur maxime tamen volui praestolari apud te in Epiro, sed ita ad me scribitur ut putem esse commodius nos eisdem in locis esse. [2] de domo et Curionis oratione ut scribis ita est. in universa salute, si ea modo nobis restituetur, inerunt omnia; ex quibus nihil malo quam domum. sed tibi nihil mando nominatim, totum me tuo amori fideique commendo. quod te in tanta hereditate ab omni occupatione expedisti, valde mihi gratum est. quod facultates tuas ad meam salutem polliceris ut omnibus rebus a te praeter ceteros iuver, id quantum sit praesidium video intellegoque te multas partis meae salutis et suscipere et posse sustinere neque ut ita facias rogandum esse. quod me vetas quicquam suspicari accidisse ad animum tuum quod secus a me erga te commissum aut praetermissum videretur, geram tibi morem et liberabor ista cura, tibi tamen eo plus debebo quo tua in me humanitas fuerit excelsior quam in te mea. velim quid videas, quid intellegas, quid agatur ad me scribas tuosque omnis ad nostram salutem adhortere. rogatio Sesti neque dignitatis satis habet nec cautionis. nam et nominatim ferri oportet et de bonis diligentius scribi, et id animadvertas velim. data iiii Nonas Octobris Thessalonicae.