Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. -66 AD|Cicero|AI-assisted
Things are as we wish at your end. Your mother and sister are cherished by me and by my brother Quintus. I have spoken with Acutilius. He says nothing has been written to him by his agent and is surprised that there was any dispute over his refusal to give surety that no further claim would be made against you. As for the Tadius business, which you write that you have settled, I understand it was both welcome and exceedingly pleasing to Tadius. That friend of ours — truly, by Hercules, the best of men and most devoted to me — is quite angry with you. If I knew how much weight you give this, then I could know what effort I must make. I have arranged for 20,400 sesterces to be paid to Lucius Cincius for the Megarian statues, as you had written to me. Your herms of Pentelic marble with bronze heads, which you wrote to me about, already delight me greatly. Therefore I would like you to send both those and any statues and other pieces that seem to you fitting for that place, for my passion, and for your refined taste — as many as possible and as soon as possible — and especially whatever seems to you suitable for the gymnasium and the xystus. For in this pursuit I am carried away with such enthusiasm that I deserve your help, though perhaps the reproach of others. If there is no ship of Lentulus available, load them on whatever vessel you please. Little Tulliola, my darling, demands your promised gift and summons me as guarantor; but I am more inclined to deny the debt than to pay it.
All’s well—as well as could be desired—at home. Quintus and I are
looking after your mother and sister. I’ve spoken to Acutilius. He says
his broker has not advised him, and is much surprised there should have
been such a fuss because he refused to guarantee that there should be no
further claims on you. The settlement that you have arranged about
Tadius’ affairs is, I am sure, very good news for him, and he is pleased
about it. That friend of mine, who is really quite a good soul and very
amiable to me, is exceedingly annoyed with you. When I know how deeply
you take it to heart, I may be able to lay my plans accordingly.
I have raised the £180 for L. Cincius for the statues of Megaric
marble, as you advised me. Those figures of Hermes in Pentelic marble
with bronze heads, about which you wrote, I have already fallen in love
with: so please send them and anything else that you think suits the
place, and my enthusiasm for such things, and your own taste—the more
the merrier, and the sooner the better—especially those you intend for
the Gymnasium and the colonnade. For my appreciation for art treasures
is so great that I am afraid most people will laugh at me, though I
expect encouragement from you. If none of Lentulus’ boats are coming,
put them on any ship you like. My little darling, Tullia, keeps asking
for your promised present and duns me as though I were answerable for
you. But I am going to deny my obligation rather than pay up.
Apud te est, ut volumus. Mater tua et soror a me Quintoque fratre diligitur. Cum Acutilio sum locutus. Is sibi negat a suo procuratore quicquam scriptum esse et miratur istam controversiam fuisse, quod ille recusarit satis dare amplius abs te non peti. Quod te de Tadiano negotio decidisse scribis, id ego Tadio et gratum esse intellexi et magno opere iucundum. Ille noster amicus, vir mehercule optimus et mihi amicissimus, sane tibi iratus est. Hoc si quanti tu aestimes sciam, tum, quid mihi elaborandum sit, scire possim. L. Cincio HS [20,400] pro signis Megaricis, ut tu ad me scripseras, curavi. Hermae tui Pentelici cum capitibus aeneis, de quibus ad me scripsisti, iam nunc me admodum delectant. Quare velim et eos et signa et cetera, quae tibi eius loci et nostri studii et tuae elegantiae esse videbuntur, quam plurima quam primumque mittas, et maxime quae tibi gymnasii xystique videbuntur esse. Nam in eo genere sic studio efferimur, ut abs te adiuvandi, ab aLus prope reprehendendi simus. Si Lentuli navis non erit, quo tibi placebit, imponito. Tulliola deliciolae nostrae, tuum munusculum flagitat et me ut sponsorem appellat; mi autem abiurare certius est quam dependere.
◆
Things are as we wish at your end. Your mother and sister are cherished by me and by my brother Quintus. I have spoken with Acutilius. He says nothing has been written to him by his agent and is surprised that there was any dispute over his refusal to give surety that no further claim would be made against you. As for the Tadius business, which you write that you have settled, I understand it was both welcome and exceedingly pleasing to Tadius. That friend of ours — truly, by Hercules, the best of men and most devoted to me — is quite angry with you. If I knew how much weight you give this, then I could know what effort I must make. I have arranged for 20,400 sesterces to be paid to Lucius Cincius for the Megarian statues, as you had written to me. Your herms of Pentelic marble with bronze heads, which you wrote to me about, already delight me greatly. Therefore I would like you to send both those and any statues and other pieces that seem to you fitting for that place, for my passion, and for your refined taste — as many as possible and as soon as possible — and especially whatever seems to you suitable for the gymnasium and the xystus. For in this pursuit I am carried away with such enthusiasm that I deserve your help, though perhaps the reproach of others. If there is no ship of Lentulus available, load them on whatever vessel you please. Little Tulliola, my darling, demands your promised gift and summons me as guarantor; but I am more inclined to deny the debt than to pay it.
AI-assisted translation — This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek below for scholarly use.
Latin / Greek Original
Apud te est, ut volumus. Mater tua et soror a me Quintoque fratre diligitur. Cum Acutilio sum locutus. Is sibi negat a suo procuratore quicquam scriptum esse et miratur istam controversiam fuisse, quod ille recusarit satis dare amplius abs te non peti. Quod te de Tadiano negotio decidisse scribis, id ego Tadio et gratum esse intellexi et magno opere iucundum. Ille noster amicus, vir mehercule optimus et mihi amicissimus, sane tibi iratus est. Hoc si quanti tu aestimes sciam, tum, quid mihi elaborandum sit, scire possim. L. Cincio HS [20,400] pro signis Megaricis, ut tu ad me scripseras, curavi. Hermae tui Pentelici cum capitibus aeneis, de quibus ad me scripsisti, iam nunc me admodum delectant. Quare velim et eos et signa et cetera, quae tibi eius loci et nostri studii et tuae elegantiae esse videbuntur, quam plurima quam primumque mittas, et maxime quae tibi gymnasii xystique videbuntur esse. Nam in eo genere sic studio efferimur, ut abs te adiuvandi, ab aLus prope reprehendendi simus. Si Lentuli navis non erit, quo tibi placebit, imponito. Tulliola deliciolae nostrae, tuum munusculum flagitat et me ut sponsorem appellat; mi autem abiurare certius est quam dependere.