Marcus Tullius Cicero→Unknown|c. -50 AD|Cicero|AI-assisted
Would you ever have believed it could happen that words would fail me — and not only those oratorical words of your trade, but even these light everyday ones of mine? Yet they do fail me, for this reason: I am extraordinarily anxious about what will be decreed concerning the provinces. A remarkable longing for the city grips me, an incredible longing for my friends and above all for you; meanwhile I am thoroughly sated with the province — whether because I seem to have achieved such a reputation that I need not seek further additions to it but rather must fear the reversal of my fortune, or because the whole business is unworthy of my abilities, since I both can and customarily do bear greater burdens in public life, or because the threat of a great war looms, which I seem likely to escape if I depart by the appointed date.
Regarding the panthers, the matter is being handled diligently on my instructions by those who usually hunt them. But there is a remarkable scarcity, and those panthers that do exist are said to complain bitterly that in my province no traps are laid for anyone except themselves. And so they are reported to have resolved to leave my province for Caria. Nevertheless, the effort is being made earnestly, and especially by Patiscus. Whatever turns up will be yours — but what that might be, I frankly had no idea.
Your aedileship, I swear, is a matter of great concern to me. The date itself reminded me, for I am writing this on the very day of the Megalesian Games. Please write to me as thoroughly as possible about the entire state of public affairs, for I shall consider most reliable whatever I learn from you.
XI. M. CICERO IMP. S. D. M. CAELIO AEDILI CURULI Laodiceae; prid. Non. Apr. 50
Putaresne umquam accidere posse ut mihi verba deessent, neque solum ista vestra oratoria sed haec etiam levia nostratia? Desunt autem propter hanc causam quod mirifice sum sollicitus quidnam de provinciis decernatur. Mirum me desiderium tenet urbis, incredibile meorum atque in primis tui, satietas autem provinciae, vel quia videmur eam famam consecuti ut non tam accessio quaerenda quam fortuna metuenda sit vel quia totum negotium non est dignum viribus nostris, qui maiora onera in re publica sustinere et possim et soleam, vel quia belli magni timor impendet, quod videmur effugere si ad constitutam diem decedemus. De pantheris per eos qui venari solent agitur mandatu meo diligenter. Sed mira paucitas est, et eas quae sunt valde aiunt queri quod nihil cuiquam insidiarum in mea provincia nisi sibi fiat. Itaque constituisse dicuntur in Cariam ex nostra provincia decedere. Sed tamen sedulo fit et in primis a Patisco. Quicquid erit, tibi erit; sed quid esset plane nesciebamus. Mihi mehercule magnae curae est aedilitas tua. Ipse dies me admonebat; scripsi enim haec ipsis Megalensibus. Tu velim ad me de omni rei publicae statu quam diligentissime perscribas; ea enim certissima putabo quae ex te cognoro.
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Would you ever have believed it could happen that words would fail me — and not only those oratorical words of your trade, but even these light everyday ones of mine? Yet they do fail me, for this reason: I am extraordinarily anxious about what will be decreed concerning the provinces. A remarkable longing for the city grips me, an incredible longing for my friends and above all for you; meanwhile I am thoroughly sated with the province — whether because I seem to have achieved such a reputation that I need not seek further additions to it but rather must fear the reversal of my fortune, or because the whole business is unworthy of my abilities, since I both can and customarily do bear greater burdens in public life, or because the threat of a great war looms, which I seem likely to escape if I depart by the appointed date.
Regarding the panthers, the matter is being handled diligently on my instructions by those who usually hunt them. But there is a remarkable scarcity, and those panthers that do exist are said to complain bitterly that in my province no traps are laid for anyone except themselves. And so they are reported to have resolved to leave my province for Caria. Nevertheless, the effort is being made earnestly, and especially by Patiscus. Whatever turns up will be yours — but what that might be, I frankly had no idea.
Your aedileship, I swear, is a matter of great concern to me. The date itself reminded me, for I am writing this on the very day of the Megalesian Games. Please write to me as thoroughly as possible about the entire state of public affairs, for I shall consider most reliable whatever I learn from you.
Latin / Greek Original
XI. M. CICERO IMP. S. D. M. CAELIO AEDILI CURULI Laodiceae; prid. Non. Apr. 50
Putaresne umquam accidere posse ut mihi verba deessent, neque solum ista vestra oratoria sed haec etiam levia nostratia? Desunt autem propter hanc causam quod mirifice sum sollicitus quidnam de provinciis decernatur. Mirum me desiderium tenet urbis, incredibile meorum atque in primis tui, satietas autem provinciae, vel quia videmur eam famam consecuti ut non tam accessio quaerenda quam fortuna metuenda sit vel quia totum negotium non est dignum viribus nostris, qui maiora onera in re publica sustinere et possim et soleam, vel quia belli magni timor impendet, quod videmur effugere si ad constitutam diem decedemus. De pantheris per eos qui venari solent agitur mandatu meo diligenter. Sed mira paucitas est, et eas quae sunt valde aiunt queri quod nihil cuiquam insidiarum in mea provincia nisi sibi fiat. Itaque constituisse dicuntur in Cariam ex nostra provincia decedere. Sed tamen sedulo fit et in primis a Patisco. Quicquid erit, tibi erit; sed quid esset plane nesciebamus. Mihi mehercule magnae curae est aedilitas tua. Ipse dies me admonebat; scripsi enim haec ipsis Megalensibus. Tu velim ad me de omni rei publicae statu quam diligentissime perscribas; ea enim certissima putabo quae ex te cognoro.