Marcus Tullius Cicero→Unknown|c. -50 AD|Cicero|AI-assisted
I was indeed anxious about affairs in the city. Such tumultuous public meetings, such troublesome Quinquatrus were being reported — for I had not yet heard the more recent news. But nevertheless nothing troubled me more than that, amid all these annoyances, I could not laugh with you at whatever was laughable; for there is much to laugh at, but I dare not write it. What vexes me is that I have so far received no letter from you about these matters. Therefore, although by the time you read this I shall have completed my year of office, I would still like your letters to meet me on my way, to inform me about the entire state of public affairs, so that I do not arrive as a complete stranger. No one can do this better than you. Your friend Diogenes, a modest fellow, left me together with Philo for Pessinus. They were making their way to Adiatorix, although they had learned that everything there was neither generous nor abundant. The city, the city, my dear Rufus — cherish it, and live in that light! All time abroad, as I have judged since my youth, is obscure and mean for those whose energy could shine brightly at Rome. Since I knew this well enough, I wish I had held firm to that conviction! I do not compare all the profits of a province with a single little walk and a single conversation of ours, by Hercules. I hope I have won a reputation for integrity — the credit from scorning the province would have been no less than from preserving it. You dangle before me the hope of a triumph; I would triumph gloriously enough if only I were not so long parted from the things dearest to me. But, as I hope, I shall see you soon. Send letters worthy of you to meet me on the road.
XII. M. CICERO IMP. S. D. M. CAELIO AEDILI CURULI in castris ad Pyramum(?); c. v Kal. Quint. 50
Sollicitus equidem eram de rebus urbanis. Ita tumultuosae contiones, ita molestae Quinquatrus adferebantur; nam citeriora nondum audieramus. Sed tamen nihil me magis sollicitabat quam in his molestiis non me, si quae ridenda essent, ridere tecum; sunt enim multa, sed ea non audeo scribere. Illud moleste fero, nihil me adhuc his de rebus habere tuarum litterarum. Qua re, etsi, cum tu haec leges, ego iam annuum munus confecero, tamen obviae mihi velim sint tuae litterae quae me erudiant de omni re publica, ne hospes plane veniam. Hoc melius quam tu facere nemo potest. Diogenes tuus, homo modestus, a me cum Philone Pessinuntem discessit. Iter habebant [ad] Adiatorigem, quamquam omnia nec benigna nec copiosa cognorant. Urbem, urbem, mi Rufe, cole et in ista luce vive! omnis peregrinatio, quod ego ab adulescentia iudicavi, obscura et sordida est iis quorum industria Romae potest illustris esse. Quod cum probe scirem, utinam in sententia permansissem! cum una mehercule ambulatiuncula atque uno sermone nostro omnis fructus provinciae non confero. Spero me integritatis laudem consecutum: non erat minor ex contemnenda quam est ex conservata provincia. Spem triumphi inicis: satis gloriose triumpharem, non essem quidem tam diu in desiderio rerum mihi carissimarum. Sed, ut spero, propediem te videbo. Tu mihi obviam mitte epistulas te dignas.
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I was indeed anxious about affairs in the city. Such tumultuous public meetings, such troublesome Quinquatrus were being reported — for I had not yet heard the more recent news. But nevertheless nothing troubled me more than that, amid all these annoyances, I could not laugh with you at whatever was laughable; for there is much to laugh at, but I dare not write it. What vexes me is that I have so far received no letter from you about these matters. Therefore, although by the time you read this I shall have completed my year of office, I would still like your letters to meet me on my way, to inform me about the entire state of public affairs, so that I do not arrive as a complete stranger. No one can do this better than you. Your friend Diogenes, a modest fellow, left me together with Philo for Pessinus. They were making their way to Adiatorix, although they had learned that everything there was neither generous nor abundant. The city, the city, my dear Rufus — cherish it, and live in that light! All time abroad, as I have judged since my youth, is obscure and mean for those whose energy could shine brightly at Rome. Since I knew this well enough, I wish I had held firm to that conviction! I do not compare all the profits of a province with a single little walk and a single conversation of ours, by Hercules. I hope I have won a reputation for integrity — the credit from scorning the province would have been no less than from preserving it. You dangle before me the hope of a triumph; I would triumph gloriously enough if only I were not so long parted from the things dearest to me. But, as I hope, I shall see you soon. Send letters worthy of you to meet me on the road.
Latin / Greek Original
XII. M. CICERO IMP. S. D. M. CAELIO AEDILI CURULI in castris ad Pyramum(?); c. v Kal. Quint. 50
Sollicitus equidem eram de rebus urbanis. Ita tumultuosae contiones, ita molestae Quinquatrus adferebantur; nam citeriora nondum audieramus. Sed tamen nihil me magis sollicitabat quam in his molestiis non me, si quae ridenda essent, ridere tecum; sunt enim multa, sed ea non audeo scribere. Illud moleste fero, nihil me adhuc his de rebus habere tuarum litterarum. Qua re, etsi, cum tu haec leges, ego iam annuum munus confecero, tamen obviae mihi velim sint tuae litterae quae me erudiant de omni re publica, ne hospes plane veniam. Hoc melius quam tu facere nemo potest. Diogenes tuus, homo modestus, a me cum Philone Pessinuntem discessit. Iter habebant [ad] Adiatorigem, quamquam omnia nec benigna nec copiosa cognorant. Urbem, urbem, mi Rufe, cole et in ista luce vive! omnis peregrinatio, quod ego ab adulescentia iudicavi, obscura et sordida est iis quorum industria Romae potest illustris esse. Quod cum probe scirem, utinam in sententia permansissem! cum una mehercule ambulatiuncula atque uno sermone nostro omnis fructus provinciae non confero. Spero me integritatis laudem consecutum: non erat minor ex contemnenda quam est ex conservata provincia. Spem triumphi inicis: satis gloriose triumpharem, non essem quidem tam diu in desiderio rerum mihi carissimarum. Sed, ut spero, propediem te videbo. Tu mihi obviam mitte epistulas te dignas.