Marcus Tullius Cicero→Terentia|c. 53 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome|Human translated
As for what I wrote to you in my last letter about sending back a messenger, I do not know what that man's power is at this time or what the agitation of the crowd is. If he is to be feared when angry, keep quiet; though perhaps it will come from him anyway. You will judge what the whole situation is like, and you will do what you think is least wretched in the most wretched circumstances. Farewell. The sixth day before the Ides of July.
CDXXXVII (Fam. XIV, 13) TO TERENTIA (AT ROME) BRUNDISIUM, 10 JULY: In reference to what I said to you in my last about divorcing Tullia 's husband, I don't know what force he has at his back at such a time as this, or what power of stirring up the populace. If he can be dangerous when roused to anger, do nothing. But yet it is possible that he will take the first step. But you must judge after a review of the whole business, and do what you think least distressing in a most distressing business. Good-bye. 10 July.
XIII. Scr. Brundisi VI. Idus Quinctiles a.u.c. 707. TULLIUS S. D. TERENTIAE SUAE.
Quod scripsi ad te proximis litteris de nuntio remittendo, quae sit istius vis hoc tempore et quae concitatio multitudinis, ignoro. Si metuendus iratus est, quiesces; tamen ab illo fortasse nascetur. Totum iudicabis quale sit, et, quod in miserrimis rebus minime miserum putabis, id facies. Vale. VI Id. Quinctiles.
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As for what I wrote to you in my last letter about sending back a messenger, I do not know what that man's power is at this time or what the agitation of the crowd is. If he is to be feared when angry, keep quiet; though perhaps it will come from him anyway. You will judge what the whole situation is like, and you will do what you think is least wretched in the most wretched circumstances. Farewell. The sixth day before the Ides of July.
Human translation - ToposText / Shuckburgh
Latin / Greek Original
XIII. Scr. Brundisi VI. Idus Quinctiles a.u.c. 707. TULLIUS S. D. TERENTIAE SUAE.
Quod scripsi ad te proximis litteris de nuntio remittendo, quae sit istius vis hoc tempore et quae concitatio multitudinis, ignoro. Si metuendus iratus est, quiesces; tamen ab illo fortasse nascetur. Totum iudicabis quale sit, et, quod in miserrimis rebus minime miserum putabis, id facies. Vale. VI Id. Quinctiles.