Quintus Tullius Cicero→Marcus Tullius Tiro|c. 47 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Patrae|AI-assisted
Your letter gave me a remarkable whipping for my failure to write. What my brother had written more sparingly, no doubt from modesty and haste, you wrote to me without flattery and just as things were, especially about the consuls-designate. I know them through and through: they are full of lusts and the softest weakness of spirit.
Unless they leave the helm, there is the greatest danger of a general shipwreck. You could scarcely believe what I know they did in the summer camp opposite the Gallic encampment. And that brigand Antony, unless some firmer action is taken, will charm them over through their shared vices.
The situation must be secured either through the tribunes or through private plans. As for those two men, one is scarcely fit to be trusted with Caesena, the other with the cellars under Cossutius's wine-shops.
As I said, I carry you in my eyes. I will see you all on the 30th, and if I meet you in the middle of the forum as I come in, I will cover your eyes with kisses. Love me, and goodbye.
DCCCXII (Fam. XVI, 27) QUINTUS CICERO TO TIRO (AT ROME) (FROM THE COUNTRY, LATE IN DECEMBER) YOUR letter contained a remarkable castigation of my idleness. For what my brother had written in more reserved terms — no doubt from modesty and haste-you have written to me without mincing matters and in accordance with the facts. This is specially the case in regard to the consuls-designate, whom I know thoroughly to be compact of vice and the most womanish weakness. If they do not quit the helm, there is the greatest danger of universal shipwreck. You could scarcely believe what I know of those men having done in the summer camp in face of the Gallic laager. And that ruffian Antony , unless some firm step is taken, will win them over by the infection of his vices. We must make a stand by aid of the tribunes or by an understanding between unofficial persons. For as to those two fellows — they are scarcely fit, the one to have charge of Caesena , the other of the vaults of Cossutius 's wine-shops. You, as I have said, are the apple of my eye. I shall be with you all on the 30th; and as for yourself, if I meet you as I come in the forum itself, I shall cover you with kisses. Love me, and good-bye.
XXVII. Scr. Romae exeunte a.u.c. 710 (ante III. Kal. Ian.). Q. CICERO TIRONI SUO SAL. PLURIMAM DICIT.
Mirificam mihi verberationem cessationis epistula dedisti; nam, quae parcius frater perscripserat, verecundia videlicet et properatione, ea tu sine assentatione, ut erant, ad me scripsisti, et maxime de consulibus designatis, quos ego penitus novi libidinum et languoris effeminatissimi animi plenos; qui nisi a guvernaculis recesserint, maximum ab universo naufragio periculum est. Incredibile est, quae ego illos sciam oppositis Gallorum castris in aestivis fecisse, quos ille latro, nisi aliquid firmius fuerit, societate vitiorum deleniet. Res est aut tribuniciis aut privatis consiliis munienda; nam isti duo vix sunt digni, quibus alteri Caesenam, alteri Cossutianarum tabernarum fundamenta credas. Te, ut dixi, fero oculis. Ego vos a. d. III K. videbo tuosque oculos, etiamsi te veniens in medio foro videro, dissuaviabor. Me ama et vale. Cicero
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Your letter gave me a remarkable whipping for my failure to write. What my brother had written more sparingly, no doubt from modesty and haste, you wrote to me without flattery and just as things were, especially about the consuls-designate. I know them through and through: they are full of lusts and the softest weakness of spirit.
Unless they leave the helm, there is the greatest danger of a general shipwreck. You could scarcely believe what I know they did in the summer camp opposite the Gallic encampment. And that brigand Antony, unless some firmer action is taken, will charm them over through their shared vices.
The situation must be secured either through the tribunes or through private plans. As for those two men, one is scarcely fit to be trusted with Caesena, the other with the cellars under Cossutius's wine-shops.
As I said, I carry you in my eyes. I will see you all on the 30th, and if I meet you in the middle of the forum as I come in, I will cover your eyes with kisses. Love me, and goodbye.
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
XXVII. Scr. Romae exeunte a.u.c. 710 (ante III. Kal. Ian.). Q. CICERO TIRONI SUO SAL. PLURIMAM DICIT.
Mirificam mihi verberationem cessationis epistula dedisti; nam, quae parcius frater perscripserat, verecundia videlicet et properatione, ea tu sine assentatione, ut erant, ad me scripsisti, et maxime de consulibus designatis, quos ego penitus novi libidinum et languoris effeminatissimi animi plenos; qui nisi a guvernaculis recesserint, maximum ab universo naufragio periculum est. Incredibile est, quae ego illos sciam oppositis Gallorum castris in aestivis fecisse, quos ille latro, nisi aliquid firmius fuerit, societate vitiorum deleniet. Res est aut tribuniciis aut privatis consiliis munienda; nam isti duo vix sunt digni, quibus alteri Caesenam, alteri Cossutianarum tabernarum fundamenta credas. Te, ut dixi, fero oculis. Ego vos a. d. III K. videbo tuosque oculos, etiamsi te veniens in medio foro videro, dissuaviabor. Me ama et vale. Cicero