Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 51 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
We reached Ephesus on July 22, the five hundred and sixtieth day after the fight at Bovillae. We sailed without fear and without seasickness, though rather slowly because of the weakness of the Rhodian open boats. I imagine you have heard about the crowd of delegations and private petitioners, and about the incredible multitude that met me already at Samos and, in a truly astonishing way, at Ephesus. Or perhaps you will say, "What has that to do with me?" Still, the tax-farmers presented themselves eagerly, as if I had come with military power, and the Greeks as if I were governor of Asia.
From this I know you understand that the professions I have been making for many years have now been brought to the test. But I hope we shall use the training-ground I learned from you and satisfy everyone, all the more easily because the contracts in our province have already been settled. Enough of that, especially since Cestius interrupted me at dinner to say he was leaving by night.
Your little affairs at Ephesus have had my attention. Although Thermus had made very generous promises to all your people before I arrived, I still handed Philogenes and Seius over to him and recommended Xeno of Apollonis. In short, he undertook to do everything. I also gave Philogenes an account of the exchange transaction I made with you. Enough of that too.
I return to city business. For heaven's sake, since you are staying in Rome, first shore up and fortify this point: let my term be one year, and let there not even be an intercalation. Then finish my commissions, especially if anything can be done about that private anxiety you know of, and then about Caesar, whose repayment I threw myself into at your urging, and I do not regret it.
If you understand how much it matters to me to know and care what is happening in public affairs - happening? no, rather what is going to happen - write me everything, and with the greatest care. Above all, tell me whether the condition of the courts, past or future, is under any strain. If you care about the water, and if Philippus does anything, keep an eye on it.
I reached Ephesus on the 22nd of July, the five hundred and sixtieth day after the battle of Bovillae. The voyage caused me no alarm and no sickness, but was slow owing to the crankiness of the open boats. I imagine you have heard about the crowd of legations and of private suitors and about the astonishing number of people who met me even at Samos, and even more noticeably at Ephesus; or you may say it does not interest you. Still the tax-collectors thrust themselves on my notice as though I had come with an army behind me, and the Greeks as if I were governor of Asia. You will see that the professions of my life are now being put to the test. I hope I shall employ the training I have learned from you and satisfy everybody, the more easily because in my province the contracts have been settled. But
enough of this, especially as Cestius has interrupted my dinner with news that he is starting to-night.
I attended to your little jobs at Ephesus and although before my arrival Thermus had given the most lavish promises to all your people, still I introduced Philogenes and Seius to him, and recommended Xeno of Apollonis. He undertook to do everything. In addition I submitted to Philogenes an account of the sum I got from you by negotiating a bill of exchange. So enough of this too.
I return to town affairs. Since you are staying in Rome, in heaven’s name, do support and establish my plea to be let off with one year of office without additions to the calendar. Execute all my commissions; particularly get over that hitch in my private affairs of which you are aware, and over the business with Caesar. It was you who led me to try to pay my debt, and I am glad. If you understand my penchant to know and trouble about what is happening in public life, or rather what is going to happen, write to me in full and with accuracy, especially whether there is any break-down at all in the trials that have been held or are going to be held. If you are interested about the aqueduct, and if the contractor is at work, please give it your attention.
Ephesum venimus a. d. xi Kal. Sextilis sexagesimo et quingentesimo post pugnam Bovillanam. navigavimus sine timore et sine nausea sed tardius propter aphractorum Rhodiorum imbecillitatem. de concursu legationum, privatorum et de incredibili multitudine quae mihi iam Sami sed mirabilem in modum Ephesi praesto fuit aut audisse te puto aut 'quid ad me attinet?' verum tamen decumani (quasi) venissem cum imperio, Graeci quasi Ephesio praetori se alacres obtulerunt. ex quo te intellegere certo scio multorum annorum ostentationes meas nunc in discrimen esse adductas. sed ut spero, utemur ea palaestra quam a te didicimus omnibusque satis faciemus et eo facilius quod in nostra provincia confectae sunt pactiones. sed hactenus, praesertim cum cenanti mihi nuntiarit Cestius se de nocte proficisci. [2] tua negotiola Ephesi curae mihi fuerunt, Thermoque, tametsi ante adventum meum liberalissime erat pollicitus tuis omnibus, tamen Philogenem et Seium tradidi, Apollonidensem Xenonem commendavi. omnino omnia se facturum recepit. ego praeterea rationem Philogeni permutationis eius quam tecum feci edidi. ergo haec quoque hactenus. [3] redeo ad urbana. per fortunas! quoniam Romae manes, primum illud praefulci atque praemuni quaeso ut simus annui, ne intercaletur quidem. deinde exhauri mea mandata maximeque si quid potest de illo domestico scrupulo quem non ignoras, dein de Caesare cuius in cupiditatem te auctore incubui nec me piget. et si intellegis quam meum sit scire et curare quid in re publica fiat—fiat autem? immo vero etiam quid futurum sit, perscribe ad me omnia, sed diligentissime imprimisque ecquid iudiciorum status aut factorum aut futurorum etiam laboret. de aqua, si curae est, si quid Philippus aget animadvertes.
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We reached Ephesus on July 22, the five hundred and sixtieth day after the fight at Bovillae. We sailed without fear and without seasickness, though rather slowly because of the weakness of the Rhodian open boats. I imagine you have heard about the crowd of delegations and private petitioners, and about the incredible multitude that met me already at Samos and, in a truly astonishing way, at Ephesus. Or perhaps you will say, "What has that to do with me?" Still, the tax-farmers presented themselves eagerly, as if I had come with military power, and the Greeks as if I were governor of Asia.
From this I know you understand that the professions I have been making for many years have now been brought to the test. But I hope we shall use the training-ground I learned from you and satisfy everyone, all the more easily because the contracts in our province have already been settled. Enough of that, especially since Cestius interrupted me at dinner to say he was leaving by night.
Your little affairs at Ephesus have had my attention. Although Thermus had made very generous promises to all your people before I arrived, I still handed Philogenes and Seius over to him and recommended Xeno of Apollonis. In short, he undertook to do everything. I also gave Philogenes an account of the exchange transaction I made with you. Enough of that too.
I return to city business. For heaven's sake, since you are staying in Rome, first shore up and fortify this point: let my term be one year, and let there not even be an intercalation. Then finish my commissions, especially if anything can be done about that private anxiety you know of, and then about Caesar, whose repayment I threw myself into at your urging, and I do not regret it.
If you understand how much it matters to me to know and care what is happening in public affairs - happening? no, rather what is going to happen - write me everything, and with the greatest care. Above all, tell me whether the condition of the courts, past or future, is under any strain. If you care about the water, and if Philippus does anything, keep an eye on 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
Ephesum venimus a. d. xi Kal. Sextilis sexagesimo et quingentesimo post pugnam Bovillanam. navigavimus sine timore et sine nausea sed tardius propter aphractorum Rhodiorum imbecillitatem. de concursu legationum, privatorum et de incredibili multitudine quae mihi iam Sami sed mirabilem in modum Ephesi praesto fuit aut audisse te puto aut 'quid ad me attinet?' verum tamen decumani (quasi) venissem cum imperio, Graeci quasi Ephesio praetori se alacres obtulerunt. ex quo te intellegere certo scio multorum annorum ostentationes meas nunc in discrimen esse adductas. sed ut spero, utemur ea palaestra quam a te didicimus omnibusque satis faciemus et eo facilius quod in nostra provincia confectae sunt pactiones. sed hactenus, praesertim cum cenanti mihi nuntiarit Cestius se de nocte proficisci. [2] tua negotiola Ephesi curae mihi fuerunt, Thermoque, tametsi ante adventum meum liberalissime erat pollicitus tuis omnibus, tamen Philogenem et Seium tradidi, Apollonidensem Xenonem commendavi. omnino omnia se facturum recepit. ego praeterea rationem Philogeni permutationis eius quam tecum feci edidi. ergo haec quoque hactenus. [3] redeo ad urbana. per fortunas! quoniam Romae manes, primum illud praefulci atque praemuni quaeso ut simus annui, ne intercaletur quidem. deinde exhauri mea mandata maximeque si quid potest de illo domestico scrupulo quem non ignoras, dein de Caesare cuius in cupiditatem te auctore incubui nec me piget. et si intellegis quam meum sit scire et curare quid in re publica fiat—fiat autem? immo vero etiam quid futurum sit, perscribe ad me omnia, sed diligentissime imprimisque ecquid iudiciorum status aut factorum aut futurorum etiam laboret. de aqua, si curae est, si quid Philippus aget animadvertes.