Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 50 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
Just as I had decided to write to you and had taken up my pen, Batonius came straight from the ship to my house at Ephesus and delivered your letter on September 29. I was delighted by your successful voyage, by Pilia's timely arrival, and, by Hercules, by what she said about my Tullia's marriage.
Batonius, however, brought me pure terrors about Caesar; he said even more to Lepta. I hope it is false, but it is certainly horrifying: that Caesar will in no way dismiss his army, that the praetors-elect, Cassius the tribune of the plebs, and Lentulus the consul are with him, and that Pompey is thinking of leaving the city.
But look here: are you at all upset about the man who usually puts himself ahead of the uncle of your sister's son? And by what opponents he was beaten. But to business.
The Etesian winds delayed us terribly; the Rhodian open boat also cost me exactly twenty days. On October 1, as I was embarking from Ephesus, I gave this letter to Lucius Tarquitius, who was leaving the harbor at the same time but sailing with less encumbrance. Because of the Rhodian open boats and the other long ships, we had to hunt for calm weather. Still, we were hurrying as much as could possibly be done.
Thank you for taking care of the little payment at Puteoli. Now I would like you to examine Roman affairs and consider what you think I should plan about the triumph to which my friends are calling me. If Bibulus were not striving for a triumph - Bibulus, who while there was one enemy in Syria did not set foot outside the gate any more than outside his house - I would be calm. But now it would be shameful to keep silent. Explore the whole matter, so that on the day we meet we can decide.
This is enough, since I was in a hurry and was giving the letter to a man who would arrive either with me or a little before me. Cicero sends you his warmest greetings. Give both our greetings to your Pilia and your daughter.
Just as I had determined to write to you and had taken up my pen, Batonius came straight from his ship to my house at Ephesus and gave me your letter on the 29th of September. I am delighted about your good voyage, and your opportune meeting with your wife and also at her remarks about the marriage of my daughter. But Batonius brought news that was simply awful about Caesar, and was even more frank in conversation with Lepta. I hope his news is false: it was certainly terrifying. He says that Caesar will refuse to disband his army, that the officials elect, praetors, Cassius the tribune and Lentulus the consul take his part, and that Pompey thinks of leaving Rome.
But by the by, are you so sorry for the fellow that thinks himself superior to the uncle of your sister’s son? What fine opponents to beat him! But to business.
The Etesian winds have hindered me much: the open Rhodian boats too caused me a delay of exactly twenty days. On the 1st of October, as I am embarking from Ephesus, I give this letter to L. Tarquitius, who is leaving the harbour at the same time, but sailing by a faster boat. I have had to wait for fair weather owing to the undecked boats and other war vessels of the Rhodians. However I am hurrying as fast as possible.
Many thanks for paying the man of Puteoli his pence. Now please consider politics, and see what you think I should do about the triumph, to which my friends invite me. I should have been quite happy, had not Bibulus been trying for a triumph, though the man never set his foot outside his house so long as there was one enemy in Syria any more than he set foot out of his house in town when he was consul. But as it is “’twere base to hold one’s peace.” But consider the whole matter, that we may be able to decide something on the day we meet.
That’s enough, considering I am in a hurry and am giving this letter to a man who will arrive at the same time as myself or just before me. My son pays you his best respects. Please give the compliments of both of us to your wife and daughter.
Cum instituissem ad te scribere calamumque sumpsissem, Batonius e navi recta ad me venit domum Ephesi et epistulam tuam reddidit pridie Kal. Octobris. laetatus sum felicitate navigationis tuae, opportunitate Piliae, etiam hercule sermone eiusdem de coniugio Tulliae meae. [2] Batonius autem meros terrores ad me attulit Caesarianos, cum Lepta etiam plura locutus est, spero falsa, sed certe horribilia, exercitum nullo modo dimissurum, cum illo praetores designatos, Cassium tribunum pl., Lentulum consulem facere, Pompeio in animo esse urbem relinquere. [3] sed heus tu! numquid moleste fers de illo qui se solet anteferre patruo sororis tuae fili? at a quibus victus! sed ad rem. [4] nos etesiae vehementissime tardarunt; detraxit xx ipsos dies etiam aphractus Rhodiorum. Kal. Octobr. Epheso conscendentes hanc epistulam dedimus L. Tarquitio simul e portu egredienti sed expeditius naviganti. nos Rhodiorum aphractis ceterisque longis navibus tranquillitates aucupaturi eramus; ita tamen properabamus ut non posset magis. [5] de raudusculo Puteolano gratum. nunc velim dispicias res Romanas, videas quid nobis de triumpho cogitandum putes ad quem amici me vocant. ego nisi Bibulus qui, dum unus hostis in Syria fuit, pedem porta non plus extulit quam domo sua, adniteretur de triumpho, aequo animo essem. nunc vero aischron siopan. sed explora rem totam, ut quo die congressi erimus consilium capere possimus. sat multa, qui et properarem et ei litteras darem qui aut mecum aut paulo ante venturus esset. Cicero tibi plurimam salutem dicit. tu dices utriusque nostrum verbis et Piliae tuae et filiae.
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Just as I had decided to write to you and had taken up my pen, Batonius came straight from the ship to my house at Ephesus and delivered your letter on September 29. I was delighted by your successful voyage, by Pilia's timely arrival, and, by Hercules, by what she said about my Tullia's marriage.
Batonius, however, brought me pure terrors about Caesar; he said even more to Lepta. I hope it is false, but it is certainly horrifying: that Caesar will in no way dismiss his army, that the praetors-elect, Cassius the tribune of the plebs, and Lentulus the consul are with him, and that Pompey is thinking of leaving the city.
But look here: are you at all upset about the man who usually puts himself ahead of the uncle of your sister's son? And by what opponents he was beaten. But to business.
The Etesian winds delayed us terribly; the Rhodian open boat also cost me exactly twenty days. On October 1, as I was embarking from Ephesus, I gave this letter to Lucius Tarquitius, who was leaving the harbor at the same time but sailing with less encumbrance. Because of the Rhodian open boats and the other long ships, we had to hunt for calm weather. Still, we were hurrying as much as could possibly be done.
Thank you for taking care of the little payment at Puteoli. Now I would like you to examine Roman affairs and consider what you think I should plan about the triumph to which my friends are calling me. If Bibulus were not striving for a triumph - Bibulus, who while there was one enemy in Syria did not set foot outside the gate any more than outside his house - I would be calm. But now it would be shameful to keep silent. Explore the whole matter, so that on the day we meet we can decide.
This is enough, since I was in a hurry and was giving the letter to a man who would arrive either with me or a little before me. Cicero sends you his warmest greetings. Give both our greetings to your Pilia and your daughter.
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
Cum instituissem ad te scribere calamumque sumpsissem, Batonius e navi recta ad me venit domum Ephesi et epistulam tuam reddidit pridie Kal. Octobris. laetatus sum felicitate navigationis tuae, opportunitate Piliae, etiam hercule sermone eiusdem de coniugio Tulliae meae. [2] Batonius autem meros terrores ad me attulit Caesarianos, cum Lepta etiam plura locutus est, spero falsa, sed certe horribilia, exercitum nullo modo dimissurum, cum illo praetores designatos, Cassium tribunum pl., Lentulum consulem facere, Pompeio in animo esse urbem relinquere. [3] sed heus tu! numquid moleste fers de illo qui se solet anteferre patruo sororis tuae fili? at a quibus victus! sed ad rem. [4] nos etesiae vehementissime tardarunt; detraxit xx ipsos dies etiam aphractus Rhodiorum. Kal. Octobr. Epheso conscendentes hanc epistulam dedimus L. Tarquitio simul e portu egredienti sed expeditius naviganti. nos Rhodiorum aphractis ceterisque longis navibus tranquillitates aucupaturi eramus; ita tamen properabamus ut non posset magis. [5] de raudusculo Puteolano gratum. nunc velim dispicias res Romanas, videas quid nobis de triumpho cogitandum putes ad quem amici me vocant. ego nisi Bibulus qui, dum unus hostis in Syria fuit, pedem porta non plus extulit quam domo sua, adniteretur de triumpho, aequo animo essem. nunc vero aischron siopan. sed explora rem totam, ut quo die congressi erimus consilium capere possimus. sat multa, qui et properarem et ei litteras darem qui aut mecum aut paulo ante venturus esset. Cicero tibi plurimam salutem dicit. tu dices utriusque nostrum verbis et Piliae tuae et filiae.