Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 49 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
Since I left the city, I have not yet let a single day pass without sending you some sort of letter, not because I had much to write, but because I wanted to speak with you while absent. Since I cannot do that face to face, nothing is more pleasant to me.
When I came to Capua on January 25, the day before I sent this letter, I met the consuls and many men of our order. Everyone wanted Caesar, once his garrisons were withdrawn, to stand by the conditions he had offered. Favonius alone disliked having laws imposed on us by Caesar. But he was listened to in council. Even Cato himself now prefers slavery to fighting; still, he says he wants to be present in the Senate when the conditions are discussed, if Caesar can be brought to withdraw his garrisons. So the thing most needed - going to Sicily - he does not care to do; the thing I fear may cause harm - being in the Senate - he wants to do.
Postumius, about whom the Senate specifically decreed that he should go to Sicily at once and succeed Furfanius, says he will not go without Cato, and he prizes his own service and authority in the Senate highly. So the matter has come to Fannius. He is being sent ahead to Sicily with command.
In our discussions there is the greatest range of opinion. Most people say Caesar will not abide by the terms, and that he inserted these demands only to keep us from preparing what is needed for war. I, however, think he will withdraw the garrisons. If he becomes consul, he has won, and with less crime than he began with. But the blow must be accepted. We are shamefully unprepared in both soldiers and money. In fact, we have left him not only all private money in the city but also the public money in the treasury. Pompey has set out for the Appian legions; he has Labienus with him. I am waiting for your opinions on these matters. I was thinking of returning at once to Formiae.
Since I left Rome I have not yet let a day pass without dropping you a line; not that I had any
particular news, but I wanted to talk with you in my absence. When we cannot talk face to face, there is nothing I like better.
I reached Capua yesterday, the 25th, where I met the consuls and many fellow-members. All hope that Caesar will abide by his conditions, accepting the withdrawal of his garrisons: only Favonius objects to his dictating to us. But no one listened to him. For even Cato now prefers slavery to war: but he wants to be in the House when the terms are debated, if Caesar can be induced to withdraw his garrisons. So he does not care to do what would be most useful, and go to Sicily: and he wants to be in the House, where I fear he will cause trouble. The Senate definitely decreed that Postumius should set out for Sicily at once and succeed Furfanius. Postumius replied he would not go without Cato; he has a great idea of his own value and influence in the House. So choice fell on Fannius; he is dispatched to Sicily with military power. In our debates there is great difference of opinion. Most declare that Caesar will not stick to his compact, and that his demands were only introduced to hinder our preparations for war. I fancy, however, that he will withdraw his garrisons. For he will win his point, if he is elected consul, and win it with less scandal than by his first course. But the blow must be borne. We are sinfully unready in men and money: for we have left him not only our private purses in the city, but the state funds in the treasury. Pompey along with Labienus has set out for Appius' legions. I want your views on this. I think of returning to Formiae at once.
Ut ab urbe discessi, nullum adhuc intermisi diem quin aliquid ad te litterarum darem, non quo haberem magno opere quod scriberem sed ut loquerer tecum absens; quo mihi, cum coram id non licet, nihil est iucundius. [2] Capuam cum venissem a. d. vi Kal. pridie quam has litteras dedi, consules conveni multosque nostri ordinis. omnes cupiebant Caesarem abductis praesidiis stare condicionibus iis quas tulisset; uni Favonio leges ab illo nobis imponi non placebat. sed +is auditus in+ consilio. Cato enim ipse iam servire quam pugnare mavult; sed tamen ait in senatu se adesse velle cum de condicionibus agatur, si Caesar adductus sit ut praesidia deducat. ita, quod maxime opus est, in Siciliam ire non curat; quod metuo ne obsit, in senatu esse vult. Postumius autem, de quo nominatim senatus decrevit ut statim in Siciliam iret Furfanioque succederet, negat se sine Catone iturum et suam in senatu operam auctoritatemque quam magni aestimat. ita res ad Fannium pervenit. is cum imperio in Siciliam praemittitur. [3] in disputationibus nostris summa varietas est. plerique negant Caesarem in condicione mansurum postulataque haec ab eo interposita esse quo minus quod opus esset ad bellum a nobis pararetur. ego autem eum puto facturum ut praesidia deducat. vicerit enim, si consul factus erit, et minore scelere vicerit quam quo ingressus est. sed accipienda plaga est. sumus enim flagitiose imparati cum a militibus tum a pecunia; quam quidem omnem non modo privatam quae in urbe est sed etiam publicam quae in in aerario est illi reliquimus. Pompeius ad legiones Appianas est profectus; Labienum secum habet. ego tuas opiniones de his rebus exspecto. Formias me continuo recipere cogitabam.
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Since I left the city, I have not yet let a single day pass without sending you some sort of letter, not because I had much to write, but because I wanted to speak with you while absent. Since I cannot do that face to face, nothing is more pleasant to me.
When I came to Capua on January 25, the day before I sent this letter, I met the consuls and many men of our order. Everyone wanted Caesar, once his garrisons were withdrawn, to stand by the conditions he had offered. Favonius alone disliked having laws imposed on us by Caesar. But he was listened to in council. Even Cato himself now prefers slavery to fighting; still, he says he wants to be present in the Senate when the conditions are discussed, if Caesar can be brought to withdraw his garrisons. So the thing most needed - going to Sicily - he does not care to do; the thing I fear may cause harm - being in the Senate - he wants to do.
Postumius, about whom the Senate specifically decreed that he should go to Sicily at once and succeed Furfanius, says he will not go without Cato, and he prizes his own service and authority in the Senate highly. So the matter has come to Fannius. He is being sent ahead to Sicily with command.
In our discussions there is the greatest range of opinion. Most people say Caesar will not abide by the terms, and that he inserted these demands only to keep us from preparing what is needed for war. I, however, think he will withdraw the garrisons. If he becomes consul, he has won, and with less crime than he began with. But the blow must be accepted. We are shamefully unprepared in both soldiers and money. In fact, we have left him not only all private money in the city but also the public money in the treasury. Pompey has set out for the Appian legions; he has Labienus with him. I am waiting for your opinions on these matters. I was thinking of returning at once to Formiae.
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
Ut ab urbe discessi, nullum adhuc intermisi diem quin aliquid ad te litterarum darem, non quo haberem magno opere quod scriberem sed ut loquerer tecum absens; quo mihi, cum coram id non licet, nihil est iucundius. [2] Capuam cum venissem a. d. vi Kal. pridie quam has litteras dedi, consules conveni multosque nostri ordinis. omnes cupiebant Caesarem abductis praesidiis stare condicionibus iis quas tulisset; uni Favonio leges ab illo nobis imponi non placebat. sed +is auditus in+ consilio. Cato enim ipse iam servire quam pugnare mavult; sed tamen ait in senatu se adesse velle cum de condicionibus agatur, si Caesar adductus sit ut praesidia deducat. ita, quod maxime opus est, in Siciliam ire non curat; quod metuo ne obsit, in senatu esse vult. Postumius autem, de quo nominatim senatus decrevit ut statim in Siciliam iret Furfanioque succederet, negat se sine Catone iturum et suam in senatu operam auctoritatemque quam magni aestimat. ita res ad Fannium pervenit. is cum imperio in Siciliam praemittitur. [3] in disputationibus nostris summa varietas est. plerique negant Caesarem in condicione mansurum postulataque haec ab eo interposita esse quo minus quod opus esset ad bellum a nobis pararetur. ego autem eum puto facturum ut praesidia deducat. vicerit enim, si consul factus erit, et minore scelere vicerit quam quo ingressus est. sed accipienda plaga est. sumus enim flagitiose imparati cum a militibus tum a pecunia; quam quidem omnem non modo privatam quae in urbe est sed etiam publicam quae in in aerario est illi reliquimus. Pompeius ad legiones Appianas est profectus; Labienum secum habet. ego tuas opiniones de his rebus exspecto. Formias me continuo recipere cogitabam.