Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 49 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
Your letter was welcome and delightful to me. I was thinking of sending the boys across to Greece at the time when flight from Italy seemed likely. We would have been heading for Spain; that was not equally convenient for them. You yourself and Sextus, even now, seem to me able to remain in Rome rightly enough, since you ought to be the least friendly people in the world to our Pompey. No one has ever done so much damage to urban property. You see that I can still joke.
You should already know what answer Lucius Caesar is carrying back from Pompey, and what letter from Pompey he is taking to Caesar. The documents were written and given to him in such a way that they would be posted publicly. In this I silently blamed Pompey: though he is himself an excellent writer, he gave such important matters, and matters that would come into everyone's hands, to our Sestius to compose. I have never read anything more Sestian. Still, one can see from Pompey's letter that nothing is being denied to Caesar, and that everything he asks is being granted in full. Caesar would be completely mad not to accept, especially since he has asked with extreme shamelessness. Who are you to say, "if Pompey goes to Spain, if he dismisses his garrisons"? Still, it is being conceded, though with less honor now that he has already violated the republic and brought on war than if he had once obtained permission for his candidacy. And yet I fear he may not be content even with these terms. When he had given those proposals to Lucius Caesar, he ought to have been a little quieter until the answer came back; instead he is now said to be more aggressive than ever.
Trebatius writes that on January 22 Caesar asked him to write to me and urge me to stay near the city; nothing, Caesar said, could give him greater pleasure. Trebatius wrote this at great length. From the calculation of the days I understood that, as soon as Caesar heard of our departure, he began to worry that we would all be absent. So I have no doubt that he wrote to Piso and to Servius too. What surprises me is that he did not write to me himself, nor act through Dolabella or Caelius. Still, I do not scorn a letter from Trebatius, since I know he loves me especially.
I wrote back to Trebatius - not to Caesar himself, since Caesar had written nothing to me - saying how difficult such a thing was at this moment, but that I was on my own estates and had taken on no levy and no business. In this position I will remain as long as there is hope of peace. If war is carried on, I will not fail in my duty or my dignity, after I have sent the boys away to Greece. I understand that all Italy will blaze with war. So much evil has been stirred up, partly by wicked citizens and partly by jealous ones. But in a few days, from Caesar's answer to our answer, we will know where these things are going. Then I will write to you at greater length if there is war; if there is peace, or even a truce, I hope to see you yourself.
On February 2, the day I sent this letter, I was at Formiae, where I had returned from Capua, waiting for our women. I had written to them, warned by your letter, that they should stay in Rome. But I hear there is rather greater fear in the city. I wanted to be at Capua on February 5, because the consuls had ordered it. Whatever is brought here from Pompey, I will write to you at once, and I will wait for your letters about matters there.
Your welcome letter I received with delight. I thought of sending the boys to Greece when Pompey's
flight from Italy seemed likely. For I myself should have gone to Spain, but it would not have been so suitable for them. I fancy you and Sextus may well stay in Rome even now; for you are not in the least bound to be Pompey's friends: no one has ever depreciated city property so much as Pompey. I must have my joke still, you see.
You should know already the reply that Pompey is sending by Lucius Caesar, and the nature of his letter to Caesar; for it was written and sent on purpose to be published. Mentally I blamed Pompey who, though a clear writer himself, gave Sestius the task of drawing up documents of such importance, which were to come into every one's hands. Accordingly I have never seen anything more Sestian in its style. Still it is plain from the letter that nothing can be denied to Caesar, and that the whole bulk of his demands are to be granted. He will be utterly mad to reject the terms, particularly when his demands are most impudent. Pray, who are you, Caesar, to insist "Provided Pompey go to Spain, provided he dismiss his garrisons"? Still the demand is being granted, but it has cost us more loss of dignity now that he has outraged the sanctity of the state and waged war against it, than if he had obtained his previous request to be admitted a candidate. And yet I fear he may want more. For when he entrusted his ultimatum to L. Caesar, he should have kept a little quiet until he received a reply. But he is said now to be more energetic than ever.
Trebatius indeed writes to me that Caesar requested
him on the 22nd of January to write and beg me to remain near the city; that would win me his best thanks. All this at great length. I calculated from the date, that as soon as he heard of my departure Caesar began to be concerned lest we should all go from town. So I have no doubt he wrote to Piso and to Servius. One thing surprises me that he did not write to me himself, or approach me through Dolabella or Caelius. However, I am not offended at a letter from Trebatius, who is my particular wellwisher. I would not reply to Caesar himself, as he had not written to me; but I wrote to Trebatius how difficult such a course would be at this juncture, but that I was staying on my country estates, and had not undertaken any part in the levy or any business. To this I will stand so long as there is any prospect of peace; but, if it comes to war, I shall act as becomes my duty and rank, after stowing away my boys to Greece. For all Italy, I gather, will blaze with war. Such a catastrophe is caused partly by disloyalty, partly by jealousy amongst her citizens. The outcome will be known in a few days from Caesar's answer to our letter. Then, if it be war, I will write again: if it be peace or a respite, I shall hope to see you.
On the 2nd of February, the date of this letter, I await my women-folk in my place at Formiae, whence I have returned from Capua. I wrote to them on your advice to stay in Rome. But I hear that panic has rather increased there. I want to be at Capua on the 5th of February, as the consuls have ordered. Any news we get here from Pompey I will let you know at once, and I shall look to letters from you for news from the city.
tuae litterae mihi gratae iucundaeque sunt. de pueris in Graeciam transportandis tum cogitabam cum fuga ex Italia quaeri videbatur. nos enim Hispaniam peteremus; illis hoc aeque commodum non erat. tu ipse cum Sexto etiam nunc mihi videris Romae recte esse posse; etenim minime amici Pompeio nostro esse debetis. nemo enim umquam tantum de urbanis praediis detraxit. videsne me etiam iocari? [2] scire iam te oportet L. Caesar quae responsa referat a Pompeio, quas ab eodem ad Caesarem ferat litteras. scriptae enim et datae ita sunt ut proponerentur in publico. in quo accusavi mecum ipse Pompeium qui, cum scriptor luculentus esset, tantas res atque eas quae in omnium manus venturae essent Sestio nostro scribendas dederit. itaque nihil umquam legi scriptum sestiodesteron. perspici tamen ex litteris Pompei potest nihil Caesari negari omniaque ei cumulate quae postulet dari. quae ille amentissimus fuerit nisi acceperit, praesertim cum impudentissime postulaverit. quis enim tu es qui dicas, 'si in Hispaniam profectus erit, si praesidia dimiserit'? tamen conceditur: minus honeste nunc quidem violata iam ab illo re publica illatoque bello quam si olim de ratione habenda impetrasset. et tamen vereor ut his ipsis contentus sit. nam cum ista mandata dedisset L. Caesari, debuit esse paulo quietior dum responsa referrentur; dicitur autem nunc esse acerrimus. [3] Trebatius quidem scribit se ab illo viiii Kal. Febr. rogatum esse ut scriberet ad me ut essem ad urbem; nihil ei me gratius facere posse. haec verbis plurimis. intellexi ex dierum ratione, ut primum de discessu nostro Caesar audisset, laborare eum coepisse ne omnes abessemus. itaque non dubito quin ad Pisonem, quin ad Servium scripserit; illud admiror non ipsum ad me scripsisse, non per Dolabellam, non per Caelium egisse. quamquam non aspernor Trebati litteras, a quo me unice diligi scio. [4] rescripsi ad Trebatium (nam ad ipsum Caesarem qui mihi nihil scripsisset nolui) quam illud hoc tempore esset difficile; me tamen in praediis meis esse neque dilectum ullum neque negotium suscepisse. in quo quidem manebo dum spes pacis erit; sin bellum geretur, non deero officio nec dignitati meae, pueros hupekthemenos in Graeciam. totam enim Italiam flagraturam bello intellego. tantum mali (est) excitatum partim ex improbis, partim ex invidis civibus. sed haec paucis diebus ex illius ad nostra responsa responsis intellegentur quorsum evasura sint. tum ad te scribam plura, si erit bellum; sin +autem+ etiam indutiae, te ipsum, ut spero, videbo. [5] ego iiii Nonas Febr., quo die has litteras dedi, in Formiano, quo Capua redieram, mulieres exspectabam. quibus quidem scripseram tuis litteris admonitus ut Romae manerent. sed audio maiorem quendam in urbe timorem esse. Capuae Nonis Febr. esse volebam, quia consules iusserant. quicquid huc erit a Pompeio adlatum, statim ad te scribam tuasque de istis rebus litteras exspectabo.
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Your letter was welcome and delightful to me. I was thinking of sending the boys across to Greece at the time when flight from Italy seemed likely. We would have been heading for Spain; that was not equally convenient for them. You yourself and Sextus, even now, seem to me able to remain in Rome rightly enough, since you ought to be the least friendly people in the world to our Pompey. No one has ever done so much damage to urban property. You see that I can still joke.
You should already know what answer Lucius Caesar is carrying back from Pompey, and what letter from Pompey he is taking to Caesar. The documents were written and given to him in such a way that they would be posted publicly. In this I silently blamed Pompey: though he is himself an excellent writer, he gave such important matters, and matters that would come into everyone's hands, to our Sestius to compose. I have never read anything more Sestian. Still, one can see from Pompey's letter that nothing is being denied to Caesar, and that everything he asks is being granted in full. Caesar would be completely mad not to accept, especially since he has asked with extreme shamelessness. Who are you to say, "if Pompey goes to Spain, if he dismisses his garrisons"? Still, it is being conceded, though with less honor now that he has already violated the republic and brought on war than if he had once obtained permission for his candidacy. And yet I fear he may not be content even with these terms. When he had given those proposals to Lucius Caesar, he ought to have been a little quieter until the answer came back; instead he is now said to be more aggressive than ever.
Trebatius writes that on January 22 Caesar asked him to write to me and urge me to stay near the city; nothing, Caesar said, could give him greater pleasure. Trebatius wrote this at great length. From the calculation of the days I understood that, as soon as Caesar heard of our departure, he began to worry that we would all be absent. So I have no doubt that he wrote to Piso and to Servius too. What surprises me is that he did not write to me himself, nor act through Dolabella or Caelius. Still, I do not scorn a letter from Trebatius, since I know he loves me especially.
I wrote back to Trebatius - not to Caesar himself, since Caesar had written nothing to me - saying how difficult such a thing was at this moment, but that I was on my own estates and had taken on no levy and no business. In this position I will remain as long as there is hope of peace. If war is carried on, I will not fail in my duty or my dignity, after I have sent the boys away to Greece. I understand that all Italy will blaze with war. So much evil has been stirred up, partly by wicked citizens and partly by jealous ones. But in a few days, from Caesar's answer to our answer, we will know where these things are going. Then I will write to you at greater length if there is war; if there is peace, or even a truce, I hope to see you yourself.
On February 2, the day I sent this letter, I was at Formiae, where I had returned from Capua, waiting for our women. I had written to them, warned by your letter, that they should stay in Rome. But I hear there is rather greater fear in the city. I wanted to be at Capua on February 5, because the consuls had ordered it. Whatever is brought here from Pompey, I will write to you at once, and I will wait for your letters about matters there.
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
tuae litterae mihi gratae iucundaeque sunt. de pueris in Graeciam transportandis tum cogitabam cum fuga ex Italia quaeri videbatur. nos enim Hispaniam peteremus; illis hoc aeque commodum non erat. tu ipse cum Sexto etiam nunc mihi videris Romae recte esse posse; etenim minime amici Pompeio nostro esse debetis. nemo enim umquam tantum de urbanis praediis detraxit. videsne me etiam iocari? [2] scire iam te oportet L. Caesar quae responsa referat a Pompeio, quas ab eodem ad Caesarem ferat litteras. scriptae enim et datae ita sunt ut proponerentur in publico. in quo accusavi mecum ipse Pompeium qui, cum scriptor luculentus esset, tantas res atque eas quae in omnium manus venturae essent Sestio nostro scribendas dederit. itaque nihil umquam legi scriptum sestiodesteron. perspici tamen ex litteris Pompei potest nihil Caesari negari omniaque ei cumulate quae postulet dari. quae ille amentissimus fuerit nisi acceperit, praesertim cum impudentissime postulaverit. quis enim tu es qui dicas, 'si in Hispaniam profectus erit, si praesidia dimiserit'? tamen conceditur: minus honeste nunc quidem violata iam ab illo re publica illatoque bello quam si olim de ratione habenda impetrasset. et tamen vereor ut his ipsis contentus sit. nam cum ista mandata dedisset L. Caesari, debuit esse paulo quietior dum responsa referrentur; dicitur autem nunc esse acerrimus. [3] Trebatius quidem scribit se ab illo viiii Kal. Febr. rogatum esse ut scriberet ad me ut essem ad urbem; nihil ei me gratius facere posse. haec verbis plurimis. intellexi ex dierum ratione, ut primum de discessu nostro Caesar audisset, laborare eum coepisse ne omnes abessemus. itaque non dubito quin ad Pisonem, quin ad Servium scripserit; illud admiror non ipsum ad me scripsisse, non per Dolabellam, non per Caelium egisse. quamquam non aspernor Trebati litteras, a quo me unice diligi scio. [4] rescripsi ad Trebatium (nam ad ipsum Caesarem qui mihi nihil scripsisset nolui) quam illud hoc tempore esset difficile; me tamen in praediis meis esse neque dilectum ullum neque negotium suscepisse. in quo quidem manebo dum spes pacis erit; sin bellum geretur, non deero officio nec dignitati meae, pueros hupekthemenos in Graeciam. totam enim Italiam flagraturam bello intellego. tantum mali (est) excitatum partim ex improbis, partim ex invidis civibus. sed haec paucis diebus ex illius ad nostra responsa responsis intellegentur quorsum evasura sint. tum ad te scribam plura, si erit bellum; sin +autem+ etiam indutiae, te ipsum, ut spero, videbo. [5] ego iiii Nonas Febr., quo die has litteras dedi, in Formiano, quo Capua redieram, mulieres exspectabam. quibus quidem scripseram tuis litteris admonitus ut Romae manerent. sed audio maiorem quendam in urbe timorem esse. Capuae Nonis Febr. esse volebam, quia consules iusserant. quicquid huc erit a Pompeio adlatum, statim ad te scribam tuasque de istis rebus litteras exspectabo.