Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 49 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
I have no doubt that my daily letters are tiresome to you, especially since I neither inform you of anything certain or new, nor even find any new line of thought for writing. If I sent couriers to you on purpose, with empty letters, when there was no reason, I would be acting foolishly. But when people are going that way, especially members of my household, I cannot send nothing to you; and at the same time, believe me, in these miseries I rest a little when I seem to be speaking with you, and much more when I read your letters.
I fully understand that no time since these flights and fears of ours has called more for silence from letters, because nothing new is heard in Rome, nor here either, though these places are two or three days nearer Brundisium than you are. But at Brundisium the whole struggle of this first moment is turning. I am tortured by waiting for it. Still, we will know everything before March 7. I see that Caesar left Corfinium after noon on the same day, the Feralia, on whose morning Pompey left Canusium. Caesar marches in such a way, and spurs the speed of his soldiers with such daily payments, that I fear he may reach Brundisium sooner than we need.
You will say, "What good do you do by anticipating the pain of a thing you will know in three days?" None, certainly. But, as I said above, I very gladly speak with you. At the same time, know that my plan, the one that had seemed fixed enough, is wavering. The authorities you approve do not quite suit me. What brave action in public life was ever done by them? Who expects from them anything worthy of praise? Nor, by Hercules, do I think those men deserve praise who crossed the sea to prepare war, though these things here were unbearable. I see how great and destructive that war will be. One man moves me: I think I ought to be his companion in flight and his ally when he recovers the republic.
"Do you change your mind so often, then?" I speak with you as I speak with myself. And who, in so great a matter, does not debate with himself in different ways? At the same time I want to draw out your opinion: if it remains the same, I will be firmer; if it has changed, I will agree with you.
In general, what bears on my uncertainty is knowing what Domitius will do and what our Lentulus will do. About Domitius we hear various reports: now that he is somewhere near Tibur, now that Lepidus has come with him toward the city. I see that this too is false. Lepidus says Domitius has gone deep somewhere by hidden routes, whether to conceal himself or to reach the sea even he does not know. He also knows nothing about his son. He adds one very annoying thing: a rather large sum of money that Domitius had at Corfinium has not been returned to him. About Lentulus we have heard nothing. Please investigate these matters and write them out to me.
I have no doubt my daily letter must bore you, especially as I have no fresh news, nor can I find any new excuse for a letter. If I should employ special messengers to convey my chatter to you without reason, I should be a fool: but I cannot refrain from entrusting letters to folk who are bound for Rome, especially when they are members of my household. Believe me, too, when I seem to talk with you, I have some little relief from sorrow, and, when I read a letter from you, far greater relief. I am quite aware that there has been no time, since fear drove me to flight, when silence and no letters would have been more appropriate, for the good reason that there is no fresh news at Rome, nor here—two or three days' journey nearer Brundisium. The issue of this first campaign will turn entirely on the action at Brundisium: and I am on thorns to hear the result. However, all will be known by the 7th. On the noon of the day (that is the 21st of February), on the morning of which Pompey left Canusium, I see that Caesar set out from Corfinium. But Caesar marches in such a way, and so spurs his men with largess, that I fear he may reach Brundisium sooner than we
want. You may wonder why I forestall disagreeable tidings which will be known in three days' time. I have no reason, except, as I said before, that I love to talk to you; and at the same time I want you to know that what I had counted my fixed resolve is shaken. The precedents you quote with approval don't quite fit my case. They are those of men who have never distinguished themselves by great political action, and are not looked up to for any act of merit. Nor, let me tell you, have I any praise for those who have crossed the sea to make preparations for war—unbearable as things here were. For I foresee how great and calamitous that war will be. I am influenced only by one man, whom I think I ought to accompany in flight, and help in the restoration of the constitution. I may seem variable; but I talk with you as I talk with myself, and there is no one who, in such a crisis, does not view matters in many lights. Moreover, I want to get your opinion, to encourage me, if you have not changed it, or otherwise to win my assent. It is particularly necessary for me to know in my dilemma what course Domitius and my friend Lentulus will take.
As for Domitius I hear many reports: at one time that he is at Tibur out of sorts, at another that he has consorted with the Lepidi in their march to Rome. That I see is untrue. For Lepidus says that he is following a hidden path, but whether to hide or reach the sea even he does not know. Lepidus has no news about his son either. He adds a provoking detail, that Domitius has failed to get back a large sum of money which he had at Corfinium. Of Lentulus I have no news. Please make inquiries on these points and inform me.
non dubito quin tibi odiosae sint epistulae cotidianae, cum praesertim neque nova de re aliqua certiorem te faciam neque novam denique iam reperiam scribendi ullam sententiam. sed si dedita opera, cum causa nulla esset, tabellarios ad te cum inanibus epistulis mitterem, facerem inepte; euntibus vero, domesticis praesertim, ut nihil ad te dem litterarum facere non possum et simul, crede mihi, requiesco paulum in his miseriis, cum quasi tecum loquor, cum vero tuas epistulas lego, multo etiam magis. omnino intellego nullum fuisse tempus post has fugas et formidines nostras quod magis debuerit mutum esse a litteris, propterea quod neque Romae quicquam auditur novi nec in his locis quae a Brundisio absunt propius quam tu bidui aut tridui. Brundisi autem omne certamen vertitur huius primi temporis. qua quidem exspectatione torqueor. sed omnia ante Nonas sciemus. eodem enim die video Caesarem a Corfinio post meridiem profectum esse, id est Feralibus, quo Canusio mane Pompeium. eo modo autem ambulat Caesar et iis +diariis+ militum celeritatem incitat ut timeam ne citius ad Brundisium quam opus sit accesserit. [2] dices, 'quid igitur proficis qui anticipes eius rei molestiam quam triduo sciturus sis?' nihil equidem; sed, ut supra dixi, tecum perlibenter loquor, et simul scito labare meum consilium illud quod satis iam fixum videbatur. non mihi satis idonei sunt auctores ii qui a te probantur. quod enim umquam eorum in re publica forte factum exstitit? aut quis ab iis ullam rem laude dignam desiderat? nec me hercule laudandos existimo qui trans mare belli parandi causa profecti sunt—quamquam haec ferenda non erant—, video enim quantum id bellum et quam pestiferum futurum sit; sed me movet unus vir cuius fugientis comes, rem publicam reciperantis socius videor esse debere. 'totiensne igitur sententiam mutas?' ego tecum tamquam mecum loquor. quis autem est tanta quidem de re quin varie secum ipse disputet? simul et elicere cupio sententiam tuam, si manet, ut firmior sim, si mutata est, ut tibi adsentiar. [3] omnino ad id de quo dubito pertinet me scire quid Domitius acturus sit, quid noster Lentulus. de Domitio varia audimus +modo esse in Tiburti aut lepidi quo cum lepidus accessisse ad urbem+, quod item falsum video esse. ait enim Lepidus eum nescio quo penetrasse itineribus +occultandi+ sui causa an maris adipiscendi ne is quidem scit. ignorat etiam de filio. addit illud sane molestum, pecuniam Domitio satis grandem quam is Corfini habuerit non esse redditam. de Lentulo autem nihil audivimus. haec velim exquiras ad meque perscribas.
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I have no doubt that my daily letters are tiresome to you, especially since I neither inform you of anything certain or new, nor even find any new line of thought for writing. If I sent couriers to you on purpose, with empty letters, when there was no reason, I would be acting foolishly. But when people are going that way, especially members of my household, I cannot send nothing to you; and at the same time, believe me, in these miseries I rest a little when I seem to be speaking with you, and much more when I read your letters.
I fully understand that no time since these flights and fears of ours has called more for silence from letters, because nothing new is heard in Rome, nor here either, though these places are two or three days nearer Brundisium than you are. But at Brundisium the whole struggle of this first moment is turning. I am tortured by waiting for it. Still, we will know everything before March 7. I see that Caesar left Corfinium after noon on the same day, the Feralia, on whose morning Pompey left Canusium. Caesar marches in such a way, and spurs the speed of his soldiers with such daily payments, that I fear he may reach Brundisium sooner than we need.
You will say, "What good do you do by anticipating the pain of a thing you will know in three days?" None, certainly. But, as I said above, I very gladly speak with you. At the same time, know that my plan, the one that had seemed fixed enough, is wavering. The authorities you approve do not quite suit me. What brave action in public life was ever done by them? Who expects from them anything worthy of praise? Nor, by Hercules, do I think those men deserve praise who crossed the sea to prepare war, though these things here were unbearable. I see how great and destructive that war will be. One man moves me: I think I ought to be his companion in flight and his ally when he recovers the republic.
"Do you change your mind so often, then?" I speak with you as I speak with myself. And who, in so great a matter, does not debate with himself in different ways? At the same time I want to draw out your opinion: if it remains the same, I will be firmer; if it has changed, I will agree with you.
In general, what bears on my uncertainty is knowing what Domitius will do and what our Lentulus will do. About Domitius we hear various reports: now that he is somewhere near Tibur, now that Lepidus has come with him toward the city. I see that this too is false. Lepidus says Domitius has gone deep somewhere by hidden routes, whether to conceal himself or to reach the sea even he does not know. He also knows nothing about his son. He adds one very annoying thing: a rather large sum of money that Domitius had at Corfinium has not been returned to him. About Lentulus we have heard nothing. Please investigate these matters and write them out to me.
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
non dubito quin tibi odiosae sint epistulae cotidianae, cum praesertim neque nova de re aliqua certiorem te faciam neque novam denique iam reperiam scribendi ullam sententiam. sed si dedita opera, cum causa nulla esset, tabellarios ad te cum inanibus epistulis mitterem, facerem inepte; euntibus vero, domesticis praesertim, ut nihil ad te dem litterarum facere non possum et simul, crede mihi, requiesco paulum in his miseriis, cum quasi tecum loquor, cum vero tuas epistulas lego, multo etiam magis. omnino intellego nullum fuisse tempus post has fugas et formidines nostras quod magis debuerit mutum esse a litteris, propterea quod neque Romae quicquam auditur novi nec in his locis quae a Brundisio absunt propius quam tu bidui aut tridui. Brundisi autem omne certamen vertitur huius primi temporis. qua quidem exspectatione torqueor. sed omnia ante Nonas sciemus. eodem enim die video Caesarem a Corfinio post meridiem profectum esse, id est Feralibus, quo Canusio mane Pompeium. eo modo autem ambulat Caesar et iis +diariis+ militum celeritatem incitat ut timeam ne citius ad Brundisium quam opus sit accesserit. [2] dices, 'quid igitur proficis qui anticipes eius rei molestiam quam triduo sciturus sis?' nihil equidem; sed, ut supra dixi, tecum perlibenter loquor, et simul scito labare meum consilium illud quod satis iam fixum videbatur. non mihi satis idonei sunt auctores ii qui a te probantur. quod enim umquam eorum in re publica forte factum exstitit? aut quis ab iis ullam rem laude dignam desiderat? nec me hercule laudandos existimo qui trans mare belli parandi causa profecti sunt—quamquam haec ferenda non erant—, video enim quantum id bellum et quam pestiferum futurum sit; sed me movet unus vir cuius fugientis comes, rem publicam reciperantis socius videor esse debere. 'totiensne igitur sententiam mutas?' ego tecum tamquam mecum loquor. quis autem est tanta quidem de re quin varie secum ipse disputet? simul et elicere cupio sententiam tuam, si manet, ut firmior sim, si mutata est, ut tibi adsentiar. [3] omnino ad id de quo dubito pertinet me scire quid Domitius acturus sit, quid noster Lentulus. de Domitio varia audimus +modo esse in Tiburti aut lepidi quo cum lepidus accessisse ad urbem+, quod item falsum video esse. ait enim Lepidus eum nescio quo penetrasse itineribus +occultandi+ sui causa an maris adipiscendi ne is quidem scit. ignorat etiam de filio. addit illud sane molestum, pecuniam Domitio satis grandem quam is Corfini habuerit non esse redditam. de Lentulo autem nihil audivimus. haec velim exquiras ad meque perscribas.