Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 49 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
I have already written to you, as carefully as I could, about my whole plan. About the day I can say nothing certain except this: it will not be before the new moon.
Curio's conversation the next day was almost the same in substance, except that he made it even clearer that he does not see how all this will end. As for your commission about managing Quintus, you are asking for Arcadia. Still, I shall neglect nothing. If only you... But I will not be a nuisance. I delivered the letter to Vestorius at once; he had been asking for it eagerly.
Vettienus spoke with you more obligingly than he had written to me, but I cannot be surprised enough at the man's carelessness. Philotimus had told me he could buy that lodging-house from Canuleius for a certain sum, and perhaps for less if I asked Vettienus to make the purchase. So I asked him, if he could, to deduct something from that amount. He promised. Recently he wrote that he had bought it for much less, and asked me to say to whom I wanted it assigned, adding that the payment date was November 13. I answered rather sharply, though still with familiar joking. Now, since he is acting generously, I make no charge against him, and I have written that you informed me of it. Please let me know what you are thinking about your journey, and when. April 16.
About the whole of my plans I have written to you before, as I think, exactly. Of the day I can say no more for certain than this, that it will not be before the new moon. Curio's conversation on the next day had practically the same gist, except that he showed still more frankly that he could not see an end to this state of things.
As for your commission about the control of Quintus, you are asking for the moon. However I
shall be guilty of no omission and would that you——. But I will not be too troublesome. The letter I forwarded at once to Vestorius; he kept asking why it was not sent. Vettienus has spoken with you in a tone more accommodating than his letter to me: but I am greatly astonished at the man's carelessness. Philotimus informed me that he could buy that lodge of Canuleius for 400 guineas, and could get it even for less, if I asked Vettienus to act as purchaser. So I did ask Vettienus to get a deduction from that sum, if he could. He promised. Lately he has informed me that he bought it for about £250, and asked me to inform him to whom I wished to convey it, adding that the day for payment was the 13th of November. My reply was somewhat cross, but yet in a familiar joking vein. Now, as he is acting handsomely, I have no charge against him, and I have written to him that you have informed me. Please let me know about your journey, what you intend to do and when.
April 16.
[1] de tota mea cogitatione scripsi ad te antea satis, ut mihi visus sum, diligenter. de die nihil sane potest scribi certi praeter hoc, non ante lunam novam. [2] Curionis sermo postridie eandem habuit fere summam, nisi quod apertius significavit se harum rerum exitum non videre. quod mihi mandas de Quinto regendo, 'Arkadian'. tamen nihil praetermittam. atque utinam tu—, sed molestior non ero. epistulam ad Vestorium statim detuli, ac valde requirere solebat. [3] Commodius tecum Vettienus est locutus quam ad me scripserat. sed mirari satis hominis neglegentiam non queo. Cum enim mihi Philotimus dixisset se HS L_ emere de Canuleio deversorium illud posse, minoris etiam empturum si Vettienum rogassem, rogavi ut, si quid posset, ex ea summa detraheret. promisit. ad me nuper se HS X_X_X_ emisse; ut scriberem cui vellem addici; diem pecuniae Idus Novembn esse. rescripsi ei stomachosius cum ioco tamen familiari. nunc quoniam agit liberaliter, nihil accuso hominem scripsique ad eum me a te certiorem esse factum. tu de tuo itinere quid et quando cogites velim me certiorem facias. A. d. xv K. Maias.
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I have already written to you, as carefully as I could, about my whole plan. About the day I can say nothing certain except this: it will not be before the new moon.
Curio's conversation the next day was almost the same in substance, except that he made it even clearer that he does not see how all this will end. As for your commission about managing Quintus, you are asking for Arcadia. Still, I shall neglect nothing. If only you... But I will not be a nuisance. I delivered the letter to Vestorius at once; he had been asking for it eagerly.
Vettienus spoke with you more obligingly than he had written to me, but I cannot be surprised enough at the man's carelessness. Philotimus had told me he could buy that lodging-house from Canuleius for a certain sum, and perhaps for less if I asked Vettienus to make the purchase. So I asked him, if he could, to deduct something from that amount. He promised. Recently he wrote that he had bought it for much less, and asked me to say to whom I wanted it assigned, adding that the payment date was November 13. I answered rather sharply, though still with familiar joking. Now, since he is acting generously, I make no charge against him, and I have written that you informed me of it. Please let me know what you are thinking about your journey, and when. April 16.
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
[1] de tota mea cogitatione scripsi ad te antea satis, ut mihi visus sum, diligenter. de die nihil sane potest scribi certi praeter hoc, non ante lunam novam. [2] Curionis sermo postridie eandem habuit fere summam, nisi quod apertius significavit se harum rerum exitum non videre. quod mihi mandas de Quinto regendo, 'Arkadian'. tamen nihil praetermittam. atque utinam tu—, sed molestior non ero. epistulam ad Vestorium statim detuli, ac valde requirere solebat. [3] Commodius tecum Vettienus est locutus quam ad me scripserat. sed mirari satis hominis neglegentiam non queo. Cum enim mihi Philotimus dixisset se HS L_ emere de Canuleio deversorium illud posse, minoris etiam empturum si Vettienum rogassem, rogavi ut, si quid posset, ex ea summa detraheret. promisit. ad me nuper se HS X_X_X_ emisse; ut scriberem cui vellem addici; diem pecuniae Idus Novembn esse. rescripsi ei stomachosius cum ioco tamen familiari. nunc quoniam agit liberaliter, nihil accuso hominem scripsique ad eum me a te certiorem esse factum. tu de tuo itinere quid et quando cogites velim me certiorem facias. A. d. xv K. Maias.