Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 49 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
Yes, I approve of Apulia, Sipontum, and that cautious turning aside of yours, and I do not think your position is the same as mine. In public principle the right course is of course the same for both of us, but that is not what is now at stake. This is a contest for monarchy. The more moderate king has been driven back, the better and more upright one, the man without whose victory the very name of the Roman people must be erased. Yet if he wins, he will win by Sulla's methods and example.
In such a contest you must not openly declare for either side. You must serve the moment. My case is different. I am bound by a favor and cannot be ungrateful, though I do not think I shall be in the battle line, but at Malta or some other small place like it. You will say, "So you give no help to the man to whom you do not want to appear ungrateful?" On the contrary, perhaps he would prefer me to give less. But we will see about that. Only let me get away. Dolabella in the Adriatic and Curio at the Sicilian strait make the timing better.
Some hope has been suggested to me that Servius Sulpicius wants to speak with me. I have sent my freedman Philotimus to him with a letter. If he wants to be a man, we shall have a splendid voyage together. If not, I shall be my usual self.
Curio stayed with me. He thinks Caesar is lying low because of public resentment and distrusts Sicily if Pompey starts using his fleet. Young Quintus took a severe dressing-down when he came. I see greed and the hope of a large bounty in him. That is a serious evil, but I hope there was none of the disloyalty I had feared. This fault, I think you will judge, came not from our indulgence but from his nature. Still, we will govern him by discipline.
As for the Oppii of Velia, you and Philotimus will decide what seems best. I will regard your place in Epirus as my own, though it looks as if I shall have to take a different course.
Yes, I think you are right to hedge, and stay in Apulia and Sipontum: nor do I consider that your case is the same as mine. Of course in the matter of the constitution the right course is the same for both of us: but the constitution is not now in question. It is a struggle between two kings, in which defeat has overtaken the more moderate king, the one who is more upright and honest, the one whose failure means that the very name of the Roman people must be wiped out, though, if he wins the victory, he will use it after the manner and example of Sulla. Therefore in a contest like this you must not openly express your sentiments for either side, but must await the event. My case however is different. I am under the bond of an obligation, and cannot show ingratitude. But yet I do not fancy that I shall be found in the line of battle, but at Malta or some other similar place. You may say I
do not help the man to whom I am loth to show ingratitude. No. Perhaps he would have been glad if I had helped him less. But that we shall see. Let me only get away. A fair opportunity is offered now that Dolabella is in the Adriatic and Curio in the straits of Sicily.
I have conceived some hope that Servius Sulpicius wishes to see me. I have dispatched Philotimus, my freedman, to him with a letter. If he wishes to play the man, we shall have a fine time together. But if not, well, I shall be my own old self. Curio stayed with me. He thinks that Caesar is falling in popular esteem and he is mistrustful about going to Sicily, if Pompey should begin a naval action.
The boy Quintus got it hot when he came. I see it was greed and the hope of a large bounty. This is a great evil; but disloyalty, which I feared, there was I hope none. But this flaw, I fancy you will gather, did not proceed from my spoiling him, but from his own temperament. Still, I must teach him discipline.
As to the Oppii of Velia, you will arrange with Philotimus as you think fit. Your place in Epirus I shall regard as my own; but it seems I shall go on another tack.
[1] ego vero Apuliam et Sipontum et tergiversationem istam probo nec tuam rationem eandem esse duco quam meam, non quin in re publica rectum idem sit utrique nostrum, x vii M. TVLLI CICERONIS sed ea non agitur. regnandi contentio est, in qua pulsus est modestior rex et probior et integrior et is, qui nisi vincit, nomen populi Romani deleatur necesse est, sin autem vincit, Sullano more exemploque vincet. ergo hac in contentione neutrum tibi palam sentiendum et tempori serviendum est. mea causa autem alia est, quod beneficio vinctus ingratus esse non possum, nec tamen in acie (me) sed Melitae aut alio in loco simili [oppidulo] futurum puto. 'nihil' inquies 'iuvas eum in quem ingratus esse non vis?' immo minus fortasse voluisset. sed de hoc videbimus; exeamus modo. quod ut meliore tempore possimus facit Adriano mari Dolabella, Fretensi Curio. [2] iniecta autem mihi spes quaedam est velle mecum Ser. Sulpicium conloqui. ad eum misi Philotimum libertum cum litteris. si vir esse volet, praeclara sunodia, sin autem—, erimus nos qui solemus. [3] Curio mecum vixit iacere Caesarem putans offensione populari Siciliaeque diffidens si Pompeius navigare coepisset. Quintum puerum accepi vehementer. avaritiam video fuisse et spem magni congiari. Magnum hoc malum est, sed scelus illud quod timueramus spero nullum fuisse. hoc autem vitium puto te existimare non (a) nostra indulgentia sed a natura profectum. quem tamen nos disciplina regemus. de Oppiis Veliensibus quid placeat cum Philotimo videbis Epirum nostram putabimus sed alios cursus videbamur habituri.
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Yes, I approve of Apulia, Sipontum, and that cautious turning aside of yours, and I do not think your position is the same as mine. In public principle the right course is of course the same for both of us, but that is not what is now at stake. This is a contest for monarchy. The more moderate king has been driven back, the better and more upright one, the man without whose victory the very name of the Roman people must be erased. Yet if he wins, he will win by Sulla's methods and example.
In such a contest you must not openly declare for either side. You must serve the moment. My case is different. I am bound by a favor and cannot be ungrateful, though I do not think I shall be in the battle line, but at Malta or some other small place like it. You will say, "So you give no help to the man to whom you do not want to appear ungrateful?" On the contrary, perhaps he would prefer me to give less. But we will see about that. Only let me get away. Dolabella in the Adriatic and Curio at the Sicilian strait make the timing better.
Some hope has been suggested to me that Servius Sulpicius wants to speak with me. I have sent my freedman Philotimus to him with a letter. If he wants to be a man, we shall have a splendid voyage together. If not, I shall be my usual self.
Curio stayed with me. He thinks Caesar is lying low because of public resentment and distrusts Sicily if Pompey starts using his fleet. Young Quintus took a severe dressing-down when he came. I see greed and the hope of a large bounty in him. That is a serious evil, but I hope there was none of the disloyalty I had feared. This fault, I think you will judge, came not from our indulgence but from his nature. Still, we will govern him by discipline.
As for the Oppii of Velia, you and Philotimus will decide what seems best. I will regard your place in Epirus as my own, though it looks as if I shall have to take a different course.
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] ego vero Apuliam et Sipontum et tergiversationem istam probo nec tuam rationem eandem esse duco quam meam, non quin in re publica rectum idem sit utrique nostrum, x vii M. TVLLI CICERONIS sed ea non agitur. regnandi contentio est, in qua pulsus est modestior rex et probior et integrior et is, qui nisi vincit, nomen populi Romani deleatur necesse est, sin autem vincit, Sullano more exemploque vincet. ergo hac in contentione neutrum tibi palam sentiendum et tempori serviendum est. mea causa autem alia est, quod beneficio vinctus ingratus esse non possum, nec tamen in acie (me) sed Melitae aut alio in loco simili [oppidulo] futurum puto. 'nihil' inquies 'iuvas eum in quem ingratus esse non vis?' immo minus fortasse voluisset. sed de hoc videbimus; exeamus modo. quod ut meliore tempore possimus facit Adriano mari Dolabella, Fretensi Curio. [2] iniecta autem mihi spes quaedam est velle mecum Ser. Sulpicium conloqui. ad eum misi Philotimum libertum cum litteris. si vir esse volet, praeclara sunodia, sin autem—, erimus nos qui solemus. [3] Curio mecum vixit iacere Caesarem putans offensione populari Siciliaeque diffidens si Pompeius navigare coepisset. Quintum puerum accepi vehementer. avaritiam video fuisse et spem magni congiari. Magnum hoc malum est, sed scelus illud quod timueramus spero nullum fuisse. hoc autem vitium puto te existimare non (a) nostra indulgentia sed a natura profectum. quem tamen nos disciplina regemus. de Oppiis Veliensibus quid placeat cum Philotimo videbis Epirum nostram putabimus sed alios cursus videbamur habituri.