Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 49 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
No doubt we must admit we have made a mistake. "But only once, and only in one matter." No, in everything. The more carefully each thing was considered, the more imprudently it was done. Let what is already finished go, grieving though we are. Only let us not rush headlong in what remains.
You tell me to plan ahead for my departure. What am I to plan? Everything that can happen is so obvious that, if I avoid it, I must sit still in disgrace and grief; if I disregard it, there is danger of falling into the hands of ruined men. See how great our misery is. Sometimes it seems desirable that I should suffer some injury from those people, however bitter, so that I may appear to have been hated by the tyrant.
If the route I hoped for were open to me, I would certainly have achieved something, as you wish and urge, worthy of our delay. But the guards are astonishing, and even Curio himself is suspect. So I must act by force or by stealth. If by force, perhaps I need good weather; if by stealth, and there is any slip, you see how disgraceful it would be. I am being dragged along, and must not shrink if something more violent is needed.
I often turn over Caelius in my mind, and if I have some such opportunity, I will not let it go. I hope the Spains are firm. The action of the Massilians is splendid in itself and also serves as proof to me that things are right in Spain. They would be less bold if the situation were otherwise and they knew it, for they are neighbors and careful observers. You rightly noticed the hatred shown in the theater. I see that even these legions Caesar enrolled in Italy are deeply alienated from him. Still, nothing is more hostile to him than he is to himself. You are right to fear that he may rush headlong. If he despairs, he certainly will. That is all the more reason to accomplish something, with better fortune, I hope, and with Caelius' spirit. But first things first. Whatever happens, you will know at once.
We will supply the young man, as you ask, and take on the whole Peloponnese itself. There is natural ability, if only there is some character. If there is none yet, it can still come to be; otherwise virtue is not teachable, which I cannot be persuaded to believe.
Undoubtedly I must admit I have been mistaken. But is it once only or on one topic? No, in everything. The more carefully I have thought, the less wisely have I done. "Let bygones be bygones." In the future only let us not invite disaster. You bid me provide for my journey. What can I provide? All the possible accidents are so obvious, that, if I would shun them, I must sit still in shame and grief: and, if I disregard them, it is odds that I fall into the hands of villains. But see how miserable I am. Sometimes it seems preferable that I should receive some damage however bitter from Caesar's party, that people may see I am hated by the tyrant. But, if the voyage for which I hoped were open to me, certainly, as you wish and advise, I should have done something to justify delay. But I am watched with extraordinary care and even Curio is suspect. So I must make a bold move or use craft. If a bold move, I need good weather: but, if craft, should there be any faux pas, you see how disgraced I should be. I am carried away by circumstances and must not be afraid of a bold course.
I often reflect about Caelius; and if I have such an opportunity, I will not let it go. I hope Spain is safe. The action of the Massilians is praiseworthy in itself, and is a proof to me that things are going well in Spain. They would have been less bold, if it were otherwise, and they should know, for they live near and are watchful. You are right to remark the expression of popular feeling in the theatre. Even the legions which Caesar got in Italy seem to me to be very disloyal to him. However he is his own worst enemy. You are right to fear that he may run amuck. Assuredly he will, if he loses hope. That is all the more inducement for me to do something in the spirit of Caelius, and I hope with better luck. But everything in due course; and, whatever it be, I will inform you forthwith. I will do all for young Quintus that is necessary, and will undertake the task not only of Arcadia but of the whole Peloponnese. He is able, if only he had character. However, if he has none so far, he may get it, or virtue is not teachable, and that I can never believe.
[1] Sine dubio errasse nos confitendum est. 'at semel, at una in re.' immo omnia quo diligentius cogitata eo facta sunt imprudentius. alla ta men protetuchthai easomen achnumenoi per. in reliquis modo ne ruamus. iubes de profectione me providere. quid provideam? ita patent omnia quae accidere possunt ut, ea si vitem, sedendum sit cum dedecore et dolore, si neglegam, periculum sit ne in manus incidam perditorum. sed vide quantis in miseriis simus. optandum interdum videtur ut aliquam accipiamus ab istis quamvis acerbam iniuriam, ut tyranno in odio fuisse videamur. [2] quod si nobis is cursus quem speraram pateret, effecissem aliquid profecto, ut tu optas et hortaris, dignum nostra mora. sed mirificae sunt custodiae et quidem ille ipse Curio suspectus. qua re vi aut clam agendum est et si +vi forte ne cum pestate clamaut emistis. in quo si quod sphalma, vides quam turpe sit. trahimur, nec fugiendum si quid violentius. [3] de Caelio saepe mecum agito nec, si quid habuero tale, a dimittam. Hispanias spero firmas esse. Massiliensium factum cum ipsum per se luculentum est tum mihi argumento est recte esse in Hispaniis. minus enim auderent, si aliter esset et scirent; nam et vicini et diligentes sunt. odium autem recte animadvertis significatum <in> theatro. legiones etiam has quas in Italia assumpsit alienissimas esse video. sed tamen nihil inimicius quam sibi ipse. illud recte times ne ruat. si desperarit, certe ruet. quo magis efficiendum aliquid est, fortuna velim meliore, animo Caeliano. sed primum quidque. quod, qualecumque erit, continuo scies. [4] nos iuveni, ut rogas, suppeditabimus et Peloponnesum ipsam sustinebimus. est enim indoles, modo aliquod +hoc sit êthos akimoan+. quod si adhuc nullum est, esse tamen potest, aut aretê non est didakton, quod mihi persuaderi non potest.
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No doubt we must admit we have made a mistake. "But only once, and only in one matter." No, in everything. The more carefully each thing was considered, the more imprudently it was done. Let what is already finished go, grieving though we are. Only let us not rush headlong in what remains.
You tell me to plan ahead for my departure. What am I to plan? Everything that can happen is so obvious that, if I avoid it, I must sit still in disgrace and grief; if I disregard it, there is danger of falling into the hands of ruined men. See how great our misery is. Sometimes it seems desirable that I should suffer some injury from those people, however bitter, so that I may appear to have been hated by the tyrant.
If the route I hoped for were open to me, I would certainly have achieved something, as you wish and urge, worthy of our delay. But the guards are astonishing, and even Curio himself is suspect. So I must act by force or by stealth. If by force, perhaps I need good weather; if by stealth, and there is any slip, you see how disgraceful it would be. I am being dragged along, and must not shrink if something more violent is needed.
I often turn over Caelius in my mind, and if I have some such opportunity, I will not let it go. I hope the Spains are firm. The action of the Massilians is splendid in itself and also serves as proof to me that things are right in Spain. They would be less bold if the situation were otherwise and they knew it, for they are neighbors and careful observers. You rightly noticed the hatred shown in the theater. I see that even these legions Caesar enrolled in Italy are deeply alienated from him. Still, nothing is more hostile to him than he is to himself. You are right to fear that he may rush headlong. If he despairs, he certainly will. That is all the more reason to accomplish something, with better fortune, I hope, and with Caelius' spirit. But first things first. Whatever happens, you will know at once.
We will supply the young man, as you ask, and take on the whole Peloponnese itself. There is natural ability, if only there is some character. If there is none yet, it can still come to be; otherwise virtue is not teachable, which I cannot be persuaded to believe.
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] Sine dubio errasse nos confitendum est. 'at semel, at una in re.' immo omnia quo diligentius cogitata eo facta sunt imprudentius. alla ta men protetuchthai easomen achnumenoi per. in reliquis modo ne ruamus. iubes de profectione me providere. quid provideam? ita patent omnia quae accidere possunt ut, ea si vitem, sedendum sit cum dedecore et dolore, si neglegam, periculum sit ne in manus incidam perditorum. sed vide quantis in miseriis simus. optandum interdum videtur ut aliquam accipiamus ab istis quamvis acerbam iniuriam, ut tyranno in odio fuisse videamur. [2] quod si nobis is cursus quem speraram pateret, effecissem aliquid profecto, ut tu optas et hortaris, dignum nostra mora. sed mirificae sunt custodiae et quidem ille ipse Curio suspectus. qua re vi aut clam agendum est et si +vi forte ne cum pestate clamaut emistis. in quo si quod sphalma, vides quam turpe sit. trahimur, nec fugiendum si quid violentius. [3] de Caelio saepe mecum agito nec, si quid habuero tale, a dimittam. Hispanias spero firmas esse. Massiliensium factum cum ipsum per se luculentum est tum mihi argumento est recte esse in Hispaniis. minus enim auderent, si aliter esset et scirent; nam et vicini et diligentes sunt. odium autem recte animadvertis significatum <in> theatro. legiones etiam has quas in Italia assumpsit alienissimas esse video. sed tamen nihil inimicius quam sibi ipse. illud recte times ne ruat. si desperarit, certe ruet. quo magis efficiendum aliquid est, fortuna velim meliore, animo Caeliano. sed primum quidque. quod, qualecumque erit, continuo scies. [4] nos iuveni, ut rogas, suppeditabimus et Peloponnesum ipsam sustinebimus. est enim indoles, modo aliquod +hoc sit êthos akimoan+. quod si adhuc nullum est, esse tamen potest, aut aretê non est didakton, quod mihi persuaderi non potest.