Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 49 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
On May 14 Hortensius came to me when my letter had already been written. I wish his conduct were always like the rest of this: what incredible eagerness toward me. I am thinking of making use of it. Then Serapion came with your letter. Before I opened it, I told him that you had written to me about him before, as you had. Then, after reading the letter, I told him the rest very fully. By Hercules, I approve of the man; I think him learned and honest. I even think I will use his ship, with him as fellow passenger.
My eye inflammation keeps breaking out. It is not very hateful, but it does keep me from writing myself. I am glad your health is now restored from both the old complaint and the new attacks.
I wish we had Ocella. Things seem likely to be a little easier. At present the equinox delays us; it has been very stormy. When that is past, if only Hortensius remains the same. So far nothing could be more generous.
You are surprised about the passport, as if I had charged you with some terrible offense. You say you cannot discover how the idea entered my mind. My reason was this: since you had written that you were thinking of setting out, and since I had heard that no one was allowed to do so otherwise, I thought you had one; also because you had obtained a passport for the boys. That is the reason for my opinion. Still, please let me know what you are thinking, and especially whether there is any news. May 16.
On the 14th of May Hortensius came to me, just as I had written my letter. I wish his conduct were always as it is now. You would never believe how gushing he was, and I intend to take advantage of it. Then Serapion came with a letter from you. Before I opened it, I told him that you had written to me about him before, as you had done. Then when I had read the letter, I told him the rest in full detail, and upon my word I like the man; for I think him to be learned and upright. Moreover I think I will use his ship and make him my fellow-passenger.
Inflammation of the eyes often breaks out again, not indeed very troublesome, but enough to prevent my writing. That your health has recovered from your old complaint and your new attacks I am glad.
I wish I had Ocella here: for it looks as if things are going to be rather easier. Just now the equinox is delaying me. It has been very boisterous. When that is over, I only hope Hortensius may keep to the same mind. So far he could not be more generous.
You wonder about the passport I mentioned, as if I hinted you were guilty of some crime. You say you can't discover how it came into my mind. For my part since you wrote that you meditated leaving, and I had heard that a passport was indispensable, I decided you must have one: and also because you had taken out a passport for the boys. That was the reason for my opinion, but please write and tell me
what you intend, and especially if there is any news.
May 16.
[1] Pr. Idus Hortensius ad me venit scripta epistula. + vellem cetera eius+ , quam in me incredibilem ekteneian! qua quidem cogito uti. deinde serapion cum epistula tua. quam prius quam aperuissem, dixi ei te ad me de eo scripsisse antea, ut feceras. deinde epistula + scripta+ cumulatissime cetera. et hercule hominem probo; nam et doctum et probum existimo; quin etiam navi eius me et ipso convectore usurum puto. [2] crebro refricat lippitudo non illa quidem perodiosa sed tamen quae impediat scriptionem meam. valetudinem tuam iam confirmatam esse et a vetere morbo et a novis temptationibus gaudeo. [3] Ocellam vellem haberemus; videntur enim esse haec paulo faciliora (futura). nunc quidem aequinoctium nos moratur quod valde perturbatum erat. + id si cras+ erit, utinam idem maneat Hortensius! si quidem, (ut) adhuc erat, liberalius esse nihil potest. [4] de diplomate admiraris quasi nescio cuius te flagiti insimularim. negas enim te reperire qui mihi id in mentem venerit. ego autem, quia scripseras te proficisci cogitare (etenim audieram nemini aliter licere), eo te habere censebam et quia pueris diploma sumpseras. habes causam opinionis meae. et tamen velim scire quid cogites in primisque si quid etiam nunc novi est. xvii K. Iun.
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On May 14 Hortensius came to me when my letter had already been written. I wish his conduct were always like the rest of this: what incredible eagerness toward me. I am thinking of making use of it. Then Serapion came with your letter. Before I opened it, I told him that you had written to me about him before, as you had. Then, after reading the letter, I told him the rest very fully. By Hercules, I approve of the man; I think him learned and honest. I even think I will use his ship, with him as fellow passenger.
My eye inflammation keeps breaking out. It is not very hateful, but it does keep me from writing myself. I am glad your health is now restored from both the old complaint and the new attacks.
I wish we had Ocella. Things seem likely to be a little easier. At present the equinox delays us; it has been very stormy. When that is past, if only Hortensius remains the same. So far nothing could be more generous.
You are surprised about the passport, as if I had charged you with some terrible offense. You say you cannot discover how the idea entered my mind. My reason was this: since you had written that you were thinking of setting out, and since I had heard that no one was allowed to do so otherwise, I thought you had one; also because you had obtained a passport for the boys. That is the reason for my opinion. Still, please let me know what you are thinking, and especially whether there is any news. May 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] Pr. Idus Hortensius ad me venit scripta epistula. + vellem cetera eius+ , quam in me incredibilem ekteneian! qua quidem cogito uti. deinde serapion cum epistula tua. quam prius quam aperuissem, dixi ei te ad me de eo scripsisse antea, ut feceras. deinde epistula + scripta+ cumulatissime cetera. et hercule hominem probo; nam et doctum et probum existimo; quin etiam navi eius me et ipso convectore usurum puto. [2] crebro refricat lippitudo non illa quidem perodiosa sed tamen quae impediat scriptionem meam. valetudinem tuam iam confirmatam esse et a vetere morbo et a novis temptationibus gaudeo. [3] Ocellam vellem haberemus; videntur enim esse haec paulo faciliora (futura). nunc quidem aequinoctium nos moratur quod valde perturbatum erat. + id si cras+ erit, utinam idem maneat Hortensius! si quidem, (ut) adhuc erat, liberalius esse nihil potest. [4] de diplomate admiraris quasi nescio cuius te flagiti insimularim. negas enim te reperire qui mihi id in mentem venerit. ego autem, quia scripseras te proficisci cogitare (etenim audieram nemini aliter licere), eo te habere censebam et quia pueris diploma sumpseras. habes causam opinionis meae. et tamen velim scire quid cogites in primisque si quid etiam nunc novi est. xvii K. Iun.