Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 47 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
On August 25 I received your letter dated August 19, and when I read it, the sorrow that had long possessed me over Quintus' shameful conduct, but which I had now set aside, was reawakened in all its force. Though you could not possibly help sending me that letter, I wish it had not been sent.
About the points you mention concerning the will, please see what should be done and how. About the money, Terentia has written to me exactly what I suggested to you before, and if I need it, I will draw on the sum you mention.
Caesar probably will not reach Athens by September 1. Many things are said to be keeping him in Asia, especially Pharnaces. The Twelfth Legion, which Sulla visited first, is said to have driven him off with stones, and it is thought that none of them will move. Caesar is expected to go straight from Patrae to Sicily. But if so, he must come here. I would have preferred him to go straight there, for I would have got away from here somehow. Now I am afraid I must wait for him, and in addition to my other afflictions my poor daughter must endure this unhealthy climate.
You advise me to fit my conduct to the times. I would, if circumstances allowed and it were in any way possible. But because of all my own mistakes and the wrongs inflicted on me by my family, there is nothing worthy of myself that I can do or even pretend to do. You compare Sulla's rule: in principle that was all that could be noble, but it was rather too lacking in moderation. The present crisis, however, is such that I forget myself and would much prefer the public cause to win rather than the one with which my interests are bound up.
Please write to me as often as possible, especially since no one else writes; and even if everyone were writing, I would still look forward to your letters more than any. You say Caesar will be kinder to Quintus for my sake, but I told you before that he has made every concession to young Quintus without mentioning me. Farewell.
On August 25 I received a letter from you dated Aug. 19, and, on reading it, the sorrow which possessed me long ago at Quintus' shameful conduct, but which I had now laid aside, was reawakened in all its force. Though you could not possibly have helped sending me that letter, I wish it had not been sent.
For the points you mention about the will, please see what is to be done and how. About the money, Terentia has written to me just what I suggested to you before, and, if I need it, I will draw on the sum you mention.
Caesar probably won't reach Athens by the 1st of September. There are said to be many things that keep him in Asia, especially Pharnaces. The 12th legion, which Sulla visited first, is said to have driven him off with stones, and it is thought none of them will stir. Caesar it is supposed will go straight from Patrae to Sicily. But, if so, he must come here. I should have preferred him to go straight there, for I should have got away from here somehow. Now I am afraid I must wait for him, and in addition to other afflictions my poor daughter must endure this unhealthy climate.
You advise me to make my actions fit the times. I would, if circumstances permitted, and it were anyhow possible. But what with all my own mistakes and the wrongs inflicted on me by my family, there is nothing worthy of myself that I can do or even pretend to do. You compare Sulla's reign: that in principle was all that could be noble, but it was rather too lacking in moderation. The present crisis however is such that I forget myself, and should much prefer the public cause to win rather than that with which my interests are bound up. However, please write to me as often as possible, especially as no one else writes, and, if all the world were writing, I should still look forward to your letters more than any. You say Caesar will be kinder to Quintus for my sake: but I told you before he had made every concession to young Quintus, without mentioning me. Farewell.
[1] accepi vi Kal. Sept. litteras a te datas xii Kal. doloremque quem ex Quinti scelere iam pridem acceptum iam abieceram, lecta eius epistula gravissimum cepi. tu etsi non potuisti ullo modo facere ut mihi illam epistulam non mitteres, tamen mallem non esse missam. ad ea autem quae scribis de testamento, videbis quid et quo modo. de nummis et illa sic scripsit ut ego ad te antea, et nos, si quid opus erit, utemur ex eo de quo scribis. [2] ille ad Kal. Sept. Athenis non videtur fore. multa eum in Asia dicuntur morari, maxime Pharnaces. legio xii, ad quam primam Sulla venit, lapidibus egisse hominem dicitur. nullam putant se commoturam. illum arbitrabantur protinus Patris in Siciliam. sed si hoc ita est, huc veniat necesse est. ac mallem illum ; aliquo enim modo hinc evasissem. nunc metuo ne sit exspectandum et cum reliquis etiam loci gravitas huic miserrimae perferenda. [3] quod me mones ut ea quae (agam) ad tempus accommodem, facerem, si res pateretur et si ullo modo fieri posset. sed in tantis nostris peccatis tantisque nostrorum iniuriis nihil est quod aut facere dignum nobis aut simulare possim. Sullana confers; in quibus omnia genere ipso praeclarissima fuerunt, moderatione paulo minus temperata. haec autem eius modi sunt ut obliviscar (mei) multoque malim quod omnibus sit melius (quam) quorum utilitatem meam iunxi. tu ad me tamen velim quam saepissime scribas eoque magis quod praeterea nemo scribit ac, si omnes, tuas tamen maxime exspectarem. quod scribis illum per me Quinto fore placatiorem, scripsi ad te antea eum statim Quinto filio omnia tribuisse, nostri nullam mentionem. vale.
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On August 25 I received your letter dated August 19, and when I read it, the sorrow that had long possessed me over Quintus' shameful conduct, but which I had now set aside, was reawakened in all its force. Though you could not possibly help sending me that letter, I wish it had not been sent.
About the points you mention concerning the will, please see what should be done and how. About the money, Terentia has written to me exactly what I suggested to you before, and if I need it, I will draw on the sum you mention.
Caesar probably will not reach Athens by September 1. Many things are said to be keeping him in Asia, especially Pharnaces. The Twelfth Legion, which Sulla visited first, is said to have driven him off with stones, and it is thought that none of them will move. Caesar is expected to go straight from Patrae to Sicily. But if so, he must come here. I would have preferred him to go straight there, for I would have got away from here somehow. Now I am afraid I must wait for him, and in addition to my other afflictions my poor daughter must endure this unhealthy climate.
You advise me to fit my conduct to the times. I would, if circumstances allowed and it were in any way possible. But because of all my own mistakes and the wrongs inflicted on me by my family, there is nothing worthy of myself that I can do or even pretend to do. You compare Sulla's rule: in principle that was all that could be noble, but it was rather too lacking in moderation. The present crisis, however, is such that I forget myself and would much prefer the public cause to win rather than the one with which my interests are bound up.
Please write to me as often as possible, especially since no one else writes; and even if everyone were writing, I would still look forward to your letters more than any. You say Caesar will be kinder to Quintus for my sake, but I told you before that he has made every concession to young Quintus without mentioning me. Farewell.
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] accepi vi Kal. Sept. litteras a te datas xii Kal. doloremque quem ex Quinti scelere iam pridem acceptum iam abieceram, lecta eius epistula gravissimum cepi. tu etsi non potuisti ullo modo facere ut mihi illam epistulam non mitteres, tamen mallem non esse missam. ad ea autem quae scribis de testamento, videbis quid et quo modo. de nummis et illa sic scripsit ut ego ad te antea, et nos, si quid opus erit, utemur ex eo de quo scribis. [2] ille ad Kal. Sept. Athenis non videtur fore. multa eum in Asia dicuntur morari, maxime Pharnaces. legio xii, ad quam primam Sulla venit, lapidibus egisse hominem dicitur. nullam putant se commoturam. illum arbitrabantur protinus Patris in Siciliam. sed si hoc ita est, huc veniat necesse est. ac mallem illum ; aliquo enim modo hinc evasissem. nunc metuo ne sit exspectandum et cum reliquis etiam loci gravitas huic miserrimae perferenda. [3] quod me mones ut ea quae (agam) ad tempus accommodem, facerem, si res pateretur et si ullo modo fieri posset. sed in tantis nostris peccatis tantisque nostrorum iniuriis nihil est quod aut facere dignum nobis aut simulare possim. Sullana confers; in quibus omnia genere ipso praeclarissima fuerunt, moderatione paulo minus temperata. haec autem eius modi sunt ut obliviscar (mei) multoque malim quod omnibus sit melius (quam) quorum utilitatem meam iunxi. tu ad me tamen velim quam saepissime scribas eoque magis quod praeterea nemo scribit ac, si omnes, tuas tamen maxime exspectarem. quod scribis illum per me Quinto fore placatiorem, scripsi ad te antea eum statim Quinto filio omnia tribuisse, nostri nullam mentionem. vale.