Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 45 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
About the matter of Vergilius's share, I strongly approve. So that is the way you will proceed. And indeed that will be the first option; the next, Clodia's property. But if neither comes off, I am afraid I may make a mess of things and rush headlong at Drusus. I am intemperate in my craving for the thing you know about. And so I keep rolling back, over and over, to the Tusculan estate. For I would rather have anything at all than that this not be settled this summer.
As for me, given my present circumstances, I have no place where I could more easily be at ease than at Astura. But since those who are with me—because, I suppose, they cannot bear my grief—are hurrying home, although I could have stayed on, nevertheless, as I wrote to you, I shall set out from here so as not to seem abandoned. But where to? From Lanuvium I am, for my part, attempting to reach the Tusculan estate. But I will let you know at once. You will see to the correspondence. For my part, it is hardly believable how much I write—indeed even at night, for I get no sleep. Yesterday I even finished off the letter to Caesar; for that was your wish. There was no harm in its being written, in case you should happen to think it needed; but as matters now stand, there is really no necessity to send it. But that, indeed, as shall seem best to you. I will nevertheless send you a copy, perhaps from Lanuvium—unless perhaps from Rome. But you will know tomorrow.
As you are going to look at the garden to-day, I shall of course hear from you to-morrow what you think of it; and about Faberius, when he has come. About the letter to Caesar, I give you my word of honour I cannot; it is not the shame of the thing that prevents me, though that is just what ought. Ah, how shameful is flattery, when life alone is a disgrace! But, as I was beginning to say, it is not the shame of it that prevents me—I only wish it were, for then I should be the man I ought to be—but I cannot think of anything to write. Just consider the subjects of the letters of advice addressed to Alexander by men of eloquence and learning. Here was a youth fired by a desire for the truest glory and desiring to have some advice given him on the subject of eternal fame, and they exhort him to follow honour. There is plenty to say on that: but what can I say? However, from hard material I had rough hewn something that seemed to me to take shape. Because there were a few touches in it a little better than the actual facts past or present, fault is found with them; and I don't regret it a bit. For, if the letter had reached its destination, believe me, I should have regretted it. Why, don't you
see that even that pupil of Aristotle, in spite of his high ability and his high character, became proud, cruel, and ungovernable, after he got the title of king? How do you suppose this puppet messmate of Quirinus will like my moderate letters? Let him rather look for what I do not write than disapprove of what I have written. In short let it be as he pleases. What was spurring me on when I put that insoluble problem before you has all gone now. Upon my word now I should far rather welcome the misfortune I feared then or any other.
If there is nothing to prevent you, come to me and welcome. Nicias at Dolabella's urgent request (for I read the letter) has gone, against my will though not against my advice.
The rest I have written myself. When I was discussing men of learning with Nicias, we chanced to speak of Talna. He had not much to say for his intelligence, though he gave him a good and steady character. But there was one thing that seemed to me unsatisfactory. He said he knew he had lately sought in marriage Cornificia, Quintus' daughter, though quite an old woman and married more than once before; but the ladies would not agree as they found he was not worth more than 7,000 guineas. I thought you ought to know this.
de Vergili parte valde probo. sic ages igitur. et quidem id erit primum, proximum Clodiae. quod si neutrum, metuo ne turbem et inruam in Drusum. intemperans sum in eius rei cupiditate quam nosti. itaque revolvor identidem in Tusculanum. quidvis enim potius quam ut non hac aestate absolvatur. [2] ego, ut tempus est nostrum, locum habeo nullum ubi facilius esse possim quam Asturae. sed quia qui mecum sunt, credo, quod maestitiam meam non ferunt, domum properant, etsi poteram remanere, tamen, ut scripsi tibi, proficiscar hinc ne relictus videar. quo autem? Lanuvio conor equidem in Tusculanum. sed faciam te statim certiorem. tu litteras conficies. equidem credibile non est quantum scribam, quin etiam noctibus; nihil enim somni. heri etiam effeci epistulam ad Caesarem; tibi enim placebat. quam non fuit malum scribi, si forte opus esse putares; ut quidem nunc est, nihil sane est necesse mittere. sed id quidem, ut tibi videbitur. mittam tamen ad te exemplum fortasse Lanuvio, nisi forte Romam. sed cras scies.
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About the matter of Vergilius's share, I strongly approve. So that is the way you will proceed. And indeed that will be the first option; the next, Clodia's property. But if neither comes off, I am afraid I may make a mess of things and rush headlong at Drusus. I am intemperate in my craving for the thing you know about. And so I keep rolling back, over and over, to the Tusculan estate. For I would rather have anything at all than that this not be settled this summer.
As for me, given my present circumstances, I have no place where I could more easily be at ease than at Astura. But since those who are with me—because, I suppose, they cannot bear my grief—are hurrying home, although I could have stayed on, nevertheless, as I wrote to you, I shall set out from here so as not to seem abandoned. But where to? From Lanuvium I am, for my part, attempting to reach the Tusculan estate. But I will let you know at once. You will see to the correspondence. For my part, it is hardly believable how much I write—indeed even at night, for I get no sleep. Yesterday I even finished off the letter to Caesar; for that was your wish. There was no harm in its being written, in case you should happen to think it needed; but as matters now stand, there is really no necessity to send it. But that, indeed, as shall seem best to you. I will nevertheless send you a copy, perhaps from Lanuvium—unless perhaps from Rome. But you will know tomorrow.
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
de Vergili parte valde probo. sic ages igitur. et quidem id erit primum, proximum Clodiae. quod si neutrum, metuo ne turbem et inruam in Drusum. intemperans sum in eius rei cupiditate quam nosti. itaque revolvor identidem in Tusculanum. quidvis enim potius quam ut non hac aestate absolvatur. [2] ego, ut tempus est nostrum, locum habeo nullum ubi facilius esse possim quam Asturae. sed quia qui mecum sunt, credo, quod maestitiam meam non ferunt, domum properant, etsi poteram remanere, tamen, ut scripsi tibi, proficiscar hinc ne relictus videar. quo autem? Lanuvio conor equidem in Tusculanum. sed faciam te statim certiorem. tu litteras conficies. equidem credibile non est quantum scribam, quin etiam noctibus; nihil enim somni. heri etiam effeci epistulam ad Caesarem; tibi enim placebat. quam non fuit malum scribi, si forte opus esse putares; ut quidem nunc est, nihil sane est necesse mittere. sed id quidem, ut tibi videbitur. mittam tamen ad te exemplum fortasse Lanuvio, nisi forte Romam. sed cras scies.