Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 44 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
I reached Pompeii on May 3, after settling Pilia at my place in Cumae the day before, as I wrote to you earlier. While I was dining there, your letter was delivered, the one you had given to your freedman Demetrius on April 30. It contained much wise advice, but still, as you yourself wrote, of such a kind that every plan seemed to rest on fortune. So we will discuss these matters in person as they arise.
On the business of Buthrotum, how I wish I could meet Antony. I would certainly make great progress. But people do not think he will turn aside from Capua, and I fear his coming there may be a great evil for the state. Lucius Caesar thought the same; I had seen him gravely ill at Naples the day before. So these matters must be handled and completed by us on June 1. But enough on that.
Young Quintus sent his father a very bitter letter, which was delivered when we reached Pompeii. Its main point was that he would not tolerate Aquilia as a stepmother. That perhaps can be endured. But the other point: that he had received everything from Caesar, nothing from his father, and hoped for the rest from Antony. What a ruined man. Still, that will be dealt with.
I have written letters to our Brutus, to Cassius, and to Dolabella. I send you copies, not because I am still debating whether they should be delivered. I have decided plainly that they should, and I do not doubt you will think the same.
My dear Atticus, please supply my Cicero with whatever seems right to you, and allow me to place this burden on you. What you have done so far is deeply welcome to me.
I have not yet polished that unpublished book of mine as I wished. The material you want me to weave together is waiting for another separate volume. Believe me, I think it was possible to speak against that wicked party with less danger while the tyrant was alive than after his death. Somehow he tolerated me remarkably well; now, wherever we stir, we are called back not only to Caesar's acts but even to Caesar's intentions. As for Montanus, since Flamma has arrived, you will see to it. I think the business ought to be in a better position.
I reached Pompeii on the 3rd of May, having established Pilia in my place at Cumae the day before, as I told you in a former letter. While I was at dinner there, the letter you had given to the freedman Demetrius on the last of April was delivered. There was a lot of wise advice in it, but, as you admit yourself, with the reservation
that everything seems to depend on chance. So these points we will discuss on the spot when we meet. As regards the business about Buthrotum I only wish I could meet Antony. I am sure I could make good headway with him. But people think he won't stir from Capua, and I fear his going there will do a great deal of harm to the state. L. Caesar, whom I saw yesterday very ill at Naples, thought the same too. So I shall have to handle this subject and get it settled on the 1st of June. But enough of this.
Young Quintus has sent his father a most unpleasant letter, which was delivered when we reached Pompeii. The chief point of it was that he would not put up with Aquilia as a step-mother: but that perhaps is excusable. But to say he owed everything to Caesar, nothing to his father, and for the future he looked to Antonius—what a scoundrel! However that shall be attended to.
I have written to Brutus, to Cassius and to Dolabella. I send you copies; not that I am in doubt whether to send the letters or not; for I feel sure that they ought to be sent, and I have no doubt you will agree with me.
Please, dear Atticus, supply my boy with as much money as you think fit, and forgive me for troubling you. For what you have done already I am most grateful. That unpublished book of mine I have not yet polished up as I should wish: the points you want me to introduce must wait for a second volume. But I think—and I hope you will believe me—that one could have spoken against that disreputable party with less danger in the tyrant's
life than after his death. For he, somehow, was most patient with me; now, whichever way we turn, we are reminded not only of Caesar's enactments, but also of his intentions. Please see about Montanus, since Flamma has arrived. I think the matter ought to be put on a better footing.
in Pompeianum veni v Nonas Maias, cum pridie, ut antea ad te scripsi, Piliam in Cumano conlocavissem. ibi mihi cenanti litterae tuae sunt redditae quas dederas Demetrio liberto pr. Kal.; in quibus multa sapienter, sed tamen talia, quem ad modum tute scribebas, ut omne consilium in fortuna positum videretur. itaque his de rebus ex tempore et coram. [2] de Buthrotio negotio utinam quidem Antonium conveniam! multum profecto proficiam. sed non arbitrantur eum a Capua declinaturum; quo quidem metuo ne magno rei publicae malo venerit. quod idem L. Caesari videbatur quem pridie Neapoli adfectum graviter videram. quam ob rem ista nobis ad Kal. Iunias tractanda et perficienda sunt. sed hactenus. [3] Quintus filius ad patrem acerbissimas litteras misit quae sunt ei redditae cum venissemus in Pompeianum. quarum tamen erat caput Aquiliam novercam non esse laturum. sed hoc tolerabile fortasse, illud vero, se a Caesare habuisse omnia, nihil a patre, reliqua sperare ab Antonio--o perditum hominem! sed melh/sei . [4] ad Brutum nostrum, ad Cassium, ad Dolabellam epistulas scripsi. earum exempla tibi misi, non ut deliberarem reddendaene essent. plane enim iudico esse reddendas, quod non dubito quin tu idem existimaturus sis. [5] Ciceroni meo, mi Attice, suppeditabis quantum videbitur meque hoc tibi onus imponere patiere. quae adhuc fecisti mihi sunt gratissima. [6] Librum meum illum a)ne/kdoton nondum, ut volui, perpolivi; ista vero quae tu contexi vis aliud quoddam separatum volumen exspectant. ego autem, credas mihi velim, minore periculo existimo contra illas nefarias partis vivo tyranno dici potuisse quam mortuo. ille enim nescio quo pacto ferebat me quidem mirabiliter; nunc quacumque nos commovimus, ad Caesaris non modo acta verum etiam cogitata revocamur. de Montano, quoniam Flamma venit, videbis. puto rem meliore loco esse debere.
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I reached Pompeii on May 3, after settling Pilia at my place in Cumae the day before, as I wrote to you earlier. While I was dining there, your letter was delivered, the one you had given to your freedman Demetrius on April 30. It contained much wise advice, but still, as you yourself wrote, of such a kind that every plan seemed to rest on fortune. So we will discuss these matters in person as they arise.
On the business of Buthrotum, how I wish I could meet Antony. I would certainly make great progress. But people do not think he will turn aside from Capua, and I fear his coming there may be a great evil for the state. Lucius Caesar thought the same; I had seen him gravely ill at Naples the day before. So these matters must be handled and completed by us on June 1. But enough on that.
Young Quintus sent his father a very bitter letter, which was delivered when we reached Pompeii. Its main point was that he would not tolerate Aquilia as a stepmother. That perhaps can be endured. But the other point: that he had received everything from Caesar, nothing from his father, and hoped for the rest from Antony. What a ruined man. Still, that will be dealt with.
I have written letters to our Brutus, to Cassius, and to Dolabella. I send you copies, not because I am still debating whether they should be delivered. I have decided plainly that they should, and I do not doubt you will think the same.
My dear Atticus, please supply my Cicero with whatever seems right to you, and allow me to place this burden on you. What you have done so far is deeply welcome to me.
I have not yet polished that unpublished book of mine as I wished. The material you want me to weave together is waiting for another separate volume. Believe me, I think it was possible to speak against that wicked party with less danger while the tyrant was alive than after his death. Somehow he tolerated me remarkably well; now, wherever we stir, we are called back not only to Caesar's acts but even to Caesar's intentions. As for Montanus, since Flamma has arrived, you will see to it. I think the business ought to be in a better position.
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
in Pompeianum veni v Nonas Maias, cum pridie, ut antea ad te scripsi, Piliam in Cumano conlocavissem. ibi mihi cenanti litterae tuae sunt redditae quas dederas Demetrio liberto pr. Kal.; in quibus multa sapienter, sed tamen talia, quem ad modum tute scribebas, ut omne consilium in fortuna positum videretur. itaque his de rebus ex tempore et coram. [2] de Buthrotio negotio utinam quidem Antonium conveniam! multum profecto proficiam. sed non arbitrantur eum a Capua declinaturum; quo quidem metuo ne magno rei publicae malo venerit. quod idem L. Caesari videbatur quem pridie Neapoli adfectum graviter videram. quam ob rem ista nobis ad Kal. Iunias tractanda et perficienda sunt. sed hactenus. [3] Quintus filius ad patrem acerbissimas litteras misit quae sunt ei redditae cum venissemus in Pompeianum. quarum tamen erat caput Aquiliam novercam non esse laturum. sed hoc tolerabile fortasse, illud vero, se a Caesare habuisse omnia, nihil a patre, reliqua sperare ab Antonio--o perditum hominem! sed melh/sei . [4] ad Brutum nostrum, ad Cassium, ad Dolabellam epistulas scripsi. earum exempla tibi misi, non ut deliberarem reddendaene essent. plane enim iudico esse reddendas, quod non dubito quin tu idem existimaturus sis. [5] Ciceroni meo, mi Attice, suppeditabis quantum videbitur meque hoc tibi onus imponere patiere. quae adhuc fecisti mihi sunt gratissima. [6] Librum meum illum a)ne/kdoton nondum, ut volui, perpolivi; ista vero quae tu contexi vis aliud quoddam separatum volumen exspectant. ego autem, credas mihi velim, minore periculo existimo contra illas nefarias partis vivo tyranno dici potuisse quam mortuo. ille enim nescio quo pacto ferebat me quidem mirabiliter; nunc quacumque nos commovimus, ad Caesaris non modo acta verum etiam cogitata revocamur. de Montano, quoniam Flamma venit, videbis. puto rem meliore loco esse debere.