Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 44 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
What an affectionate letter from Brutus, and what unfair timing that you cannot go to him. But what am I to say? That they should accept favors from the other party? That would be the depth of disgrace. That they should try some new move? They dare not, and now they cannot. Suppose I advise them to keep quiet and they do. Who can guarantee their safety? Indeed, if anything bad happens to Decimus, what sort of life will we lead, even if no one troubles us?
It is a sad disgrace not to preside at the games. Imagine laying the burden of the grain supply on them. What is this but promotion downward, and what public office is more contemptible? To give advice in such matters is certainly unsafe, even for the adviser. If I were doing good, I might overlook that, but why should I put my foot into it to no purpose? Since Brutus is following his mother's advice, or rather her pleading, why should I interfere? Still, I will consider what kind of letter I can write, because I must give some answer. I will write at once either to Antium or to Circeii.
What an affectionate letter from Brutus! And what hard luck that you cannot go to him! But what am I to say? That they should accept the other party's favours? That were the depth of shame. That they should try some new move? They dare not, and now they cannot. Well, suppose I advise them to keep quiet and they do, who can guarantee their safety? Indeed, if anything unpleasant happens to Decimus, what sort of life shall we lead, even if no one molests us? It is a sad disgrace not to preside at the games. Fancy putting the burden of the corn-supply on them! What is this but promotion downwards, and what state office is more contemptible? To give advice in such matters is certainly quite unsafe, even for those who give it. If I were doing good, I might overlook that; but why should I put my foot in it to no purpose? Since he is following his mother's advice, or rather her supplications, why should I interfere? However, I will consider what kind of letter I can write, for I must give some answer. So I will write at once either to Antium or to Circeii.
O Bruti amanter scriptas litteras! o iniquum tuum tempus qui ad eum ire non possis! ego autem quid scribam? ut beneficio istorum utantur? quid turpius? ut moliantur aliquid? nec audent nec iam possunt. age, quiescant auctoribus nobis; quis incolumitatem praestat? si vero aliquid de Decimo gravius, quae nostris vita, etiam si nemo molestus sit? ludos vero non facere! quid foedius? frumentum imponere! quae est alia Dionis legatio aut quod munus in re publica sordidius? prorsus quidem consilia tali in re ne iis quidem tuta sunt qui dant; sed possim id neglegere proficiens; frustra vero qui ingrediar? matris consilio cum utatur vel etiam precibus, quid me interponam? sed tamen cogitabo quo genere utar litterarum; nam silere non possum. statim igitur mittam vel Antium vel Circeios.
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What an affectionate letter from Brutus, and what unfair timing that you cannot go to him. But what am I to say? That they should accept favors from the other party? That would be the depth of disgrace. That they should try some new move? They dare not, and now they cannot. Suppose I advise them to keep quiet and they do. Who can guarantee their safety? Indeed, if anything bad happens to Decimus, what sort of life will we lead, even if no one troubles us?
It is a sad disgrace not to preside at the games. Imagine laying the burden of the grain supply on them. What is this but promotion downward, and what public office is more contemptible? To give advice in such matters is certainly unsafe, even for the adviser. If I were doing good, I might overlook that, but why should I put my foot into it to no purpose? Since Brutus is following his mother's advice, or rather her pleading, why should I interfere? Still, I will consider what kind of letter I can write, because I must give some answer. I will write at once either to Antium or to Circeii.
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
O Bruti amanter scriptas litteras! o iniquum tuum tempus qui ad eum ire non possis! ego autem quid scribam? ut beneficio istorum utantur? quid turpius? ut moliantur aliquid? nec audent nec iam possunt. age, quiescant auctoribus nobis; quis incolumitatem praestat? si vero aliquid de Decimo gravius, quae nostris vita, etiam si nemo molestus sit? ludos vero non facere! quid foedius? frumentum imponere! quae est alia Dionis legatio aut quod munus in re publica sordidius? prorsus quidem consilia tali in re ne iis quidem tuta sunt qui dant; sed possim id neglegere proficiens; frustra vero qui ingrediar? matris consilio cum utatur vel etiam precibus, quid me interponam? sed tamen cogitabo quo genere utar litterarum; nam silere non possum. statim igitur mittam vel Antium vel Circeios.