Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 44 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
I reached Antium on the 8th. Brutus was delighted by my arrival. Then, in the presence of Servilia, Tertulla, Porcia, and many others, he asked for my opinion. Favonius was there too. I had made up my mind on the way, and advised him to accept control of the grain supply from Asia. There was nothing else for us to do now except keep him out of danger; by doing that, we would preserve some safeguard for the republic as well.
While I was in the middle of speaking, Cassius came in. I repeated the same advice. Cassius, with blazing eyes and practically breathing war, declared that he would not go to Sicily. "Am I to accept an insult as a favor?" he said. "What will you do, then?" I asked. He said he would go to Achaia. "And you, Brutus?" I asked. "To Rome," he answered, "if you think I should." "I do not think so at all," I said, "because you will not be safe." "Well, if it were possible to be there safely, would you approve?" "Yes. I would rather you did not go to a province either now or after your praetorship, but I do not advise you to trust yourself in Rome."
I gave him the reasons you will readily see for why it would not be safe. Then they kept lamenting the opportunities that had been lost, especially Cassius, and they complained bitterly of Decimus. I said they should not keep harping on the past, though I agreed with them. When I went on to explain what should have been done, saying nothing new but only what everyone says every day, and not touching on whether anyone else should have been attacked, but saying that the Senate should have been summoned, the people in their violent excitement should have been stirred to action, and the whole conduct of affairs should have been taken over by them, your friend Servilia cried out, "I never heard anyone..." I interrupted her.
I think Cassius will go, since Servilia promises to see that the grain-supply appointment is removed from the senatorial decree. Our friend soon gave up his foolish talk of wanting to go to Rome, and has decided that the games may be held in his name while he is absent. I think, however, that he wants to set out for Asia from Antium. In short, I gained nothing from that journey that satisfied me except the satisfaction of my conscience. I could not allow him to leave Italy before I had met him. Apart from fulfilling the duty owed by our friendship, I kept asking myself: "What are you doing here with your journey, prophet?"
In fact, I found a ship breaking apart, or rather already wrecked: no plan, no reason, no system. So although I had no doubt before, I now have even less that I must flee from here as fast as possible.
And listen to this, if you have not heard it already: Dolabella made me one of his legates on June 2. I was told that yesterday evening. Even you did not like the idea of a votive legation; it was absurd for me to fulfill vows made for the preservation of the constitution after the constitution had been overthrown. I also think free legations have a time limit under one of Caesar's laws, and that it is not easy to extend them. I want the kind of legation that lets a man come and go as he pleases, and that is what I now have. It is a fine thing too to have the privilege for five years. But why do I think of five years? Things seem to me to be moving toward a crisis; may the omen be averted.
I reached Antium on the 8th. Brutus was very glad to see me. Then before Servilia, Tertulla, Porcia, and a lot of others, he asked me for my opinion. Favonius was present too. I had made up my mind on the journey, and advised him to accept the control of the corn supply from Asia: there was nothing else for us to do now except to keep him out of danger: by so doing we should have some safeguard for the republic too. When I was in the midst of my speech, in came Cassius. I said the same over again. Whereupon Cassius, with flashing eyes and fairly breathing war, declared he would not go to Sicily. "Am I to take an insult like a favour?" "What will you do then?" I asked; and he said he would go to Achaia. "What of you, Brutus," I said. "To Rome," he answered, "if you think I ought." "I don't think so at all, for you won't be safe." "Well, if it were possible to be there in safety, would you approve?" "Yes, I would rather you did not go to a province either now or after your praetorship; but I don't advise you to trust yourself in Rome." I gave him the reasons that will occur to you, why it would not be safe. Then they kept on bewailing the chances that had been let slip, especially Cassius, and they complained bitterly of Decimus. I said they ought not to harp on the past, but I agreed with them. When I had gone on to explain what ought to have been done, saying nothing new, but what everybody is saying daily,
and not touching on the point as to whether anyone else ought to have been attacked, but saying that the Senate ought to have been called, the people in their violent excitement ought to have been roused to fury, and the whole conduct of affairs taken over by them, your friend Servilia exclaimed: "That I never heard anyone...." I interrupted her. But I think Cassius will go (for Servilia promises she will see that that appointment to the corn-supply shall be withdrawn from the senatorial decree): and our friend soon gave up his silly talk of wanting to go to Rome. So he has made up his mind that the games may be held in his absence under his name. I fancy, however, he wants to set out for Asia from Antium. To cut the matter short, I got nothing that satisfied me out of that journey except the satisfaction to my conscience. For I could not allow him to leave Italy before I had met him. Save for fulfilling the duty I owed to our affection, I could not help asking myself:
"What makest thou with thy journey hither, seer?"
In fact I found a ship breaking up, or rather already in wreckage. No plan, no reason, no system. So, although I had no doubt even before, now I have still less that I must fly away from here as fast as possible,
And listen to this, if you have not heard it before: Dolabella has made me one of his legates on the 2nd of June. That I was told yesterday evening.
Even you did not like the idea of a votive legation; for indeed it was absurd for me to be fulfilling vows after the constitution was overthrown, which I had made in case it were maintained. I fancy, too, free legations have a limit of time set by one of Caesar's laws, and it is not easy to get it prolonged. I want the kind of legation that lets you come and go as you please, and that I have got now. It is a fine thing, too, to have the privilege for five years. Though why do I think of five years? Things seem to me to be drawing to a crisis: but absit omen.
Antium veni a. d. vi Idus. Bruto iucundus noster adventus. deinde multis audientibus, Servilia, Tertulla, Porcia, quaerere quid placeret. aderat etiam Favonius. ego quod eram meditatus in via suadere ut uteretur Asiatica curatione frumenti; nihil esse iam reliqui quod ageremus nisi ut salvus esset; in eo etiam ipsi rei publicae esse praesidium. quam orationem cum ingressus essem, Cassius intervenit. ego eadem illa repetivi. hoc loco fortibus sane oculis Cassius (Martem spirare diceres) se in Siciliam non iturum. 'egone ut beneficium accepissem contumeliam?' 'quid ergo agis?' inquam. at ille in Achaiam se iturum. 'quid tu' inquam 'Brute?' 'Romam,' inquit 'si tibi videtur.' 'mihi vero minime; tuto enim non eris.' 'quid? si possem esse, placeretne?' 'atque ut omnino neque nunc neque ex praetura in provinciam ires; sed auctor non sum ut te urbi committas.' dicebam ea quae tibi profecto in mentem veniunt cur non esset tuto futurus. [2] multo inde sermone querebantur atque id quidem Cassius maxime, amissas occasiones Decimumque graviter accusabant. ego negabam oportere praeterita, adsentiebar tamen. quomque ingressus essem dicere quid oportuisset, nec vero quicquam novi sed ea quae cotidie omnes, nec tamen illum locum attingerem, quemquam praeterea oportuisse tangi, sed senatum vocari, populum ardentem studio vehementius incitari, totam suscipi rem publicam, exclamat tua familiaris, 'hoc vero neminem umquam audivi!' ego repressi. sed et Cassius mihi videbatur iturus (etenim Servilia pollicebatur se curaturam ut illa frumenti curatio de senatus consulto tolleretur), et noster cito deiectus est de illo inani sermone velle esse dixerat. constituit igitur ut ludi absente se fierent suo nomine. proficisci autem mihi in Asiam videbatur ab Antio velle. ne multa, nihil me in illo a itinere praeter conscientiam meam delectavit. non enim fuit committendum ut ille ex Italia prius quam a me conis ventus esset discederet. hoc dempto munere amoris atque offici sequebatur, ut mecum ipse, (H deu=r' o(do/j soi ti/ du/natai nu=n, qeopro/pe; prorsus dissolutum offendi navigium vel potius dissipatum. nihil consilio, nihil ratione, nihil ordine. itaque etsi ne antea quidem dubitavi, tamen nunc eo minus evolare hinc idque quam primum, 'ubi nec Pelopidarum facta neque famam audiam.' [4] et heus tu! ne forte sis nescius, Dolabella me sibi legavit a. d. iii Nonas. id mihi heri vesperi nuntiatum est. votiva ne tibi quidem placebat; etenim erat absurdum, quae si stetisset res publica vovissem, ea me eversa illa vota dissolvere. et habent, opinor, liberae legationes definitum tempus lege Iulia nec facile addi potest. aveo genus legationis ut, cum velis, introire exire liceat; quod nunc mihi additum est. bella est autem huius iuris quinquenni licentia. quamquam >quid de< quinquennio cogitem? contrahi mihi negotium videtur. sed bla/sfhma mittamus.
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I reached Antium on the 8th. Brutus was delighted by my arrival. Then, in the presence of Servilia, Tertulla, Porcia, and many others, he asked for my opinion. Favonius was there too. I had made up my mind on the way, and advised him to accept control of the grain supply from Asia. There was nothing else for us to do now except keep him out of danger; by doing that, we would preserve some safeguard for the republic as well.
While I was in the middle of speaking, Cassius came in. I repeated the same advice. Cassius, with blazing eyes and practically breathing war, declared that he would not go to Sicily. "Am I to accept an insult as a favor?" he said. "What will you do, then?" I asked. He said he would go to Achaia. "And you, Brutus?" I asked. "To Rome," he answered, "if you think I should." "I do not think so at all," I said, "because you will not be safe." "Well, if it were possible to be there safely, would you approve?" "Yes. I would rather you did not go to a province either now or after your praetorship, but I do not advise you to trust yourself in Rome."
I gave him the reasons you will readily see for why it would not be safe. Then they kept lamenting the opportunities that had been lost, especially Cassius, and they complained bitterly of Decimus. I said they should not keep harping on the past, though I agreed with them. When I went on to explain what should have been done, saying nothing new but only what everyone says every day, and not touching on whether anyone else should have been attacked, but saying that the Senate should have been summoned, the people in their violent excitement should have been stirred to action, and the whole conduct of affairs should have been taken over by them, your friend Servilia cried out, "I never heard anyone..." I interrupted her.
I think Cassius will go, since Servilia promises to see that the grain-supply appointment is removed from the senatorial decree. Our friend soon gave up his foolish talk of wanting to go to Rome, and has decided that the games may be held in his name while he is absent. I think, however, that he wants to set out for Asia from Antium. In short, I gained nothing from that journey that satisfied me except the satisfaction of my conscience. I could not allow him to leave Italy before I had met him. Apart from fulfilling the duty owed by our friendship, I kept asking myself: "What are you doing here with your journey, prophet?"
In fact, I found a ship breaking apart, or rather already wrecked: no plan, no reason, no system. So although I had no doubt before, I now have even less that I must flee from here as fast as possible.
And listen to this, if you have not heard it already: Dolabella made me one of his legates on June 2. I was told that yesterday evening. Even you did not like the idea of a votive legation; it was absurd for me to fulfill vows made for the preservation of the constitution after the constitution had been overthrown. I also think free legations have a time limit under one of Caesar's laws, and that it is not easy to extend them. I want the kind of legation that lets a man come and go as he pleases, and that is what I now have. It is a fine thing too to have the privilege for five years. But why do I think of five years? Things seem to me to be moving toward a crisis; may the omen be averted.
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
Antium veni a. d. vi Idus. Bruto iucundus noster adventus. deinde multis audientibus, Servilia, Tertulla, Porcia, quaerere quid placeret. aderat etiam Favonius. ego quod eram meditatus in via suadere ut uteretur Asiatica curatione frumenti; nihil esse iam reliqui quod ageremus nisi ut salvus esset; in eo etiam ipsi rei publicae esse praesidium. quam orationem cum ingressus essem, Cassius intervenit. ego eadem illa repetivi. hoc loco fortibus sane oculis Cassius (Martem spirare diceres) se in Siciliam non iturum. 'egone ut beneficium accepissem contumeliam?' 'quid ergo agis?' inquam. at ille in Achaiam se iturum. 'quid tu' inquam 'Brute?' 'Romam,' inquit 'si tibi videtur.' 'mihi vero minime; tuto enim non eris.' 'quid? si possem esse, placeretne?' 'atque ut omnino neque nunc neque ex praetura in provinciam ires; sed auctor non sum ut te urbi committas.' dicebam ea quae tibi profecto in mentem veniunt cur non esset tuto futurus. [2] multo inde sermone querebantur atque id quidem Cassius maxime, amissas occasiones Decimumque graviter accusabant. ego negabam oportere praeterita, adsentiebar tamen. quomque ingressus essem dicere quid oportuisset, nec vero quicquam novi sed ea quae cotidie omnes, nec tamen illum locum attingerem, quemquam praeterea oportuisse tangi, sed senatum vocari, populum ardentem studio vehementius incitari, totam suscipi rem publicam, exclamat tua familiaris, 'hoc vero neminem umquam audivi!' ego repressi. sed et Cassius mihi videbatur iturus (etenim Servilia pollicebatur se curaturam ut illa frumenti curatio de senatus consulto tolleretur), et noster cito deiectus est de illo inani sermone velle esse dixerat. constituit igitur ut ludi absente se fierent suo nomine. proficisci autem mihi in Asiam videbatur ab Antio velle. ne multa, nihil me in illo a itinere praeter conscientiam meam delectavit. non enim fuit committendum ut ille ex Italia prius quam a me conis ventus esset discederet. hoc dempto munere amoris atque offici sequebatur, ut mecum ipse, (H deu=r' o(do/j soi ti/ du/natai nu=n, qeopro/pe; prorsus dissolutum offendi navigium vel potius dissipatum. nihil consilio, nihil ratione, nihil ordine. itaque etsi ne antea quidem dubitavi, tamen nunc eo minus evolare hinc idque quam primum, 'ubi nec Pelopidarum facta neque famam audiam.' [4] et heus tu! ne forte sis nescius, Dolabella me sibi legavit a. d. iii Nonas. id mihi heri vesperi nuntiatum est. votiva ne tibi quidem placebat; etenim erat absurdum, quae si stetisset res publica vovissem, ea me eversa illa vota dissolvere. et habent, opinor, liberae legationes definitum tempus lege Iulia nec facile addi potest. aveo genus legationis ut, cum velis, introire exire liceat; quod nunc mihi additum est. bella est autem huius iuris quinquenni licentia. quamquam >quid de< quinquennio cogitem? contrahi mihi negotium videtur. sed bla/sfhma mittamus.