Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 44 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
Although I think I told you plainly enough in my letter of the 15th what I needed and what I wished you to do, if convenient, still, after I had set out and was crossing the lake, I decided to send Tiro to you so that he could handle the necessary matters with you. I also wrote to Dolabella, saying I wanted to set out if he agreed, and asking him about baggage mules.
As far as you can - I understand you are utterly overwhelmed with business, what with the Buthrotians and Brutus, since I expect the care and organization of his expensive games largely fall on you - still, as far as you can, give a little attention to my affairs. I will not need much. To me, things seem to foreshadow bloodshed, and soon. You see the men and their preparations for war. I do not count myself safe at all. If you think otherwise, please write. If I can stay home safely, I would much prefer it.
Though I think I told you sufficiently what I wanted and what I wished you to do, if it was convenient to you, in my letter of the 15th, still, when I had started and was crossing the lake, I determined to send Tiro to you that he might attend to the necessary matters with you; and I wrote, too, to Dolabella, saying I wanted to start if he agreed, and asked him about baggage mules. So far as you can—I understand you are utterly distracted with business, what with the Buthrotians and what with Brutus, as I expect the care and arrangement of his sumptuous games fall largely to your share—still, so far as you can, give a little attention to my affairs. I shall not want much.
To me things seem to foreshadow bloodshed, and that quite soon. You see the men, you see their warlike preparations. Indeed I do not count myself safe at all. If you think differently, I wish you would write. For, if I can with safety, I should much prefer to stay at home.
xvii Kal. etsi satis videbar scripsisse ad te quid mihi opus esset et quid te facere vellem, si tibi commodum esset, tamen cum profectus essem et in lacu navigarem, Tironem statui ad te esse mittendum, ut iis negotiis quae agerentur interesset, atque etiam scripsi ad Dolabellam me, si ei videretur, velle proficisci petiique ab eo de mulis vecturae. [2] ut in his (quoniam intellego te distentissimum esse qua de Buthrotiis qua de Bruto, cuius etiam ludorum sumptuosorum curam et administrationem suspicor ex magna parte ad te pertinere) ut ergo in eius modi re tribues nobis paulum operae; nec enim multum opus est. mihi res ad caedem et eam quidem propinquam spectare videtur. vides homines, vides arma. prorsus non mihi videor esse tutus. sin tu aliter sentis, velim ad me scribas. domi enim manere, si recte possum, multo malo.
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Although I think I told you plainly enough in my letter of the 15th what I needed and what I wished you to do, if convenient, still, after I had set out and was crossing the lake, I decided to send Tiro to you so that he could handle the necessary matters with you. I also wrote to Dolabella, saying I wanted to set out if he agreed, and asking him about baggage mules.
As far as you can - I understand you are utterly overwhelmed with business, what with the Buthrotians and Brutus, since I expect the care and organization of his expensive games largely fall on you - still, as far as you can, give a little attention to my affairs. I will not need much. To me, things seem to foreshadow bloodshed, and soon. You see the men and their preparations for war. I do not count myself safe at all. If you think otherwise, please write. If I can stay home safely, I would much prefer it.
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
xvii Kal. etsi satis videbar scripsisse ad te quid mihi opus esset et quid te facere vellem, si tibi commodum esset, tamen cum profectus essem et in lacu navigarem, Tironem statui ad te esse mittendum, ut iis negotiis quae agerentur interesset, atque etiam scripsi ad Dolabellam me, si ei videretur, velle proficisci petiique ab eo de mulis vecturae. [2] ut in his (quoniam intellego te distentissimum esse qua de Buthrotiis qua de Bruto, cuius etiam ludorum sumptuosorum curam et administrationem suspicor ex magna parte ad te pertinere) ut ergo in eius modi re tribues nobis paulum operae; nec enim multum opus est. mihi res ad caedem et eam quidem propinquam spectare videtur. vides homines, vides arma. prorsus non mihi videor esse tutus. sin tu aliter sentis, velim ad me scribas. domi enim manere, si recte possum, multo malo.