Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 44 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
What more can we possibly do about Buthrotum? You write that your work has been in vain. And why is Brutus returning to Rome? I am truly sorry you have been so overworked; you owe that to the ten commissioners. It is certainly a tough piece of business, but it has to be endured, and I am very grateful for it.
As for the imminence of war, I have never seen anything more obvious. So let me flee, and in the way you suggest. I do not know why Theophanes wants to see me, since he wrote to me and I answered as best I could. But he writes that he wants to come to me to discuss his own affairs and some that concern me. I am waiting for a letter from you. Please see that nothing is done rashly.
Statius has written to me saying that my nephew Quintus told him emphatically that he cannot endure things and has resolved to go over to Brutus and Cassius. Here is something I am very eager to understand; here is a puzzle I cannot solve. Perhaps he is angry with Antony about something, perhaps he is looking for some new way to distinguish himself, or perhaps it is all nonsense. No doubt that is what it is. Still I am afraid, and his father is disturbed about him, because he knows what Quintus used to say about Antony; indeed, he said things to me that I cannot repeat. What on earth he means, I cannot think.
I will take only such commissions from Dolabella as I choose, which is to say none at all. Tell me whether Gaius Antonius wanted to be put on the land commission. He would certainly have been in his proper place. About Menedemus, it is as you say. Please keep me fully supplied with news.
What more can we possibly do about Buthrotum? For you say your labour has been in vain. Why too is Brutus returning to Rome? I am really very sorry you have been so overworked: you are indebted for
that to the ten commissioners. That is certainly a tough piece of business, but one has to put up with it, and I am very thankful for it. As to the imminence of war I never saw anything more obvious. So let me flee, and in the way you suggest. I do not know why Theophanes wants to see me, for he wrote to me. I answered as best I could. But he writes saying he wants to come to me to discuss his own affairs and some that concern me. I am looking for a letter from you. Pray see that nothing is done rashly.
Statius has written to me saying my nephew Quintus has told him with emphasis that he cannot put up with things, and has resolved to go over to Brutus and Cassius. Here is something I am very eager to understand: here is a puzzle I can't interpret. Perhaps he is angry with Antony about something; perhaps he is looking for some new way of distinguishing himself; or perhaps it is all bunkum; and no doubt that is what it is. But for all that I am afraid, and his father is disturbed about him, for he knows what he used to say about Antony; indeed, he said things to me which I cannot repeat. What on earth he means I can't think. I shall only have such commissions as I choose from Dolabella, that is, none at all. Tell me if C. Antonius wanted to be put on the land commission. He would certainly have been in his proper place. About Menedemus it is as you say. Please keep me posted up in all news.
quidnam est quod agendum amplius de Buthrotiis <sit>? sat egisse enim te frustra scribis. quid autem se refert Brutus? doleo me hercules te tam esse distentum, quod decem hominibus referendum est acceptum. est illud quidem e)rgw=dej sed a)nekto\n mihique gratissimum. de armis nihil vidi apertius. fugiamus igitur et, ut ais, coram. Theophanes quid velit nescio. scripserat enim ad me. cui rescripsi ut potui. mihi autem scribit venire ad me se velle ut et de suis rebus et quaedam quae ad me pertinerent. tuas litteras exspecto. vide, quaeso, ne quid temere fiat. [2] Statius scripsit ad me locutum secum esse Q. Ciceronem valde adseveranter se haec ferre non posse; certum sibi esse ad Brutum et Cassium transire. hoc enim vero nunc discere aveo, hoc ego quid sit interpretari non possum. potest aliquid iratus Antonio, potest gloriam iam novam quaerere, potest totum esse sxedi/asma ; et nimirum ita est. sed tamen et ego vereor et pater conturbatus est; scit enim quae ille de hoc, mecum quidem a)/fata Olim. plane quid velit nescio. a Dolabella mandata habebo quae mihi videbuntur, id est nihil. dic mihi, C. Antonius voluitne fieri septemvir? fuit certe dignus. de Menedemo est ut scribis. facies omnia mihi nota.
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What more can we possibly do about Buthrotum? You write that your work has been in vain. And why is Brutus returning to Rome? I am truly sorry you have been so overworked; you owe that to the ten commissioners. It is certainly a tough piece of business, but it has to be endured, and I am very grateful for it.
As for the imminence of war, I have never seen anything more obvious. So let me flee, and in the way you suggest. I do not know why Theophanes wants to see me, since he wrote to me and I answered as best I could. But he writes that he wants to come to me to discuss his own affairs and some that concern me. I am waiting for a letter from you. Please see that nothing is done rashly.
Statius has written to me saying that my nephew Quintus told him emphatically that he cannot endure things and has resolved to go over to Brutus and Cassius. Here is something I am very eager to understand; here is a puzzle I cannot solve. Perhaps he is angry with Antony about something, perhaps he is looking for some new way to distinguish himself, or perhaps it is all nonsense. No doubt that is what it is. Still I am afraid, and his father is disturbed about him, because he knows what Quintus used to say about Antony; indeed, he said things to me that I cannot repeat. What on earth he means, I cannot think.
I will take only such commissions from Dolabella as I choose, which is to say none at all. Tell me whether Gaius Antonius wanted to be put on the land commission. He would certainly have been in his proper place. About Menedemus, it is as you say. Please keep me fully supplied with news.
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
quidnam est quod agendum amplius de Buthrotiis <sit>? sat egisse enim te frustra scribis. quid autem se refert Brutus? doleo me hercules te tam esse distentum, quod decem hominibus referendum est acceptum. est illud quidem e)rgw=dej sed a)nekto\n mihique gratissimum. de armis nihil vidi apertius. fugiamus igitur et, ut ais, coram. Theophanes quid velit nescio. scripserat enim ad me. cui rescripsi ut potui. mihi autem scribit venire ad me se velle ut et de suis rebus et quaedam quae ad me pertinerent. tuas litteras exspecto. vide, quaeso, ne quid temere fiat. [2] Statius scripsit ad me locutum secum esse Q. Ciceronem valde adseveranter se haec ferre non posse; certum sibi esse ad Brutum et Cassium transire. hoc enim vero nunc discere aveo, hoc ego quid sit interpretari non possum. potest aliquid iratus Antonio, potest gloriam iam novam quaerere, potest totum esse sxedi/asma ; et nimirum ita est. sed tamen et ego vereor et pater conturbatus est; scit enim quae ille de hoc, mecum quidem a)/fata Olim. plane quid velit nescio. a Dolabella mandata habebo quae mihi videbuntur, id est nihil. dic mihi, C. Antonius voluitne fieri septemvir? fuit certe dignus. de Menedemo est ut scribis. facies omnia mihi nota.