Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 43 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
Two letters in a single day from Octavian, urging me now to come to Rome at once; he says he wants to push the matter through the Senate. I told him the Senate cannot meet before the Kalends of January [January 1] -- which I do indeed believe to be the case. But he adds, "with your advice." In short: he is pressing, while I am [skeptomai -- making excuses, stalling]. I do not trust his youth; I have no idea what his real intentions are. I want to do nothing without your friend Pansa. I am afraid Antony may grow strong, and I have no wish to leave the coast, and I dread that some [aristeia -- some brilliant feat of arms] may take place while I am away. Varro, for his part, disapproves of the boy's plan; I do not. If he has solid forces at his command, he can have Brutus on his side, and he is conducting the affair in the open. He is enrolling troops by centuries at Capua and paying out the bounties. Now, at any moment, I see war coming. Write back to me about all this. I am surprised that my courier left Rome on the Kalends [the 1st] without a letter from you.
Two letters on one day from Octavian, now asking me to come to Rome at
once, as he wishes to act through the Senate. I told him I did not think
the Senate could meet before January, and I really believe that is so.
But he adds "with your advice." In short he is pressing, while I am
temporizing. I do not trust his age: I do not know his disposition. I do
not want to do anything without your friend Pansa's advice. I am afraid
Antony may succeed, and I don't like going away from the sea, and I fear
some great deed may be done in my absence. Varro, for his part, dislikes
the boy's plan; I do not. If he can trust his army, he can have Brutus,
and he is playing his game openly. He is dividing his men into companies
at Capua, and paying over their bounty money. I see war close upon us.
Please answer this letter. I am surprised my messenger left Rome on the
1st without a letter from you.
binae uno die mihi litterae ab Octaviano, nunc quidem ut Romam statim veniam; velle se rem agere per senatum. cui ego non posse senatum ante K. Ianuar., quod quidem ita credo. ille autem addit 'consilio tuo.' quid multa? ille urget, ego autem skh/ptomai . non confido aetati, ignoro quo animo. nil sine Pansa tuo volo. vereor ne valeat Antonius nec a mari discedere libet et metuo ne quae a)ristei/a me absente. Varroni quidem displicet consilium pueri, mihi non. si firmas copias habet, Brutum habere potest, et rem gerit palam. centuriat Capuae, dinumerat. iam iamque video bellum. ad haec rescribe. tabellarium meum Kalend. Roma profectum sine tuis litteris miror.
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Two letters in a single day from Octavian, urging me now to come to Rome at once; he says he wants to push the matter through the Senate. I told him the Senate cannot meet before the Kalends of January [January 1] -- which I do indeed believe to be the case. But he adds, "with your advice." In short: he is pressing, while I am [skeptomai -- making excuses, stalling]. I do not trust his youth; I have no idea what his real intentions are. I want to do nothing without your friend Pansa. I am afraid Antony may grow strong, and I have no wish to leave the coast, and I dread that some [aristeia -- some brilliant feat of arms] may take place while I am away. Varro, for his part, disapproves of the boy's plan; I do not. If he has solid forces at his command, he can have Brutus on his side, and he is conducting the affair in the open. He is enrolling troops by centuries at Capua and paying out the bounties. Now, at any moment, I see war coming. Write back to me about all this. I am surprised that my courier left Rome on the Kalends [the 1st] without a letter from you.
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
binae uno die mihi litterae ab Octaviano, nunc quidem ut Romam statim veniam; velle se rem agere per senatum. cui ego non posse senatum ante K. Ianuar., quod quidem ita credo. ille autem addit 'consilio tuo.' quid multa? ille urget, ego autem skh/ptomai . non confido aetati, ignoro quo animo. nil sine Pansa tuo volo. vereor ne valeat Antonius nec a mari discedere libet et metuo ne quae a)ristei/a me absente. Varroni quidem displicet consilium pueri, mihi non. si firmas copias habet, Brutum habere potest, et rem gerit palam. centuriat Capuae, dinumerat. iam iamque video bellum. ad haec rescribe. tabellarium meum Kalend. Roma profectum sine tuis litteris miror.