Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 43 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
What an extraordinary coincidence! On the fifth day before the Ides, when I had risen before dawn from my place at Sinuessa and reached at first light the Tirenian bridge near Minturnae, where the road branches off toward Arpinum, a letter-carrier met me, and found me "on a long journey bent" [dolichon ploon hormainonta, a Homeric tag]. "Hand it over," I said at once, "if there is anything from Atticus." We could not read yet, for I had dismissed the torchbearers and there was not enough light. But once it grew light, after I had already written my own letter, the earlier of your two was begun to be read to me. That one was the most elegant thing in the world. May I not be saved if I write otherwise than I feel: I have never read anything more kindly. And so I will come where you summon me, provided you are my helper. But nothing seemed to me at first more aprosdionyson ["beside the point," lit. "nothing to do with Dionysus"] than for you to write me that sort of reply to the very letter in which I had asked your advice.
[2] But behold, here is the second letter, in which you urge me "past windy Mimas, toward the isle of Psyria" [par' enemoenta Mimanta, neson epi Psyries, a Homeric verse] - meaning the Appian Way, of course, "keeping it on the left" [ep' arister' echonta]. And so that day I stayed at Aquinum. It was a rather long journey, and the road was bad. From there, setting out early the next morning, I have sent off this letter.
[3] [...] And indeed, Eros's letter has made me let it go from my hands most unwillingly. Tiro will tell you the matter. You will see what should be done. Besides this, I should like you to write to me often: whether I may come nearer (for I would rather be at my place at Tusculum, or somewhere in the suburbs), or whether you think I ought to withdraw even farther off. There will be someone every day to whom you can give a letter.
[4] As to the further point you raise - what I think you ought to do - it is difficult for me with me away. Still, if the two sides are evenly matched against each other, then we must keep quiet; but if not, the thing will spread more widely, and indeed reach us; and then we shall act together.
What a strange coincidence! On the 9th I got up before daybreak to go on from Sinuessa, and before dawn I had reached the Tirenian bridge at Menturnae, where the road for Arpinum branches off, when I met a messenger, who found me "on a far journey bent." I at once enquired: "Pray, is there anything from Atticus?" I could not read as yet, for I had dismissed the link-bearers and it was not yet light enough. But, when it got light, I began to read the first of your two letters, having already written one to you. Your note was a model of elegance. Upon my life I am not saying more than I mean. I never read a kinder. So I will come, when you call me, provided you will assist me. But at first sight I thought nothing could be more mal à propos than such an answer to a letter in which I had asked for your advice. Then there is your other letter, in which you advise me to go "by windy Mimas towards the Psyrian isle," that is keeping the Appian way on the left side. So I have stayed the day at Aquinum. It was rather a wearisome journey and the road was bad. This letter I am sending the next morning as I am leaving.
O casum mirificum! v Idus cum ante lucem de Sinuessano surrexissem venissemque diluculo ad pontem Tirenum qui est Menturnis, in quo flexus est ad iter Arpinas, obviam mihi fit tabellarius, qui me offendit ' dolixo\n plo/on o(rmai/nonta .' at ego statim 'cedo' inquam 'si quid ab Attico.' nondum legere poteramus; nam et lumina dimiseramus nec satis lucebat. Cum autem luceret, ante scripta epistula ex duabus tuis prior mihi legi coepta est. illa omnium quidem elegantissima. ne sim salvus si aliter scribo ac sentio. nihil legi humanius. itaque veniam quo vocas, modo adiutore te. sed nihil tam a)prosdio/nuson mihi primo videbatur quam ad eas litteras quibus ego a te consilium petieram te mihi ista rescribere. [2] ecce tibi altera qua hortaris ' par' h)nemo/enta Mi/manta, nh/sou e)pi\ Yuri/hj ,' Appiam scilicet ' e)p' a)riste/r' e)/xonta .' itaque eo die mansi Aquini. longulum sane iter et via mala. Inde postridie mane proficiscens has litteras dedi. [3] * * * et quidem, ut a me dimitterem invitissimus fecerunt Erotis litterae. rem tibi Tiro narrabit. tu quid faciendum sit videbis. praeterea possimne propius accedere (malo enim esse in Tusculano aut uspiam in suburbano) an etiam longius discedendum putes crebro ad me velim scribas. erit autem cotidie cui des. [4] quod praeterea consulis, quid tibi censeam faciundum difficile est cum absim. verum tamen si pares aeque inter se, quiescendum, sin, latius manabit et quidem ad nos; deinde communiter.
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What an extraordinary coincidence! On the fifth day before the Ides, when I had risen before dawn from my place at Sinuessa and reached at first light the Tirenian bridge near Minturnae, where the road branches off toward Arpinum, a letter-carrier met me, and found me "on a long journey bent" [dolichon ploon hormainonta, a Homeric tag]. "Hand it over," I said at once, "if there is anything from Atticus." We could not read yet, for I had dismissed the torchbearers and there was not enough light. But once it grew light, after I had already written my own letter, the earlier of your two was begun to be read to me. That one was the most elegant thing in the world. May I not be saved if I write otherwise than I feel: I have never read anything more kindly. And so I will come where you summon me, provided you are my helper. But nothing seemed to me at first more aprosdionyson ["beside the point," lit. "nothing to do with Dionysus"] than for you to write me that sort of reply to the very letter in which I had asked your advice.
[2] But behold, here is the second letter, in which you urge me "past windy Mimas, toward the isle of Psyria" [par' enemoenta Mimanta, neson epi Psyries, a Homeric verse] - meaning the Appian Way, of course, "keeping it on the left" [ep' arister' echonta]. And so that day I stayed at Aquinum. It was a rather long journey, and the road was bad. From there, setting out early the next morning, I have sent off this letter.
[3] [...] And indeed, Eros's letter has made me let it go from my hands most unwillingly. Tiro will tell you the matter. You will see what should be done. Besides this, I should like you to write to me often: whether I may come nearer (for I would rather be at my place at Tusculum, or somewhere in the suburbs), or whether you think I ought to withdraw even farther off. There will be someone every day to whom you can give a letter.
[4] As to the further point you raise - what I think you ought to do - it is difficult for me with me away. Still, if the two sides are evenly matched against each other, then we must keep quiet; but if not, the thing will spread more widely, and indeed reach us; and then we shall act together.
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 casum mirificum! v Idus cum ante lucem de Sinuessano surrexissem venissemque diluculo ad pontem Tirenum qui est Menturnis, in quo flexus est ad iter Arpinas, obviam mihi fit tabellarius, qui me offendit ' dolixo\n plo/on o(rmai/nonta .' at ego statim 'cedo' inquam 'si quid ab Attico.' nondum legere poteramus; nam et lumina dimiseramus nec satis lucebat. Cum autem luceret, ante scripta epistula ex duabus tuis prior mihi legi coepta est. illa omnium quidem elegantissima. ne sim salvus si aliter scribo ac sentio. nihil legi humanius. itaque veniam quo vocas, modo adiutore te. sed nihil tam a)prosdio/nuson mihi primo videbatur quam ad eas litteras quibus ego a te consilium petieram te mihi ista rescribere. [2] ecce tibi altera qua hortaris ' par' h)nemo/enta Mi/manta, nh/sou e)pi\ Yuri/hj ,' Appiam scilicet ' e)p' a)riste/r' e)/xonta .' itaque eo die mansi Aquini. longulum sane iter et via mala. Inde postridie mane proficiscens has litteras dedi. [3] * * * et quidem, ut a me dimitterem invitissimus fecerunt Erotis litterae. rem tibi Tiro narrabit. tu quid faciendum sit videbis. praeterea possimne propius accedere (malo enim esse in Tusculano aut uspiam in suburbano) an etiam longius discedendum putes crebro ad me velim scribas. erit autem cotidie cui des. [4] quod praeterea consulis, quid tibi censeam faciundum difficile est cum absim. verum tamen si pares aeque inter se, quiescendum, sin, latius manabit et quidem ad nos; deinde communiter.