Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 66 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
How great a grief I have felt, and of how great a benefit I have been deprived, both in public and in private life, by the death of our brother Lucius, you above all, in keeping with our intimacy, are able to judge. For every pleasure that can come to a man from another's kindness and character came to me from him. Therefore I do not doubt that this is painful to you also, since you are both moved by my grief and have yourself lost a kinsman and friend most richly endowed with every virtue and dutifulness, one who was devoted to you both of his own accord and at my urging. As to what you write to me about your sister, she herself will be your witness how great a care it was to me that my brother Quintus's disposition toward her should be such as it ought to be. Since I judged him to be rather offended, I sent him such a letter as would both placate him as a brother, and admonish him as my junior, and reproach him as one in the wrong. And so, from what he has often written to me afterward, I am confident that everything is as it both ought to be and as we would wish. As to the sending of letters, I am accused by you without cause. For I was never informed by our dear Pomponia to whom I might give a letter; moreover it never happened that I had anyone setting out for Epirus, nor as yet were we hearing that you were at Athens. As for the business of Acutilius, which you had entrusted to me, I had completed it as soon as I came to Rome after your departure; but it turned out both that there was no need for any forceful exertion, and that I, who reckoned there was sufficient judgment in you, preferred that Peducaeus give you advice by letter rather than I myself. Indeed, since I had for many days lent my ears to Acutilius, whose manner of speech I think is known to you, I did not count it burdensome to write to you about his complaints, since I had thought it a light matter to listen to them, tiresome though it was. But from you yourself, who accuse me, know that only a single letter has been delivered to me, although you had both more leisure for writing and a greater opportunity for sending one. As to what you write, that even if anyone's disposition toward you should be rather offended, it ought to be reconciled by me, I grasp what you mean, and I have not neglected it; but he is affected in some strange manner. I, however, did not pass over the things that had to be said on your behalf; but as to how far the matter should be pressed, I thought I ought to determine in accordance with your wish. If you write this to me fully, you will understand that I have neither wished to be more diligent than you yourself were, nor will I be more negligent than you wish. Concerning the affair of Tadius, Tadius has spoken with me, saying that you had written that there is now nothing to be troubled about, since the inheritance had been acquired by lapse of time. We were astonished that you were unaware that in the case of a guardianship at law, under which the girl is said to be, nothing can be acquired by lapse of time. I am glad that the Epirote purchase pleases you. As to what I entrusted to you, and whatever you understand to be suitable for our place at Tusculum, I should like you, as you write, to see to it, insofar as you can do so without trouble to yourself. For we, out of all our troubles and labors, find rest in that one spot. We await my brother Quintus daily. Terentia has great pains in the joints. She holds you and your sister and your mother most dear, and adds her warmest greetings to you, as does little Tullia, our darling. Take care that you keep well, and love us, and persuade yourself that you are loved by me as a brother.
You, who know me so well, can guess better than anyone the grief I have felt at the death of my cousin Lucius and the loss it means to me both in my public and in my private life. He has always
been kindness itself to me, and has rendered me every service a friend could. I am sure you too will feel it, partly out of sympathy with me, and partly because you will miss a dear and valued friend and relative, who was attached to you of his own accord and at my prompting.
You mention your sister. She herself will tell you the pains I have taken to make my brother Quintus behave as he should to her. When I thought he was a little annoyed, I wrote to him trying to smooth matters down with him as a brother, to give him good advice as my junior and to remonstrate with him as in error. Judging by all the letters I have had from him since, I trust things are as they should be and as we wish them to be.
You have no reason to complain of lack of letters from me, as Pomponia has never let me know when there was a messenger to give them to. Besides it has so happened that I have not had anyone starting for Epirus and have not yet heard of your arrival at Athens. Acutilius’ business I settled according to your directions, as soon as ever I got to Rome after your departure: but, as it happened, there was no hurry, and, knowing I could trust your good judgement, I preferred Peducaeus to advise you by letter rather than myself. It was not the bother of writing you an account of his grievances that I shirked. I spent several days listening to him, and you know his way of talking; and I did not mind, though it was a bit of a bore. Though you grumble at me, I’ve only had one letter from you, let me tell you, and you have had more time to write and a better chance of sending letters than I’ve had.
You say, “if so and so is a little annoyed with
you,” I ought to patch things up. I know what you mean, and I’ve done my best: but he is in a very odd mood. I’ve said all I could for you. I think I ought to follow your wishes as to what special arguments I should use. If you will write and tell me your wishes, you will find that I did not wish to be more energetic than you were, nor will I be less energetic than you wish.
In that matter about Tadius’ property, he tells me you have written him that there is no necessity for him to trouble any more about it: the property is his by right of possession. I wonder you forgot, that in the case of legal wards—and that is what the girl is said to be—right of possession does not count. I am glad you like your new purchase in Epirus. Please carry out my commissions, and, as you suggest, buy anything else you think suitable for my Tusculan villa, if it is no trouble to you. It is the only place I find restful after a hard day’s work. I am expecting my brother Quintus every day. Terentia has a bad attack of rheumatism. She sends her love and best wishes to you and your sister and mother: and so does my little darling Tullia. Take care of yourself, and don’t forget me. Your devoted friend.
Quantum dolorem acceperim et quanto fructu sim privatus et forensi et domestico Luci fratris nostri morte, in primis pro nostra consuetudine tu existimare potes. Nam mihi omnia, quae iucunda ex humanitate alterius et moribus homini accidere possunt, ex illo accidebant. Quare non dubito, quin tibi quoque id molestum sit, cum et meo dolore moveare et ipse omni virtute officioque ornatissimum tuique et sua sponte et meo sermone amantem adfinem amicumque amiseris. Quod ad me scribis de sorore tua, testis erit tibi ipsa, quantae mihi curae fuerit, ut Quinti fratris animus in eam esset is, qui esse deberet. Quem cum esse offensiorem arbitrarer, eas litteras ad eum misi quibus et placarem ut fratrem et monerem ut minorem et obiurgarem ut errantem. Itaque ex iis, quae postea saepe ab eo ad me scripta sunt, confido ita esse omnia, ut et oporteat et velimus. De litterarum missione sine causa abs te accusor. Numquam enim a Pomponia nostra certior sum factus esse, cui dare litteras possem, porro autem neque mihi accidit, ut haberem, qui in Epirum proficisceretur, nequedum te Athenis esse audiebamus. De Acutiliano autem negotio quod mihi mandaras, ut primum a tuo digressu Romam veni, confeceram; sed accidit, ut et contentione nihil opus esset, et ut ego, qui in te satis consilii statuerim esse, mallem Peducaeum tibi consilium per litteras quam me dare. Etenim, cum multos dies aures meas Acutilio dedissem, cuius sermonis genus tibi notum esse arbitror, non mihi grave duxi scribere ad te de illius querimoniis, cum eas audire, quod erat subodiosum, leve putassem. Sed abs te ipso, qui me accusas, unas mihi scito litteras redditas esse, cum et otii ad scribendum plus et facultatem dandi maiorem habueris. Quod scribis, etiamsi cuius animus in te esset offensior, a me recolligi oportere, teneo, quid dicas, neque id neglexi, sed est miro quodam modo adfectus. Ego autem, quae dicenda fuerunt de te, non praeterii; quid autem contendendum esset, ex tua putabam voluntate me statuere oportere. Quam si ad me perscripseris, intelleges me neque diligentiorem esse voluisse, quam tu esses, neque neglegentiorem fore, quam tu velis. De Tadiana re mecum Tadius locutus est te ita scripsisse, nihil esse iam, quod laboraretur, quoniam hereditas usu capta esset. Id mirabamur te ignorare, de tutela legitima, in qua dicitur esse puella, nihil usu capi posse. Epiroticam emptionem gaudeo tibi placere. Quae tibi mandavi, et quae tu intelleges convenire nostro Tusculano, velim, ut scribis, cures, quod sine molestia tua facere poteris. Nam nos ex omnibus molestiis et laboribus uno illo in loco conquiescimus. Quintum fratrem cotidie exspectamus. Terentia magnos articulorum dolores habet. Et te et sororem tuam et matrem maxime diligit salutemque tibi plurimam ascribit et Tulliola, deliciae nostrae. Cura, ut valeas et nos ames et tibi persuadeas te a me fraterne amari.
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How great a grief I have felt, and of how great a benefit I have been deprived, both in public and in private life, by the death of our brother Lucius, you above all, in keeping with our intimacy, are able to judge. For every pleasure that can come to a man from another's kindness and character came to me from him. Therefore I do not doubt that this is painful to you also, since you are both moved by my grief and have yourself lost a kinsman and friend most richly endowed with every virtue and dutifulness, one who was devoted to you both of his own accord and at my urging. As to what you write to me about your sister, she herself will be your witness how great a care it was to me that my brother Quintus's disposition toward her should be such as it ought to be. Since I judged him to be rather offended, I sent him such a letter as would both placate him as a brother, and admonish him as my junior, and reproach him as one in the wrong. And so, from what he has often written to me afterward, I am confident that everything is as it both ought to be and as we would wish. As to the sending of letters, I am accused by you without cause. For I was never informed by our dear Pomponia to whom I might give a letter; moreover it never happened that I had anyone setting out for Epirus, nor as yet were we hearing that you were at Athens. As for the business of Acutilius, which you had entrusted to me, I had completed it as soon as I came to Rome after your departure; but it turned out both that there was no need for any forceful exertion, and that I, who reckoned there was sufficient judgment in you, preferred that Peducaeus give you advice by letter rather than I myself. Indeed, since I had for many days lent my ears to Acutilius, whose manner of speech I think is known to you, I did not count it burdensome to write to you about his complaints, since I had thought it a light matter to listen to them, tiresome though it was. But from you yourself, who accuse me, know that only a single letter has been delivered to me, although you had both more leisure for writing and a greater opportunity for sending one. As to what you write, that even if anyone's disposition toward you should be rather offended, it ought to be reconciled by me, I grasp what you mean, and I have not neglected it; but he is affected in some strange manner. I, however, did not pass over the things that had to be said on your behalf; but as to how far the matter should be pressed, I thought I ought to determine in accordance with your wish. If you write this to me fully, you will understand that I have neither wished to be more diligent than you yourself were, nor will I be more negligent than you wish. Concerning the affair of Tadius, Tadius has spoken with me, saying that you had written that there is now nothing to be troubled about, since the inheritance had been acquired by lapse of time. We were astonished that you were unaware that in the case of a guardianship at law, under which the girl is said to be, nothing can be acquired by lapse of time. I am glad that the Epirote purchase pleases you. As to what I entrusted to you, and whatever you understand to be suitable for our place at Tusculum, I should like you, as you write, to see to it, insofar as you can do so without trouble to yourself. For we, out of all our troubles and labors, find rest in that one spot. We await my brother Quintus daily. Terentia has great pains in the joints. She holds you and your sister and your mother most dear, and adds her warmest greetings to you, as does little Tullia, our darling. Take care that you keep well, and love us, and persuade yourself that you are loved by me as a brother.
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
Quantum dolorem acceperim et quanto fructu sim privatus et forensi et domestico Luci fratris nostri morte, in primis pro nostra consuetudine tu existimare potes. Nam mihi omnia, quae iucunda ex humanitate alterius et moribus homini accidere possunt, ex illo accidebant. Quare non dubito, quin tibi quoque id molestum sit, cum et meo dolore moveare et ipse omni virtute officioque ornatissimum tuique et sua sponte et meo sermone amantem adfinem amicumque amiseris. Quod ad me scribis de sorore tua, testis erit tibi ipsa, quantae mihi curae fuerit, ut Quinti fratris animus in eam esset is, qui esse deberet. Quem cum esse offensiorem arbitrarer, eas litteras ad eum misi quibus et placarem ut fratrem et monerem ut minorem et obiurgarem ut errantem. Itaque ex iis, quae postea saepe ab eo ad me scripta sunt, confido ita esse omnia, ut et oporteat et velimus. De litterarum missione sine causa abs te accusor. Numquam enim a Pomponia nostra certior sum factus esse, cui dare litteras possem, porro autem neque mihi accidit, ut haberem, qui in Epirum proficisceretur, nequedum te Athenis esse audiebamus. De Acutiliano autem negotio quod mihi mandaras, ut primum a tuo digressu Romam veni, confeceram; sed accidit, ut et contentione nihil opus esset, et ut ego, qui in te satis consilii statuerim esse, mallem Peducaeum tibi consilium per litteras quam me dare. Etenim, cum multos dies aures meas Acutilio dedissem, cuius sermonis genus tibi notum esse arbitror, non mihi grave duxi scribere ad te de illius querimoniis, cum eas audire, quod erat subodiosum, leve putassem. Sed abs te ipso, qui me accusas, unas mihi scito litteras redditas esse, cum et otii ad scribendum plus et facultatem dandi maiorem habueris. Quod scribis, etiamsi cuius animus in te esset offensior, a me recolligi oportere, teneo, quid dicas, neque id neglexi, sed est miro quodam modo adfectus. Ego autem, quae dicenda fuerunt de te, non praeterii; quid autem contendendum esset, ex tua putabam voluntate me statuere oportere. Quam si ad me perscripseris, intelleges me neque diligentiorem esse voluisse, quam tu esses, neque neglegentiorem fore, quam tu velis. De Tadiana re mecum Tadius locutus est te ita scripsisse, nihil esse iam, quod laboraretur, quoniam hereditas usu capta esset. Id mirabamur te ignorare, de tutela legitima, in qua dicitur esse puella, nihil usu capi posse. Epiroticam emptionem gaudeo tibi placere. Quae tibi mandavi, et quae tu intelleges convenire nostro Tusculano, velim, ut scribis, cures, quod sine molestia tua facere poteris. Nam nos ex omnibus molestiis et laboribus uno illo in loco conquiescimus. Quintum fratrem cotidie exspectamus. Terentia magnos articulorum dolores habet. Et te et sororem tuam et matrem maxime diligit salutemque tibi plurimam ascribit et Tulliola, deliciae nostrae. Cura, ut valeas et nos ames et tibi persuadeas te a me fraterne amari.