Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 58 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
From June 3 up to August 31, every report I received about my brother Quintus was bad and without variation. But on that day Livineius, the freedman of Lucius Regulus, came to me, sent by Regulus. He reported that no formal mention of a prosecution had been made, though there had been some talk about Gaius Clodius' son; and he brought me letters from Quintus. The next day, however, Sestius' men arrived with letters from you, and those were not as free from fear as Livineius' conversation had been. In my endless grief I am naturally anxious, especially because Appius is presiding over the inquiry.
From the rest of what you write in the same letter about our hope, I understand that things are weaker than other people suggest. Since we are not far from the time when the matter will be decided, I shall either come to your place or remain for now somewhere in this region.
My brother writes that everything of his is being upheld by you alone. Why should I urge you, when you are already acting? Why thank you, when you do not wait for thanks? I only pray that Fortune gives us the chance to enjoy our affection safely. I always wait most eagerly for your letters. In them, do not be afraid that your careful detail will trouble me or that the truth will be too bitter.
Written September 4.
All the news I have had about my brother Quintus from June the 3rd to
the end of August has been bad news without exception. But on the last
of August Livineius, who had been sent by his former master, L. Regulus,
came to me. He assured me that no notice whatever had been given of a
prosecution though there was some talk of C. Clodius’ son undertaking
one: and he brought me letters from Quintus himself. But on the next day
came some of Sestius’ men, with some letters of yours which are not so
positive and alarming as Livineius’ conversation was. My own unending
distress of course renders me anxious, all the more so, as Appius would
preside at the trial.
From the rest of your remarks in the same letter as to my own chances, I
infer that our hopes are fainter than others make out. But since it will
not be long now before the matter is settled, I will either remove to
your house or still stay somewhere round here.
My brother writes that you alone are his support. I need not urge you to
efforts, which you make of your own accord, nor will I offer my thanks,
since you do not expect them. I only hope fate may allow us to enjoy our
affection in safety. I am always looking eagerly for your letters: and
please don’t be afraid either of boring me with your minuteness or
paining me by telling the truth.
September 4.
de Quinto fratre nuntii nobis tristes nec varii venerant ex ante diem (III) non. Iun. usque ad prid. Kal. Sept. eo autem die Livineius L. Reguli libertus ad me a Regulo missus venit. is omnino mentionem nullam factam esse nuntiavit sed fuisse tamen sermonem de C. Clodi filio isque mihi a Q. fratre litteras attulit. sed postridie Sesti pueri venerunt qui a te litteras attulerunt non tam exploratas a timore quam sermo Livinei fuerat. sane sum in meo infinito maerore sollicitus et eo magis quod Appi quaestio est. [2] cetera quae ad me eisdem litteris scribis de nostra spe, intellego esse languidiora quam alii ostendunt. ego autem quoniam non longe ab eo tempore absumus in quo res diiudicabitur, aut ad te conferam me aut etiam nunc circum haec loca commorabor. [3] scribit ad me frater omnia sua per te unum sustineri. quid te aut horter quod facis, aut agam gratias quod non exspectas? tantum velim fortuna det nobis potestatem ut incolumes amore nostro perfruamur. tuas litteras semper maxime exspecto; in quibus cave vereare ne aut diligentia tua mihi molesta aut veritas acerba sit. data pr. Nonas Sept.
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From June 3 up to August 31, every report I received about my brother Quintus was bad and without variation. But on that day Livineius, the freedman of Lucius Regulus, came to me, sent by Regulus. He reported that no formal mention of a prosecution had been made, though there had been some talk about Gaius Clodius' son; and he brought me letters from Quintus. The next day, however, Sestius' men arrived with letters from you, and those were not as free from fear as Livineius' conversation had been. In my endless grief I am naturally anxious, especially because Appius is presiding over the inquiry.
From the rest of what you write in the same letter about our hope, I understand that things are weaker than other people suggest. Since we are not far from the time when the matter will be decided, I shall either come to your place or remain for now somewhere in this region.
My brother writes that everything of his is being upheld by you alone. Why should I urge you, when you are already acting? Why thank you, when you do not wait for thanks? I only pray that Fortune gives us the chance to enjoy our affection safely. I always wait most eagerly for your letters. In them, do not be afraid that your careful detail will trouble me or that the truth will be too bitter.
Written September 4.
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
de Quinto fratre nuntii nobis tristes nec varii venerant ex ante diem (III) non. Iun. usque ad prid. Kal. Sept. eo autem die Livineius L. Reguli libertus ad me a Regulo missus venit. is omnino mentionem nullam factam esse nuntiavit sed fuisse tamen sermonem de C. Clodi filio isque mihi a Q. fratre litteras attulit. sed postridie Sesti pueri venerunt qui a te litteras attulerunt non tam exploratas a timore quam sermo Livinei fuerat. sane sum in meo infinito maerore sollicitus et eo magis quod Appi quaestio est. [2] cetera quae ad me eisdem litteris scribis de nostra spe, intellego esse languidiora quam alii ostendunt. ego autem quoniam non longe ab eo tempore absumus in quo res diiudicabitur, aut ad te conferam me aut etiam nunc circum haec loca commorabor. [3] scribit ad me frater omnia sua per te unum sustineri. quid te aut horter quod facis, aut agam gratias quod non exspectas? tantum velim fortuna det nobis potestatem ut incolumes amore nostro perfruamur. tuas litteras semper maxime exspecto; in quibus cave vereare ne aut diligentia tua mihi molesta aut veritas acerba sit. data pr. Nonas Sept.