Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 58 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
Earlier, when you all wrote to me that the provinces had been equipped by the joint agreement of the consuls, although I was anxious about how that would turn out, I nevertheless kept hoping that you had at last seen something rather shrewd. But afterward, when I was told both by word of mouth and in writing that your plan was being severely criticized, I was seriously distressed, because that very slender hope which existed seemed to have been taken away. For if the tribunes of the plebs are angry with us, what hope can there be? And they seem to be angry with good reason, since the very men who had taken up our cause were left out of the deliberation, and by your concession they have lost all the force of their own right—especially when they say that it was for our sake that they wanted the power over equipping the consuls to be in their hands, not in order to obstruct them, but to attach them to our cause; whereas now, if the consuls should wish to stand more aloof from us, they are free to do so; but if they wish to act for our sake, they can do nothing against the tribunes' will. For as to your writing that, had you not approved this, those men would have obtained this very same thing through the people, that could in no way have come about against the will of the tribunes of the plebs. So I am afraid that we have both lost the goodwill of the tribunes and—if their goodwill should remain—that the bond for attaching the consuls to us has been lost.
[2] There is another disadvantage, and not a small one. That weighty conviction—as, at any rate, it was reported to me—that the senate would decree nothing before action had been taken on our behalf, has been lost; and this in a matter that was not only not necessary but even unusual and unprecedented (for I do not think the provinces have ever been equipped for consuls-designate). The result is that, since in this instance that firmness which had been adopted for our sake has been weakened, there is now nothing that cannot be decreed. That the friends to whom the question was referred were agreeable is no wonder; for it was difficult to find anyone who would openly speak against advantages so great for the two consuls. It was certainly difficult not to oblige either Lentulus, a most devoted friend, or Metellus, who was laying aside his feud in the most gracious way. But I am afraid that, while we could nevertheless have held on to these men, we have lost the tribunes of the plebs. How this matter has turned out, and in what state the whole affair stands, I should like you to write to me—and to do so just as you have begun. For that truthfulness of yours, even if it is not pleasant, is nevertheless welcome to me. Dispatched on the fourth day before the Ides of December [December 10].
When you wrote to me some time ago that the estimates for the consular provinces were passed with your consent, I hoped you saw some good reason or other for that course, though I was afraid of the result: but now that I have been told by word of mouth and by letter that your policy was severely criticized, I am much disturbed at seeing the faint hope I had apparently taken from me. For, if the tribunes are annoyed with us, what hope is left? And they seem to me to have every reason for annoyance, when they were left out of the plan, though they had espoused my cause, and by our concession they have lost all use of their just right, especially as they assert that it was for my sake they wished to exercise their powers in fitting out the consuls, with a view not to oppose them but to attach them to my cause. But now if the consuls choose to stand aloof from me, they are perfectly free to do so, while, if they take my part, they can do nothing against the tribunes’ will. As for your writing that, if you had
not assented, they would have got their way all the same through the people, that could never have happened, if the tribunes opposed it. So I am afraid that I have lost the tribunes’ favour, and that, if it is still retained, the bond which should have united the consuls with them has been lost.
There is another considerable disadvantage too. There was a strong opinion, or so at least it was reported to me, that the Senate would not pass any measure until my case was settled. That is now lost, and in a case where there was no necessity whatever; indeed the proceeding was unusual and unprecedented. For I do not think the estimates for the provinces were ever passed before the consuls entered on their office. The result is that, now that the firm resolution formed in favour of my case has been broken for this one occasion, there is no reason why any decree should not be passed. I don’t wonder that those friends to whom the question was referred agreed to it: it would of course have been difficult to find anyone who would openly oppose a measure so favourable to the two consuls. It would have been very difficult too not to oblige so good a friend as Lentulus, or Metellus, considering his kindness in laying aside his quarrel with me. But I am afraid that, while we could have retained their friendship in any case, we have thrown away that of the tribunes. Please write and tell me what the result has been, and how my whole case stands, as freely as you have before. For, however unpleasant the truth may be, I am grateful for it.
December 10.
antea quom ad me scripsissetis vestro consensu consulum provincias ornatas esse, etsi verebar quorsum id casurum esset, tamen sperabam vos aliquid aliquando vidisse prudentius; postea quam mihi et dictum est et scriptum vehementer consilium vestrum reprehendi, sum graviter commotus, quod illa ipsa spes exigua quae erat videretur esse sublata. nam si tribuni pl. nobis suscensent, quae potest spes esse? ac videntur iure suscensere, cum et expertes consili fuerint ei qui causam nostram susceperant, et vestra concessione omnem vim sui iuris amiserint, praesertim cum ita dicant, se nostra causa voluisse suam potestatem esse de consulibus ornandis non ut eos impedirent sed ut ad nostram causam adiungerent; nunc si consules a nobis alieniores esse velint, posse id libere facere; sin velint nostra causa, nihil posse se invitis. nam quod scribis, ni ita vobis placuisset, illos hoc idem per populum adsecuturos fuisse, invitis tribunis pl. fieri nullo modo potuit. ita vereor ne et studia tribunorum amiserimus et, si studia maneant, vinclum illud adiungendorum consulum amissum sit. [2] accedit aliud non parvum incommodum quod gravis illa opinio, ut quidem ad nos perferebatur, senatum nihil decernere ante quam de nobis actum esset, amissa est, praesertim in ea causa quae non modo necessaria non fuit sed etiam inusitata ac nova (neque enim umquam arbitror ornatas esse provincias designatorum), ut, cum in hoc illa constantia quae erat mea causa suscepta imminuta sit, nihil iam possit non decerni. Iis ad quos relatum est amicis placuisse non mirum est; erat enim difficile reperire qui contra tanta commoda duorum consulum palam sententiam diceret. fuit omnino difficile non obsequi vel amicissimo homini Lentulo vel Metello qui simultatem humanissime deponeret; sed vereor ne hos tamen tenere potuerimus, tribunos pl. amiserimus. haec res quem ad modum ceciderit et tota res quo loco sit velim ad me scribas et ita ut instituisti. nam ista veritas, etiam si iucunda non est, mihi tamen grata est. data iiii Id. Decembr.
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Earlier, when you all wrote to me that the provinces had been equipped by the joint agreement of the consuls, although I was anxious about how that would turn out, I nevertheless kept hoping that you had at last seen something rather shrewd. But afterward, when I was told both by word of mouth and in writing that your plan was being severely criticized, I was seriously distressed, because that very slender hope which existed seemed to have been taken away. For if the tribunes of the plebs are angry with us, what hope can there be? And they seem to be angry with good reason, since the very men who had taken up our cause were left out of the deliberation, and by your concession they have lost all the force of their own right—especially when they say that it was for our sake that they wanted the power over equipping the consuls to be in their hands, not in order to obstruct them, but to attach them to our cause; whereas now, if the consuls should wish to stand more aloof from us, they are free to do so; but if they wish to act for our sake, they can do nothing against the tribunes' will. For as to your writing that, had you not approved this, those men would have obtained this very same thing through the people, that could in no way have come about against the will of the tribunes of the plebs. So I am afraid that we have both lost the goodwill of the tribunes and—if their goodwill should remain—that the bond for attaching the consuls to us has been lost.
[2] There is another disadvantage, and not a small one. That weighty conviction—as, at any rate, it was reported to me—that the senate would decree nothing before action had been taken on our behalf, has been lost; and this in a matter that was not only not necessary but even unusual and unprecedented (for I do not think the provinces have ever been equipped for consuls-designate). The result is that, since in this instance that firmness which had been adopted for our sake has been weakened, there is now nothing that cannot be decreed. That the friends to whom the question was referred were agreeable is no wonder; for it was difficult to find anyone who would openly speak against advantages so great for the two consuls. It was certainly difficult not to oblige either Lentulus, a most devoted friend, or Metellus, who was laying aside his feud in the most gracious way. But I am afraid that, while we could nevertheless have held on to these men, we have lost the tribunes of the plebs. How this matter has turned out, and in what state the whole affair stands, I should like you to write to me—and to do so just as you have begun. For that truthfulness of yours, even if it is not pleasant, is nevertheless welcome to me. Dispatched on the fourth day before the Ides of December [December 10].
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
antea quom ad me scripsissetis vestro consensu consulum provincias ornatas esse, etsi verebar quorsum id casurum esset, tamen sperabam vos aliquid aliquando vidisse prudentius; postea quam mihi et dictum est et scriptum vehementer consilium vestrum reprehendi, sum graviter commotus, quod illa ipsa spes exigua quae erat videretur esse sublata. nam si tribuni pl. nobis suscensent, quae potest spes esse? ac videntur iure suscensere, cum et expertes consili fuerint ei qui causam nostram susceperant, et vestra concessione omnem vim sui iuris amiserint, praesertim cum ita dicant, se nostra causa voluisse suam potestatem esse de consulibus ornandis non ut eos impedirent sed ut ad nostram causam adiungerent; nunc si consules a nobis alieniores esse velint, posse id libere facere; sin velint nostra causa, nihil posse se invitis. nam quod scribis, ni ita vobis placuisset, illos hoc idem per populum adsecuturos fuisse, invitis tribunis pl. fieri nullo modo potuit. ita vereor ne et studia tribunorum amiserimus et, si studia maneant, vinclum illud adiungendorum consulum amissum sit. [2] accedit aliud non parvum incommodum quod gravis illa opinio, ut quidem ad nos perferebatur, senatum nihil decernere ante quam de nobis actum esset, amissa est, praesertim in ea causa quae non modo necessaria non fuit sed etiam inusitata ac nova (neque enim umquam arbitror ornatas esse provincias designatorum), ut, cum in hoc illa constantia quae erat mea causa suscepta imminuta sit, nihil iam possit non decerni. Iis ad quos relatum est amicis placuisse non mirum est; erat enim difficile reperire qui contra tanta commoda duorum consulum palam sententiam diceret. fuit omnino difficile non obsequi vel amicissimo homini Lentulo vel Metello qui simultatem humanissime deponeret; sed vereor ne hos tamen tenere potuerimus, tribunos pl. amiserimus. haec res quem ad modum ceciderit et tota res quo loco sit velim ad me scribas et ita ut instituisti. nam ista veritas, etiam si iucunda non est, mihi tamen grata est. data iiii Id. Decembr.