Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 66 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
Things at your house are as we wish. Your mother and sister are loved by me and by my brother Quintus. I have spoken with Acutilius. He says that nothing has been written to him by his agent, and he is surprised that there was that dispute, on the grounds that the man refused to give security that no further claim would be made against you. As to your writing that you have settled the Tadian business, I have learned that this is both pleasing to Tadius and exceedingly gratifying to him. That friend of ours [Lucceius], a most excellent man, by Hercules, and most friendly to me, is decidedly angry with you. If I knew how much you value this, then I would be able to know what I ought to work at. I have paid L. Cincius 20,400 sesterces for the Megarian statues, as you had written to me. Your Pentelic herms with the bronze heads, about which you wrote to me, already now delight me greatly. Therefore I should be glad if you would send both them and the statues and the other things which seem to you suited to that place and to our enthusiasm and to your taste, as many as possible and as soon as possible, and especially those which seem to you suited to a gymnasium and a colonnade. For in that kind of thing we are so carried away by enthusiasm that we are to be helped by you, but almost to be censured by others. If there is no ship of Lentulus, put them aboard wherever you please. Tulliola, our little darling, demands your little gift and duns me as the surety; but I am more determined to disown the debt than to pay it.
All’s well—as well as could be desired—at home. Quintus and I are
looking after your mother and sister. I’ve spoken to Acutilius. He says
his broker has not advised him, and is much surprised there should have
been such a fuss because he refused to guarantee that there should be no
further claims on you. The settlement that you have arranged about
Tadius’ affairs is, I am sure, very good news for him, and he is pleased
about it. That friend of mine, who is really quite a good soul and very
amiable to me, is exceedingly annoyed with you. When I know how deeply
you take it to heart, I may be able to lay my plans accordingly.
I have raised the £180 for L. Cincius for the statues of Megaric
marble, as you advised me. Those figures of Hermes in Pentelic marble
with bronze heads, about which you wrote, I have already fallen in love
with: so please send them and anything else that you think suits the
place, and my enthusiasm for such things, and your own taste—the more
the merrier, and the sooner the better—especially those you intend for
the Gymnasium and the colonnade. For my appreciation for art treasures
is so great that I am afraid most people will laugh at me, though I
expect encouragement from you. If none of Lentulus’ boats are coming,
put them on any ship you like. My little darling, Tullia, keeps asking
for your promised present and duns me as though I were answerable for
you. But I am going to deny my obligation rather than pay up.
Apud te est, ut volumus. Mater tua et soror a me Quintoque fratre diligitur. Cum Acutilio sum locutus. Is sibi negat a suo procuratore quicquam scriptum esse et miratur istam controversiam fuisse, quod ille recusarit satis dare amplius abs te non peti. Quod te de Tadiano negotio decidisse scribis, id ego Tadio et gratum esse intellexi et magno opere iucundum. Ille noster amicus, vir mehercule optimus et mihi amicissimus, sane tibi iratus est. Hoc si quanti tu aestimes sciam, tum, quid mihi elaborandum sit, scire possim. L. Cincio HS [20,400] pro signis Megaricis, ut tu ad me scripseras, curavi. Hermae tui Pentelici cum capitibus aeneis, de quibus ad me scripsisti, iam nunc me admodum delectant. Quare velim et eos et signa et cetera, quae tibi eius loci et nostri studii et tuae elegantiae esse videbuntur, quam plurima quam primumque mittas, et maxime quae tibi gymnasii xystique videbuntur esse. Nam in eo genere sic studio efferimur, ut abs te adiuvandi, ab aLus prope reprehendendi simus. Si Lentuli navis non erit, quo tibi placebit, imponito. Tulliola deliciolae nostrae, tuum munusculum flagitat et me ut sponsorem appellat; mi autem abiurare certius est quam dependere.
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Things at your house are as we wish. Your mother and sister are loved by me and by my brother Quintus. I have spoken with Acutilius. He says that nothing has been written to him by his agent, and he is surprised that there was that dispute, on the grounds that the man refused to give security that no further claim would be made against you. As to your writing that you have settled the Tadian business, I have learned that this is both pleasing to Tadius and exceedingly gratifying to him. That friend of ours [Lucceius], a most excellent man, by Hercules, and most friendly to me, is decidedly angry with you. If I knew how much you value this, then I would be able to know what I ought to work at. I have paid L. Cincius 20,400 sesterces for the Megarian statues, as you had written to me. Your Pentelic herms with the bronze heads, about which you wrote to me, already now delight me greatly. Therefore I should be glad if you would send both them and the statues and the other things which seem to you suited to that place and to our enthusiasm and to your taste, as many as possible and as soon as possible, and especially those which seem to you suited to a gymnasium and a colonnade. For in that kind of thing we are so carried away by enthusiasm that we are to be helped by you, but almost to be censured by others. If there is no ship of Lentulus, put them aboard wherever you please. Tulliola, our little darling, demands your little gift and duns me as the surety; but I am more determined to disown the debt than to pay it.
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
Apud te est, ut volumus. Mater tua et soror a me Quintoque fratre diligitur. Cum Acutilio sum locutus. Is sibi negat a suo procuratore quicquam scriptum esse et miratur istam controversiam fuisse, quod ille recusarit satis dare amplius abs te non peti. Quod te de Tadiano negotio decidisse scribis, id ego Tadio et gratum esse intellexi et magno opere iucundum. Ille noster amicus, vir mehercule optimus et mihi amicissimus, sane tibi iratus est. Hoc si quanti tu aestimes sciam, tum, quid mihi elaborandum sit, scire possim. L. Cincio HS [20,400] pro signis Megaricis, ut tu ad me scripseras, curavi. Hermae tui Pentelici cum capitibus aeneis, de quibus ad me scripsisti, iam nunc me admodum delectant. Quare velim et eos et signa et cetera, quae tibi eius loci et nostri studii et tuae elegantiae esse videbuntur, quam plurima quam primumque mittas, et maxime quae tibi gymnasii xystique videbuntur esse. Nam in eo genere sic studio efferimur, ut abs te adiuvandi, ab aLus prope reprehendendi simus. Si Lentuli navis non erit, quo tibi placebit, imponito. Tulliola deliciolae nostrae, tuum munusculum flagitat et me ut sponsorem appellat; mi autem abiurare certius est quam dependere.