Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 56 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
I imagine you suppose that I have now forgotten my habit and settled practice and am writing to you less often than I used to; but since I see that your whereabouts and itineraries are quite uncertain, I have given letters to no one bound for Epirus, Athens, or Asia unless he was going directly to you in person. For our letters are not of the sort that, if they fail to be delivered, the matter would cause us no harm; they hold so many secrets that I scarcely even entrust them to my copyists, for fear something charming should slip out [the text here is corrupt].
[2] The consuls are ablaze with scandal because the candidate Gaius Memmius read out in the Senate a compact which he himself and his fellow candidate Domitius had made with the consuls: that both would give the consuls forty thousand sesterces apiece, if they themselves were elected consuls, unless they produced three augurs to say that they had been present when a lex curiata [the law conferring full magisterial authority, ratified by the curiate assembly] was passed which had in fact not been passed, and two former consuls to say that they had been present at the drafting of the decree assigning the consular provinces, when in fact there had not even been a meeting of the Senate at all. This compact, which was said to have been concluded not in words but with names and written guarantees in the account books of many men, was produced by Memmius with the names struck out, on Pompey's prompting. In this affair Appius was his old self. No great loss, to be sure: the other candidate had collapsed and was, I tell you, flat on his back.
[3] As for Memmius, once the coalition was broken up against Calvinus's will, he had completely gone cold, and now lies all the more prostrate because we already understood that Caesar was greatly displeased by that disclosure of Memmius's. Our friend Messalla and his rival Domitius were very lavish in their bribery of the people. Nothing could have been more welcome. The consulship was as good as theirs. But the Senate decreed that a secret ballot trial should be held before the elections, before panels drawn by lot for each individual candidate from the whole body of jurors. Great alarm among the candidates. But certain jurors, among them Opimius, Veiento, and Rantius, appealed to the tribunes of the plebs, asking not to be made to render a verdict without the people's mandate. The matter collapses; the elections were postponed by decree of the Senate until a law on the secret ballot should be carried. The day for the law arrived. Terentius interposed his veto. The consuls, who had handled the business with a slack arm, referred the matter to the Senate. Here was Abdera [a proverbial town of fools]! - and I was not silent. You will say, 'Even so, can you not keep quiet?' Forgive me - I can hardly help it. But still, what could be more absurd? The Senate had decreed that elections should not be held before the law was carried; that, if anyone vetoed it, the whole matter should be referred back. The law began to be carried half-heartedly, the veto was interposed against no one's objection, the matter went to the Senate. On that question they resolved as follows: that it was in the public interest for the elections to be held at the earliest possible time.
[4] Scaurus, who had been acquitted a few days before - when I had defended his father in the most lavish style - by interposing announcements of unfavorable omens through Scaevola on each successive day right up to the day before the Kalends of October, the day on which I am writing this, once those obstructions were lifted, had satisfied the people tribe by tribe at his own house. But still, although this man's generosity was the more abundant, the gratitude felt toward those who had got in first seemed the greater. I should love to see your face as you read this; for surely you have no hope that these proceedings will be over within many market-days. But the Senate was to have met today, that is, on the Kalends of October - for day is already breaking. There no one will speak freely except Antius and Favonius; for Cato is ill. About me you need have no fears - but still I promise nothing.
[5] What else do you ask? The trials, I suppose. Drusus and Scaurus appear not to have done the deed. Three candidates were thought likely to stand trial: Domitius prosecuted by Memmius, Messalla by Quintus Pompeius Rufus, Scaurus by Triarius or by Lucius Caesar. 'What will you be able to say in their defense?' you will ask. May I not live if I know; in those three books of mine, at any rate, which you praise to the skies, I can find nothing.
[6] Now learn the rest. From my brother's letters I have learned incredible things about Caesar's affection for me, and these have been confirmed by Caesar's own most generous letters. The outcome of the British war is awaited; for it is established that the approaches to the island are walled with extraordinary ramparts. This too is now ascertained, that there is not a scruple of silver on that island, nor any hope of booty except in slaves - of whom I do not suppose you expect any to be skilled in literature or music.
[7] Paulus has now nearly finished roofing his basilica in the middle of the Forum with the same old columns, while the one he has put out to contract he is making most magnificent. What more need I say? Nothing more pleasing than that monument, nothing more glorious. And so Caesar's friends - I mean myself and Oppius, burst though you may - in order to enlarge the Forum and extend it all the way to the Hall of Liberty, made light of sixty million sesterces for that monument which you used to extol with praise; for it was impossible to settle with the private owners for less money. We shall achieve a most glorious work; for in the Campus Martius we are going to build voting enclosures for the tribal assemblies, of marble and roofed over, and we shall surround them with a lofty colonnade so that it comes to a mile in length. At the same time the Villa Publica will be joined onto this work. You will say, 'What good will this monument do me?' But why do we trouble ourselves over Roman affairs? [the text here is corrupt] For I do not suppose you are asking about the census, which is already given up as hopeless, or about the trials being conducted under the Coctian law.
I suppose you think that I have now forgotten my habit and custom of writing to you less frequently than I used to; but since I can see that your movements and travel plans are quite uncertain, I have not given letters to anyone bound for Epirus, Athens, or Asia unless they were going directly to you. For our letters are not the kind that, if they fail to be delivered, the matter would cause us no concern; they contain so many secrets that I scarcely even entrust them to my copyists, let alone to anyone whose discretion might fail. [2] The consuls are ablaze with scandal because the candidate Gaius Memmius read out in the Senate a pact which he and his fellow candidate Domitius had made with the consuls: that both would pay the consuls 40,000 sesterces each if they themselves were elected consul, unless they produced three augurs who would testify that they had been present when the lex curiata was passed (which had not been passed) and two former consuls who would say they had been present at the drafting of the senatorial decree assigning consular provinces, when in fact no meeting of the Senate had even taken place. This pact, said to have been made not in words but with names and written guarantees in the account books of many men, was brought forward by Memmius with the names struck out, on the authority of Pompey. Here Appius was the same as ever. No great loss — the other candidate had already collapsed and was, I say frankly, flat on his back. [3] Meanwhile Memmius, after the coalition was broken up against Calvinus's will, had completely cooled off, and lies all the more prostrate now because we already understood that Memmius's disclosure had deeply displeased Caesar. Our friend Messalla and his rival Domitius were very generous in their gifts to the people. Nothing could have been more popular. The consuls seemed certain. But the Senate decreed that a secret ballot trial should be held before the elections, with panels drawn by lot from the full jury lists for each candidate. Great fear among the candidates. But certain jurors, among them Opimius, Veiiento, and Rantius, appealed to the tribunes of the plebs, arguing that they should not judge without a mandate from the people. The matter subsided; the elections were postponed by Senate decree while a law on the secret ballot was introduced. The day for the law arrived. Terentius vetoed it. The consuls, who had pursued the matter only half-heartedly, referred it back to the Senate. Here Abdera! — and I was not silent. You will say "Still, you cannot keep quiet?" Forgive me — I can hardly help it. But what could be more absurd? The Senate had decreed that elections should not be held until the law was passed; if anyone vetoed it, the whole matter should be referred back. The law began to be introduced casually, it was vetoed without opposition, and the matter went to the Senate. Their resolution: that elections should be held at the earliest opportunity. [4] Scaurus, who had been acquitted just a few days earlier (when I had defended his father most handsomely), had satisfied the people tribe by tribe at his home by means of religious objections interposed daily through Scaevola right up to the day before the Kalends of October, on which day I write this. But still, although his generosity was more abundant, the gratitude seemed greater toward those who had been first. I would love to see your face as you read this; for you surely have no hope that this business will take many market-days. But the Senate was supposed to meet today, that is on the Kalends of October — for dawn is already breaking. There no one will speak freely except Antius and Favonius; for Cato is ill. As for me, you need not worry, but still I promise nothing. [5] What else do you want? Trials, I suppose. Drusus and Scaurus seem not to have committed the offenses. Three candidates were expected to face prosecution: Domitius by Memmius, Messalla by Quintus Pompeius Rufus, and Scaurus by Triarius or by Lucius Caesar. "What will you be able to say in their defense?" you ask. So help me, I have no idea; certainly I find nothing in those three books of mine that you praise so highly. [6] Now hear the rest. From my brother's letters I have learned of Caesar's incredible affection for me, and this is confirmed by Caesar's own most generous letters. The outcome of the British campaign is awaited; for it is established that the approaches to the island are fortified with remarkable ramparts. It is now also known that there is not a scruple of silver on the island and no hope of plunder except slaves — and I don't suppose you expect any of them to be educated in literature or music. [7] Paulus has nearly finished roofing the basilica in the middle of the Forum with the same ancient columns, and the one he has contracted out he is building most magnificently. What of it? Nothing more pleasing than that monument, nothing more glorious. And so Caesar's friends — I mean myself and Oppius, burst with envy if you like — scorning that monument which you used to praise to the skies, in order to extend the Forum all the way to the Hall of Liberty, have thought nothing of spending sixty million sesterces; it was impossible to settle with the private owners for less. We shall produce a most glorious result; for in the Campus Martius we are going to make the voting enclosures for the tribal assemblies of marble, roofed over, and surround them with a lofty colonnade so that it extends a full mile. At the same time the Villa Publica will be joined to this work. You will ask "What good will this monument do me?" Why should we trouble about Roman politics? For I don't suppose you are asking about the census, which is already despaired of, or about the trials being conducted under the Coctian law.
puto te existimare me nunc oblitum consuetudinis et instituti mei rarius ad te scribere quam solebam; sed quoniam loca et itinera tua nihil habere certi video, neque in Epirum neque Athenas neque in Asiam cuiquam nisi ad te ipsum proficiscenti dedi litteras. neque enim (eae) sunt epistulae nostrae quae si perlatae non sint nihil ea res nos offensura sit; quae tantum habent mysteriorum ut eas ne librariis quidem fere committamus, +lepidum quo excidat+. [2] consules flagrant infamia quod C. Memmius candidatus pactionem in senatu recitavit quam ipse (et) suus competitor Domitius cum consulibus fecisset uti ambo HS quadragena consulibus darent, si essent ipsi consules facti, nisi tris augures dedissent qui se adfuisse dicerent cum lex curiata ferretur quae lata non esset, et duo consularis qui se dicerent in ornandis provinciis consularibus scribendo adfuisse, cum omnino ne senatus quidem fuisset. haec pactio non verbis sed nominibus et perscriptionibus multorum tabulis cum esse facta diceretur, prolata a Memmio est nominibus inductis auctore Pompeio. hic Appius erat idem. nihil sane iacturae. corruerat alter et plane inquam iacebat. [3] Memmius autem dirempta coitione invito Calvino plane refrixerat et eo magis nunc totus iacet quod iam intellegebamus enuntiationem illam Memmi valde Caesari displicere. Messalla noster et eius Domitius competitor liberalis in populo valde fuit. nihil gratius. certi erant consules. at senatus decrevit ut tacitum iudicium ante comitia fieret ab iis consiliis quae erant (ex) omnibus sortita in singulos candidatos. Magnus timor candidatorum. sed quidam iudices, in his Opimius, Veiento, Rantius, tribunos pl. appellarunt, ne iniussu populi iudicarent. res cedit; comitia dilata ex senatus consulto dum lex de tacito iudicio ferretur. venit legi dies. Terentius intercessit. consules qui illud levi bracchio egissent rem ad senatum detulerunt. hic Abdera non tacente me. dices 'tamen tu non quiescis?' ignosce, vix possum. verum tamen quid tam ridiculum? senatus decreverat ne prius comitia haberentur quam lex lata esset; si qui intercessisset, res integra referretur. coepta ferri leviter, intercessum non invitis, res ad senatum. de ea re ita censuerunt comitia primo quoque tempore haberi esse e re publica. [4] Scaurus qui erat paucis diebus illis absolutus, cum ego +patrem+ eius ornatissime defendissem, obnuntiationibus per Scaevolam interpositis singulis diebus usque ad pr. Kal. i, Octobr., quo ego haec die scripsi, sublatis populo tributim domi suae satis fecerat. sed tamen etsi uberior liberalitas huius, gratior esse videbatur eorum qui occuparant. cuperem vultum videre tuum cum haec legeres; nam profecto spem habes nullam haec negotia multarum nundinarum fore. sed senatus hodie fuerat futurus, id est Kal. Octobribus; iam enim luciscit. ibi loquetur praeter Antium et Favonium libere nemo; nam Cato aegrotat. de me nihil timueris, sed tamen promitto nihil. [5] quid quaeris aliud? iudicia, credo. Drusus, Scaurus non fecisse videntur. tres candidati fore rei putabantur, Domitius a Memmio, Messalla a Q. Pompeio Rufo, Scaurus a Triario aut a L. Caesare. 'quid poteris' inquies 'pro iis dicere?' ne vivam (si) scio; in illis quidem tribus libris quos tu dilaudas nihil reperio. [6] cognosce cetera. ex fratris litteris incredibilia de Caesaris in me amore cognovi, eaque sunt ipsius Caesaris uberrimis litteris confirmata. Britannici belli exitus exspectatur; constat enim aditus insulae esse muratos mirificis molibus. etiam illud iam cognitum est neque argenti scripulum esse ullum in illa insula neque ullam spem praedae nisi ex mancipiis; ex quibus nullos puto te litteris aut musicis eruditos exspectare. [7] Paulus in medio foro basilicam iam paene texerat isdem antiquis columnis, illam autem quam locavit facit magnificentissimam. quid quaeris? nihil gratius illo monumento, nihil gloriosius. itaque Caesaris amici, me dico et Oppium, dirumparis licet, (in) monumentum illud quod tu tollere laudibus solebas, ut forum laxaremus et usque ad atrium libertatis explicaremus, contempsimus sexcenties HS; cum privatis non poterat transigi minore pecunia. efficiemus rem gloriosissimam; nam in campo Martio saepta tributis comitiis marmorea sumus et tecta facturi eaque cingemus excelsa porticu, ut mille passuum conficiatur. simul adiungetur huic operi villa etiam publica. dices 'quid mihi hoc monumentum proderit?' +ad quid id laboramus res Romanas+. non enim te puto de lustro quod iam desperatum est, aut de iudiciis quae lege +Coctia+ fiant quaerere.
◆
I imagine you suppose that I have now forgotten my habit and settled practice and am writing to you less often than I used to; but since I see that your whereabouts and itineraries are quite uncertain, I have given letters to no one bound for Epirus, Athens, or Asia unless he was going directly to you in person. For our letters are not of the sort that, if they fail to be delivered, the matter would cause us no harm; they hold so many secrets that I scarcely even entrust them to my copyists, for fear something charming should slip out [the text here is corrupt].
[2] The consuls are ablaze with scandal because the candidate Gaius Memmius read out in the Senate a compact which he himself and his fellow candidate Domitius had made with the consuls: that both would give the consuls forty thousand sesterces apiece, if they themselves were elected consuls, unless they produced three augurs to say that they had been present when a lex curiata [the law conferring full magisterial authority, ratified by the curiate assembly] was passed which had in fact not been passed, and two former consuls to say that they had been present at the drafting of the decree assigning the consular provinces, when in fact there had not even been a meeting of the Senate at all. This compact, which was said to have been concluded not in words but with names and written guarantees in the account books of many men, was produced by Memmius with the names struck out, on Pompey's prompting. In this affair Appius was his old self. No great loss, to be sure: the other candidate had collapsed and was, I tell you, flat on his back.
[3] As for Memmius, once the coalition was broken up against Calvinus's will, he had completely gone cold, and now lies all the more prostrate because we already understood that Caesar was greatly displeased by that disclosure of Memmius's. Our friend Messalla and his rival Domitius were very lavish in their bribery of the people. Nothing could have been more welcome. The consulship was as good as theirs. But the Senate decreed that a secret ballot trial should be held before the elections, before panels drawn by lot for each individual candidate from the whole body of jurors. Great alarm among the candidates. But certain jurors, among them Opimius, Veiento, and Rantius, appealed to the tribunes of the plebs, asking not to be made to render a verdict without the people's mandate. The matter collapses; the elections were postponed by decree of the Senate until a law on the secret ballot should be carried. The day for the law arrived. Terentius interposed his veto. The consuls, who had handled the business with a slack arm, referred the matter to the Senate. Here was Abdera [a proverbial town of fools]! - and I was not silent. You will say, 'Even so, can you not keep quiet?' Forgive me - I can hardly help it. But still, what could be more absurd? The Senate had decreed that elections should not be held before the law was carried; that, if anyone vetoed it, the whole matter should be referred back. The law began to be carried half-heartedly, the veto was interposed against no one's objection, the matter went to the Senate. On that question they resolved as follows: that it was in the public interest for the elections to be held at the earliest possible time.
[4] Scaurus, who had been acquitted a few days before - when I had defended his father in the most lavish style - by interposing announcements of unfavorable omens through Scaevola on each successive day right up to the day before the Kalends of October, the day on which I am writing this, once those obstructions were lifted, had satisfied the people tribe by tribe at his own house. But still, although this man's generosity was the more abundant, the gratitude felt toward those who had got in first seemed the greater. I should love to see your face as you read this; for surely you have no hope that these proceedings will be over within many market-days. But the Senate was to have met today, that is, on the Kalends of October - for day is already breaking. There no one will speak freely except Antius and Favonius; for Cato is ill. About me you need have no fears - but still I promise nothing.
[5] What else do you ask? The trials, I suppose. Drusus and Scaurus appear not to have done the deed. Three candidates were thought likely to stand trial: Domitius prosecuted by Memmius, Messalla by Quintus Pompeius Rufus, Scaurus by Triarius or by Lucius Caesar. 'What will you be able to say in their defense?' you will ask. May I not live if I know; in those three books of mine, at any rate, which you praise to the skies, I can find nothing.
[6] Now learn the rest. From my brother's letters I have learned incredible things about Caesar's affection for me, and these have been confirmed by Caesar's own most generous letters. The outcome of the British war is awaited; for it is established that the approaches to the island are walled with extraordinary ramparts. This too is now ascertained, that there is not a scruple of silver on that island, nor any hope of booty except in slaves - of whom I do not suppose you expect any to be skilled in literature or music.
[7] Paulus has now nearly finished roofing his basilica in the middle of the Forum with the same old columns, while the one he has put out to contract he is making most magnificent. What more need I say? Nothing more pleasing than that monument, nothing more glorious. And so Caesar's friends - I mean myself and Oppius, burst though you may - in order to enlarge the Forum and extend it all the way to the Hall of Liberty, made light of sixty million sesterces for that monument which you used to extol with praise; for it was impossible to settle with the private owners for less money. We shall achieve a most glorious work; for in the Campus Martius we are going to build voting enclosures for the tribal assemblies, of marble and roofed over, and we shall surround them with a lofty colonnade so that it comes to a mile in length. At the same time the Villa Publica will be joined onto this work. You will say, 'What good will this monument do me?' But why do we trouble ourselves over Roman affairs? [the text here is corrupt] For I do not suppose you are asking about the census, which is already given up as hopeless, or about the trials being conducted under the Coctian law.
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
puto te existimare me nunc oblitum consuetudinis et instituti mei rarius ad te scribere quam solebam; sed quoniam loca et itinera tua nihil habere certi video, neque in Epirum neque Athenas neque in Asiam cuiquam nisi ad te ipsum proficiscenti dedi litteras. neque enim (eae) sunt epistulae nostrae quae si perlatae non sint nihil ea res nos offensura sit; quae tantum habent mysteriorum ut eas ne librariis quidem fere committamus, +lepidum quo excidat+. [2] consules flagrant infamia quod C. Memmius candidatus pactionem in senatu recitavit quam ipse (et) suus competitor Domitius cum consulibus fecisset uti ambo HS quadragena consulibus darent, si essent ipsi consules facti, nisi tris augures dedissent qui se adfuisse dicerent cum lex curiata ferretur quae lata non esset, et duo consularis qui se dicerent in ornandis provinciis consularibus scribendo adfuisse, cum omnino ne senatus quidem fuisset. haec pactio non verbis sed nominibus et perscriptionibus multorum tabulis cum esse facta diceretur, prolata a Memmio est nominibus inductis auctore Pompeio. hic Appius erat idem. nihil sane iacturae. corruerat alter et plane inquam iacebat. [3] Memmius autem dirempta coitione invito Calvino plane refrixerat et eo magis nunc totus iacet quod iam intellegebamus enuntiationem illam Memmi valde Caesari displicere. Messalla noster et eius Domitius competitor liberalis in populo valde fuit. nihil gratius. certi erant consules. at senatus decrevit ut tacitum iudicium ante comitia fieret ab iis consiliis quae erant (ex) omnibus sortita in singulos candidatos. Magnus timor candidatorum. sed quidam iudices, in his Opimius, Veiento, Rantius, tribunos pl. appellarunt, ne iniussu populi iudicarent. res cedit; comitia dilata ex senatus consulto dum lex de tacito iudicio ferretur. venit legi dies. Terentius intercessit. consules qui illud levi bracchio egissent rem ad senatum detulerunt. hic Abdera non tacente me. dices 'tamen tu non quiescis?' ignosce, vix possum. verum tamen quid tam ridiculum? senatus decreverat ne prius comitia haberentur quam lex lata esset; si qui intercessisset, res integra referretur. coepta ferri leviter, intercessum non invitis, res ad senatum. de ea re ita censuerunt comitia primo quoque tempore haberi esse e re publica. [4] Scaurus qui erat paucis diebus illis absolutus, cum ego +patrem+ eius ornatissime defendissem, obnuntiationibus per Scaevolam interpositis singulis diebus usque ad pr. Kal. i, Octobr., quo ego haec die scripsi, sublatis populo tributim domi suae satis fecerat. sed tamen etsi uberior liberalitas huius, gratior esse videbatur eorum qui occuparant. cuperem vultum videre tuum cum haec legeres; nam profecto spem habes nullam haec negotia multarum nundinarum fore. sed senatus hodie fuerat futurus, id est Kal. Octobribus; iam enim luciscit. ibi loquetur praeter Antium et Favonium libere nemo; nam Cato aegrotat. de me nihil timueris, sed tamen promitto nihil. [5] quid quaeris aliud? iudicia, credo. Drusus, Scaurus non fecisse videntur. tres candidati fore rei putabantur, Domitius a Memmio, Messalla a Q. Pompeio Rufo, Scaurus a Triario aut a L. Caesare. 'quid poteris' inquies 'pro iis dicere?' ne vivam (si) scio; in illis quidem tribus libris quos tu dilaudas nihil reperio. [6] cognosce cetera. ex fratris litteris incredibilia de Caesaris in me amore cognovi, eaque sunt ipsius Caesaris uberrimis litteris confirmata. Britannici belli exitus exspectatur; constat enim aditus insulae esse muratos mirificis molibus. etiam illud iam cognitum est neque argenti scripulum esse ullum in illa insula neque ullam spem praedae nisi ex mancipiis; ex quibus nullos puto te litteris aut musicis eruditos exspectare. [7] Paulus in medio foro basilicam iam paene texerat isdem antiquis columnis, illam autem quam locavit facit magnificentissimam. quid quaeris? nihil gratius illo monumento, nihil gloriosius. itaque Caesaris amici, me dico et Oppium, dirumparis licet, (in) monumentum illud quod tu tollere laudibus solebas, ut forum laxaremus et usque ad atrium libertatis explicaremus, contempsimus sexcenties HS; cum privatis non poterat transigi minore pecunia. efficiemus rem gloriosissimam; nam in campo Martio saepta tributis comitiis marmorea sumus et tecta facturi eaque cingemus excelsa porticu, ut mille passuum conficiatur. simul adiungetur huic operi villa etiam publica. dices 'quid mihi hoc monumentum proderit?' +ad quid id laboramus res Romanas+. non enim te puto de lustro quod iam desperatum est, aut de iudiciis quae lege +Coctia+ fiant quaerere.