Marcus Tullius Cicero→Titus Pomponius Atticus|c. 51 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome/Athens|AI-assisted
An annoying illness, from which I have now recovered since it involved no fever, and my waiting for Pomptinus, of whom not even a rumor has yet reached me, have kept me at Brundisium for twelve days now. But I am waiting for a passage.
If you are still in Rome - I hardly think you are, but if you are - please give this matter your closest attention. I had received letters from Rome saying that my friend Milo is complaining by letter that I wronged him by letting Philotimus be involved in the purchase of his property. I wanted this done on the advice of Gaius Duronius, whom I had seen to be a very close friend of Milo and had come to know as the kind of man you think he is.
His plan and mine were, first, to keep the property under our control, so that some outsider and hard buyer would not strip Milo of the many slaves he has with him; second, to respect the provision Milo wished to make for Fausta; and third, to give ourselves the easiest means of saving whatever could be saved. Now please look into the whole matter, because people often write me exaggerated reports. If Milo is complaining, if he is writing to friends, and if Fausta wants the same thing, then Philotimus must not be involved in the property against Milo's wishes, just as I told him face to face and as he promised me. Nothing was worth that much to us. But if these reports are lighter than they sound, you will judge. Speak with Duronius.
I have also written to Camillus and to Lamia, all the more because I was not confident you were in Rome. The whole point is this: decide as my good faith, reputation, and interests seem to require.
Tiresome indisposition, from which I have recovered, as there was no fever with my ailment, and also my awaiting Pomptinus, of whom so far no news has reached me, have detained me now twelve days at Brundisium: but I am looking for an opportunity to sail. I scarcely imagine that you are in town; but, if you are, please give your closest attention to
the following. I have received a letter from Rome, saying that my friend Milo writes complaining of ill-treatment from me, for allowing Philotimus to have a hand in the purchase of his property. I acted on the advice of C. Duronius, a man whom I saw to be most friendly to Milo, and just such a person as you suppose him to be. His plan and mine was this, firstly, to keep a hold over Milo’s property for fear some hard bargainer, a stranger to us, should rob him of his slaves, of whom a great number were with him; and secondly, that the settlement he intended to make on Fausta should be respected. There was the further intention, that we ourselves should have the readiest means of saving anything that could be saved. Now please review the whole matter, for letters to me often exaggerate. If Milo complains and writes to his friends, and, if Fausta wishes, as I told Philotimus and as he agreed, I would not have him purchase the property against Milo’s wish. Nothing would compensate for offending Milo. You will judge if the matter has been exaggerated. Please consult Duronius. I have written also to Camillus and to Lamia, among other reasons because I do not feel sure you are in town. To sum up, in deciding be careful of my honour, reputation and interests.
me et incommoda valetudo, (e) qua iam emerseram utpote cum sine febri laborassem, et Pomptini exspectatio de quo adhuc ne rumor quidem venerat, tenebat duodecimum iam diem Brundisi; sed cursum exspectabamus. [2] tu si modo es Romae (vix enim puto), sin es, hoc vehementer animadvertas velim. Roma acceperam litteras Milonem meum queri per litteras iniuriam meam quod Philotimus socius esset in bonis suis. id ego ita fieri volui de C. Duroni sententia quem et amicissimum Miloni perspexeram et talem virum qualem tu iudicas cognoram. eius autem consilium meumque hoc fuerat, primum ut in potestate nostra esset res, ne illum malus emptor alienus mancipiis quae permulta secum habet spoliaret, deinde ut Faustae .quoi cautum ille esse voluisset ratum esset. erat etiam illud ut ipsi nos si quid servari posset quam facillime servaremus. nunc rem totam perspicias velim; nobis enim scribuntur saepe maiora. si ille queritur, si scribit ad amicos, si idem Fausta vult, Philotimus, ut ego ei coram dixeram mihique ille receperat, ne sit invito Milone in bonis. nihil nobis fuerat tanti. sin haec leviora sunt, tu iudicabis. loquere cum Duronio. scripsi etiam ad Camillum, (ad Caelium), ad Lamiam eoque magis quod non confidebam Romae te esse. summa erit haec. statues ut ex fide, fama reque mea videbitur.
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An annoying illness, from which I have now recovered since it involved no fever, and my waiting for Pomptinus, of whom not even a rumor has yet reached me, have kept me at Brundisium for twelve days now. But I am waiting for a passage.
If you are still in Rome - I hardly think you are, but if you are - please give this matter your closest attention. I had received letters from Rome saying that my friend Milo is complaining by letter that I wronged him by letting Philotimus be involved in the purchase of his property. I wanted this done on the advice of Gaius Duronius, whom I had seen to be a very close friend of Milo and had come to know as the kind of man you think he is.
His plan and mine were, first, to keep the property under our control, so that some outsider and hard buyer would not strip Milo of the many slaves he has with him; second, to respect the provision Milo wished to make for Fausta; and third, to give ourselves the easiest means of saving whatever could be saved. Now please look into the whole matter, because people often write me exaggerated reports. If Milo is complaining, if he is writing to friends, and if Fausta wants the same thing, then Philotimus must not be involved in the property against Milo's wishes, just as I told him face to face and as he promised me. Nothing was worth that much to us. But if these reports are lighter than they sound, you will judge. Speak with Duronius.
I have also written to Camillus and to Lamia, all the more because I was not confident you were in Rome. The whole point is this: decide as my good faith, reputation, and interests seem to require.
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
me et incommoda valetudo, (e) qua iam emerseram utpote cum sine febri laborassem, et Pomptini exspectatio de quo adhuc ne rumor quidem venerat, tenebat duodecimum iam diem Brundisi; sed cursum exspectabamus. [2] tu si modo es Romae (vix enim puto), sin es, hoc vehementer animadvertas velim. Roma acceperam litteras Milonem meum queri per litteras iniuriam meam quod Philotimus socius esset in bonis suis. id ego ita fieri volui de C. Duroni sententia quem et amicissimum Miloni perspexeram et talem virum qualem tu iudicas cognoram. eius autem consilium meumque hoc fuerat, primum ut in potestate nostra esset res, ne illum malus emptor alienus mancipiis quae permulta secum habet spoliaret, deinde ut Faustae .quoi cautum ille esse voluisset ratum esset. erat etiam illud ut ipsi nos si quid servari posset quam facillime servaremus. nunc rem totam perspicias velim; nobis enim scribuntur saepe maiora. si ille queritur, si scribit ad amicos, si idem Fausta vult, Philotimus, ut ego ei coram dixeram mihique ille receperat, ne sit invito Milone in bonis. nihil nobis fuerat tanti. sin haec leviora sunt, tu iudicabis. loquere cum Duronio. scripsi etiam ad Camillum, (ad Caelium), ad Lamiam eoque magis quod non confidebam Romae te esse. summa erit haec. statues ut ex fide, fama reque mea videbitur.