Marcus Tullius Cicero→Quintus Cornificius|c. 43 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Africa|Human translated
Your letter was welcome, except that you scorned my little inn at Sinuessa. This insult the little villa will not bear with equanimity unless you make amends at my Cumaean and Pompeian estates, paying everything in full. So do this, and love me, and challenge me with some piece of writing; for I can more easily reply than initiate. But if, as you are, you are idle, I shall be the one to challenge, and your laziness will not bring me inertia as well. More when I have leisure; I scribbled this while I was in the senate.
IX (Fam. XII, 20) TO QUINTUS CORNIFICIUS (IN CAMPANIA) ROME: Your letter gave me great pleasure, except for the contempt it expressed for my little lodge at Sinuessa . This insult my bijou villa will much resent unless you make full and complete amends at Cumae and Pompeii . Pray do so, and go on loving me and bombarding me with letters of some sort. For I am better at reply than at challenging. But if you continue idle about it, as you are at present, I shall have at you; and your want of spirit shall not produce inactivity in me. More when I have leisure: I scribble these lines while in the senate.
XX. Scr. Romae anno incerto. CICERO CORNIFICIO SAL.
Gratae mihi tuae litterae, nisi quos Sinuessanum deversoriolum contempsisti; quam quidem contumeliam villa pusilla iniquo animo feret, nisi in Cumano et Pompeiano reddideris pnta perÐ pntvn. Sic igitur facies meque amabis et scripto aliquo lacesses; ego enim respondere facilius possum quam provocare. Quod si, ut es, cessabis, lacessam, nec tua ignavia etiam mihi inertiam afferet. Plura otiosus; haec, quum essem in senatu, exaravi.
◆
Your letter was welcome, except that you scorned my little inn at Sinuessa. This insult the little villa will not bear with equanimity unless you make amends at my Cumaean and Pompeian estates, paying everything in full. So do this, and love me, and challenge me with some piece of writing; for I can more easily reply than initiate. But if, as you are, you are idle, I shall be the one to challenge, and your laziness will not bring me inertia as well. More when I have leisure; I scribbled this while I was in the senate.
Human translation - ToposText / Shuckburgh
Latin / Greek Original
XX. Scr. Romae anno incerto. CICERO CORNIFICIO SAL.
Gratae mihi tuae litterae, nisi quos Sinuessanum deversoriolum contempsisti; quam quidem contumeliam villa pusilla iniquo animo feret, nisi in Cumano et Pompeiano reddideris pnta perÐ pntvn. Sic igitur facies meque amabis et scripto aliquo lacesses; ego enim respondere facilius possum quam provocare. Quod si, ut es, cessabis, lacessam, nec tua ignavia etiam mihi inertiam afferet. Plura otiosus; haec, quum essem in senatu, exaravi.