Marcus Tullius Cicero→Quintus Cornificius|c. 43 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Africa|AI-assisted
Tratorius has explained to me the whole condition of your command and the state of your province. How many intolerable things are being done everywhere. Yet the higher your rank, the less bearable your treatment is. Because you endure these things with the greatness of your spirit and character, and without excessive anger, they do not sting you as deeply as they might, but they still call for redress. More about that another time.
I feel sure that a record of events in the city reaches you. If I had not thought so, I would have written an account of them myself, beginning with the attempt made by Octavian. The common people think it was a charge invented by Antony as a pretext for breaking into the young man's money. Men of judgment, however, and loyal citizens both believe that the attempt took place and approve of it. In short, I have great hopes for him. There is nothing he may not be expected to do in the future for the sake of fame and glory.
Antony, our former intimate friend, is the object of such violent dislike that even though he caught the assassins inside his own house, he does not dare make the fact public. On October 9 he set out to meet the four Macedonian legions. His plan is to win them over by cash bounties, lead them to the city, and station them as chains around our necks.
There you have the condition of the republic, if a republic can be said to exist in a camp. In this matter I often lament your fortune: you were not old enough ever to have tasted a sound and healthy republic. Until now, at least hope remained possible. Now even that has been torn away from us. What hope can there be when Antony dares to say in a public meeting that Cannutius is "seeking a place for himself with men for whom, as long as he was alive, there could be no place in the state"?
For my part, I bear these things, and indeed everything that can happen to a mortal, in a way that makes me grateful to philosophy. It not only turns me away from anxious thoughts, but arms me against every assault of fortune. I think you should do the same. Believe that for a man clear of all wrongdoing, nothing should be counted an evil. But you understand this better than I do.
I have always thought highly of our friend Tratorius, but in your affairs I have been especially struck by his outstanding loyalty, energy, and good judgment. Take care of your health. Nothing you could do would please me more.
DCCLXXXIX (Fam. XII, 23) TO Q. CORNIFICIUS (IN AFRICA) ROME (MIDDLE OF OCTOBER) Tratorius has explained to me the whole state of the case regarding your governorship and the position of your province. How many intolerable things are being done in all quarters! But considering your high rank, the treatment accorded to you is still less endurable. For because you put up with these things in the loftiness of your spirit and character without excessive irritation, they none the less call for your vengeance, even though they do not sting your heart. But of this at a future time. I feel sure that a gazette of transactions in the city reaches you. If I had not thought so I would have written an account of them myself, and first and foremost of the attempt made by Octavianus . In regard to this the common people think it a charge trumped up by Antony , as an excuse for making an inroad upon the young man's money. Men of the world, however, and loyalists both believe that it took place and approve of it. In short, I have great hopes of him. There is nothing he may not be expected to do in future for fame and glory's sake. Antonius , however, our whilom intimate friend, feels himself to be the object of such violent dislike, that though he caught the assassins within his own doors, he does not venture to make the fact public. On the 9th of October he set out to meet the four Macedonian legions, which his idea is to win over to his side by money-bounties, to lead them to the city, and station them as fetters for our necks. There is the state of the Republic for you, if a republic can be said to exist in a camp. And in this matter I often lament your fortune in not being old enough ever to have had a taste of a sound and healthy republic. And up to this time indeed it was at least possible to hope: now even that is snatched from us. For what hope can there be, when Antony ventures to say in a public meeting that Cannutius is “seeking a place for himself with men, for whom as long as he was alive there could be no place in the state ”? For my part I bear these things, and in fact all that can befall a mortal, in such a way as to make me grateful to philosophy, which not only diverts me from anxious thoughts, but also arms me against all assaults of fortune. And you too, I think, should do the same: and believe that to a man who is clear of all wrong-doing nothing is to be reckoned an evil. But you understand this better than I. I always thought highly of our friend Tratorius , but I have been specially struck by his eminent fidelity, activity, and good sense in your business affairs. Take care of your health: nothing you can do could please me more than that.
XXIII. Scr. Romae medio mense Octobri a.u.c. 710. CICERO CORNIFICIO SAL.
Omnem condicionem imperii tui statumque provinciae mihi demonstravit Tratorius. O multa intolerabilia locis omnibus! sed, quo tua maior dignitas, eo, quae tibi acciderunt, minus ferenda; neque enim, quae tu propter magnitudinem et animi et ingenii moderate fers, ea non ulciscenda sunt, etiamsi non sunt dolenda. Sed haec posterius. Rerum urbanarum acta tibi mitti certo scio; quod ni ita putarem, ipse perscriberem, in primisque Caesaris Octaviani conatum; de quo multitudini fictum ab Antonio crimen videtur, ut in pecuniam adolescentis impetum faceret, prudentes autem et boni viri et credunt factum et probant. Quid quaeris? magna spes est in eo: nihil est, quod non existimetur laudis et gloriae causa facturus. Antonius autem, noster familiaris, tanto se odio esse intelligit, ut, quum interfectores suos domi comprehenderit, rem proferre non audeat. A. d. VII Id. Oct. Brundisium erat profectus obviam legionibus Macedonicis quattuor, quas sibi conciliare pecunia cogitabat easque ad urbem adducere et in cervicibus nostris collocare. Habes formam rei publicae, si in castris potest esse res publica; in quo tuam vicem saepe doleo, quod nullam partem per aetatem sanae et salvae rei publicae gustare potuisti. Atque antehac quidem sperare saltem licebat; nunc etiam id ereptum est; quae enim est spes, quum in concione dicere ausus sit Antonius Cannutium apud eos locum sibi quaerere, quibus se salvo locus in civisate esse non posset? Equidem et haec et omnia, quae homini accidere possunt, sic fero, ut philosophiae magnam habeam gratiam, quae me non modo ab sollicitudine abducit, sed etiam contra omnes fortunae impetus armat, tibique idem censeo faciundum nec, a quo culpa absit, quidquam in malis numerandum. Sed haec tu melius. Tratorium nostrum quum semper probassem, tum maxime in tuis rebus summam eius fidem, diligentiam prudentiamque cognovi. Da operam, ut valeas: hoc mihi gratius facere nihil potes.
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Tratorius has explained to me the whole condition of your command and the state of your province. How many intolerable things are being done everywhere. Yet the higher your rank, the less bearable your treatment is. Because you endure these things with the greatness of your spirit and character, and without excessive anger, they do not sting you as deeply as they might, but they still call for redress. More about that another time.
I feel sure that a record of events in the city reaches you. If I had not thought so, I would have written an account of them myself, beginning with the attempt made by Octavian. The common people think it was a charge invented by Antony as a pretext for breaking into the young man's money. Men of judgment, however, and loyal citizens both believe that the attempt took place and approve of it. In short, I have great hopes for him. There is nothing he may not be expected to do in the future for the sake of fame and glory.
Antony, our former intimate friend, is the object of such violent dislike that even though he caught the assassins inside his own house, he does not dare make the fact public. On October 9 he set out to meet the four Macedonian legions. His plan is to win them over by cash bounties, lead them to the city, and station them as chains around our necks.
There you have the condition of the republic, if a republic can be said to exist in a camp. In this matter I often lament your fortune: you were not old enough ever to have tasted a sound and healthy republic. Until now, at least hope remained possible. Now even that has been torn away from us. What hope can there be when Antony dares to say in a public meeting that Cannutius is "seeking a place for himself with men for whom, as long as he was alive, there could be no place in the state"?
For my part, I bear these things, and indeed everything that can happen to a mortal, in a way that makes me grateful to philosophy. It not only turns me away from anxious thoughts, but arms me against every assault of fortune. I think you should do the same. Believe that for a man clear of all wrongdoing, nothing should be counted an evil. But you understand this better than I do.
I have always thought highly of our friend Tratorius, but in your affairs I have been especially struck by his outstanding loyalty, energy, and good judgment. Take care of your health. Nothing you could do would please me more.
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
XXIII. Scr. Romae medio mense Octobri a.u.c. 710. CICERO CORNIFICIO SAL.
Omnem condicionem imperii tui statumque provinciae mihi demonstravit Tratorius. O multa intolerabilia locis omnibus! sed, quo tua maior dignitas, eo, quae tibi acciderunt, minus ferenda; neque enim, quae tu propter magnitudinem et animi et ingenii moderate fers, ea non ulciscenda sunt, etiamsi non sunt dolenda. Sed haec posterius. Rerum urbanarum acta tibi mitti certo scio; quod ni ita putarem, ipse perscriberem, in primisque Caesaris Octaviani conatum; de quo multitudini fictum ab Antonio crimen videtur, ut in pecuniam adolescentis impetum faceret, prudentes autem et boni viri et credunt factum et probant. Quid quaeris? magna spes est in eo: nihil est, quod non existimetur laudis et gloriae causa facturus. Antonius autem, noster familiaris, tanto se odio esse intelligit, ut, quum interfectores suos domi comprehenderit, rem proferre non audeat. A. d. VII Id. Oct. Brundisium erat profectus obviam legionibus Macedonicis quattuor, quas sibi conciliare pecunia cogitabat easque ad urbem adducere et in cervicibus nostris collocare. Habes formam rei publicae, si in castris potest esse res publica; in quo tuam vicem saepe doleo, quod nullam partem per aetatem sanae et salvae rei publicae gustare potuisti. Atque antehac quidem sperare saltem licebat; nunc etiam id ereptum est; quae enim est spes, quum in concione dicere ausus sit Antonius Cannutium apud eos locum sibi quaerere, quibus se salvo locus in civisate esse non posset? Equidem et haec et omnia, quae homini accidere possunt, sic fero, ut philosophiae magnam habeam gratiam, quae me non modo ab sollicitudine abducit, sed etiam contra omnes fortunae impetus armat, tibique idem censeo faciundum nec, a quo culpa absit, quidquam in malis numerandum. Sed haec tu melius. Tratorium nostrum quum semper probassem, tum maxime in tuis rebus summam eius fidem, diligentiam prudentiamque cognovi. Da operam, ut valeas: hoc mihi gratius facere nihil potes.