Letter 19: Cicero writes to Quintus in Britain from Rome in September 54 BC.
Marcus Tullius Cicero→Quintus Tullius Cicero|c. 54 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Britain|AI-assisted
familypoliticsadministration
Imported from the public-domain Shuckburgh translation with Latin text paired from The Latin Library.
MARCUS TO HIS BROTHER QUINTUS, GREETINGS.
1. When you receive a letter from me written in a secretary's hand, you may judge that I have not had even the smallest leisure; but when it is in my own hand, that I have had a little. For let me assure you of this: I have never been more pressed by lawsuits and trials in court, and that too at the most oppressive season of the year and in the greatest heat. But since you so direct me, these things must be borne, and I must not let it happen that I should seem to have fallen short of the hope or the expectation that you and Caesar have of me, especially since, even if this should prove rather difficult, I shall nevertheless gather great goodwill and great standing from this labor. And so, as is your wish, we are taking pains not to offend anyone's feelings, and to be held dear even by those very men who are grieved that we are so closely linked with Caesar, while by those who are fair-minded toward this side, or even inclined to it, we may be vigorously cultivated and loved.
2. When the matter of electoral bribery was being pursued with the utmost ferocity in the senate over many days, because the candidates for the consulship had gone to such lengths that it was past bearing, I was not in the senate: I have resolved to approach no remedy for the commonwealth without a strong bodyguard.
3. On the day I write this, Drusus has been acquitted of collusion by the tribunes of the treasury [tribuni aerarii], by a final total of four votes, although the senators and the equestrians had voted to condemn him. I myself, on the same day, in the afternoon, was about to defend Vatinius: that matter is easy. The elections have been postponed to the month of September. The trial of Scaurus will be conducted at once, and we shall not fail him. As for the "Banqueters" of Sophocles [originally in Greek], although I see that the little play was performed by you with wit, I by no means approved of it.
4. I come now to what perhaps ought to have come first: how delightful to me was your letter about Britain! I was afraid of the Ocean, I was afraid of the island's coast: the rest I do not, for my part, make light of, but it nonetheless holds more of hope than of fear, and I am more anxious from the suspense of waiting than from dread. I see, indeed, that you have a splendid theme [originally Greek: hypothesis] for writing: what landscapes, what natures of things and places, what customs, what peoples, what battles, and what a commander himself you have at hand! I will gladly help you, as you ask, in whatever matters you wish, and I will send you the verses you request -- 'an owl to Athens' [originally in Greek; proverbial for a superfluous gift, like 'coals to Newcastle'].
5. But look here, you: I think I am being kept in the dark by you. How exactly, my dear brother, does Caesar regard our verses? For first he wrote to me earlier that he had read the first book, and of the first part he says this -- that he has never read anything better, not even in Greek; the rest, up to a certain passage, he calls 'rather carelessly done' [originally in Greek] -- for that is the word he uses. Tell me the truth: is it the subject matter, or the style [originally Greek: character], that fails to please him? There is nothing for you to fear; for I will not love you one hair less for it. On this matter write as a lover of truth [originally in Greek], and, as you are accustomed to do, in a brotherly way.
Cicero
When you receive a letter from me by the hand of an amanuensis, you may be sure that I have not even a little leisure; when by my own—a little. For let me tell you that in regard to causes and trials in court, I have never been closer tied, and that, too, at the most unhealthy season of the year, and in the most oppressively hot weather. But these things, since you so direct me, I must put up with, and must not seem to have come short of the ideas and expectations which you and Caesar entertain of me, especially since, even if it were somewhat difficult not to do that, I am yet likely from this labour to reap great popularity and prestige. Accordingly, as you wish me to do, I take great pains not to hurt anyone's feelings, and to secure being liked even by those very men who are vexed at my close friendship with Caesar, while by those who are impartial, or even inclined to this side, I may be warmly courted and loved. When some very violent debates took place in the senate on the subject of bribery for several days, because the candidates for the consulship had gone to such lengths as to be past all bearing, I was not in the house. I have made up my mind not to attempt any cure of the political situation without powerful protection. The day I write this Drusus has been acquitted on a charge of collusion by the tribuni aerarii, in the grand total by four votes, for the majority of senators and equites were for condemnation. On the same day I am to defend Vatinius. That is an easy matter. The comitia have been put off to September. Scaurus's trial will take place immediately, and I shall not fail to appear for him. I don't like your "Sophoclean Banqueters" at all, though I see that you played your part with a good grace. I come now to a subject which, perhaps, ought to have been my first. How glad I was to get your letter from Britain! I was afraid of the ocean, afraid of the coast of the island. The other parts of the enterprise I do not underrate; but yet they inspire more hope than fear, and it is the suspense rather than any positive alarm that renders me uneasy. You, however, I can see, have a splendid subject for description, topography, natural features of things and places, manners, races, battles, your commander himself—what themes for your pen! I will gladly, as you request, assist you in the points you mention, and will send you the verses you ask for, that is, "An owl to Athens". But, look you ! I think you are keeping me in the dark. Tell me, my dear brother, what Caesar thinks of my verses. For he wrote before to tell me he had read my first book. Of the first part, he said that he had never read anything better even in Greek: the rest, up to a particular passage, somewhat "careless"—that is his word. Tell me the truth—is it the subject-matter or the "style" that he does not like? You needn't be afraid: I shall not admire myself one whit the less. On this subject speak like a lover of truth, and with your usual brotherly frankness.
XV. Scr. Romae exeunte mense Sextili a.u.c. 700.
MARCUS QUINTO FRATRI SALUTEM.
1. Cum a me litteras librarii manu acceperis, ne paullum quidem me otii habuisse iudicato, cum autem mea, paullum: sic enim habeto, numquam me a causis et iudiciis districtiorem fuisse atque id anni tempore gravissimo et caloribus maximis. Sed haec, quoniam tu ita praescribis, ferenda sunt, neque committendum, ut aut spei aut cogitationi vestrae ego videar defuisse, praesertim cum, si id difficilius fuerit, tamen ex hoc labore magnam gratiam magnamque dignitatem sim collecturus. Itaque, ut tibi placet, damus operam, ne cuius animum offendamus atque ut etiam ab iis ipsis, qui nos cum Caesare tam coniunctos dolent, diligamur, ab aequis vero aut etiam propensis in hanc partem vehementer et colamur et amemur. 2. De ambitu cum atrocissime ageretur in senatu multos dies, quod ita erant progressi candidati consulares, ut non esset ferendum, in senatu non fui: statui ad nullam medicinam rei publicae sine magno praesidio accedere. 3. Quo die haec scripsi, Drusus erat de praevaricatione a tribunis aerariis absolutus, in summa quattuor sententiis, cum senatores et equites damnassent. Ego eodem die post meridiem Vatinium eram defensurus: ea res facilis est. Comitia in mensem Septembrem reiecta sunt. Scauri iudicium statim exercebitur, cui nos non deerimus. Sunde¤pnouw Sofoxl°ouw, quamquam a te actam fabellam video esse festive, nullo modo probavi. 4. Venio nunc ad id, quod nescio an primum esse debuerit: o iucundas mihi tuas de Britannia litteras! Timebam Oceanum, timebam litus insulae: reliqua non equidem contemno, sed plus habent tamen spei quam timoris, magisque sum sollicitus exspectatione ea quam metu. Te vero ÍpÒyesin scribendi egregiam habere video: quos tu situs, quas naturas rerum et locorum, quos mores, quas gentes, quas pugnas, quem vero ipsum imperatorem habes! Ego te libenter, ut rogas, quibus rebus vis, adiuvabo et tibi versus, quos rogas, glaËx' e?w 'AyÆnaw, mittam. 5. Sed heus tu, celari videor a te: quomodonam, mi frater, de nostris versibus Caesar? nam primum librum se legisse scripsit ad me ante, et prima sic, ut neget se ne Graeca quidem meliora legisse; reliqua ad quendam locum rayumÒtera—hoc enim utitur verbo—. Dic mihi verum: num aut res eum aut xaraxtØr non delectat? nihil est, quod vereare; ego enim ne pilo quidem minus te amabo. Hac de re filalhy«w et, ut soles scribere, fraterne.
Cicero
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MARCUS TO HIS BROTHER QUINTUS, GREETINGS.
1. When you receive a letter from me written in a secretary's hand, you may judge that I have not had even the smallest leisure; but when it is in my own hand, that I have had a little. For let me assure you of this: I have never been more pressed by lawsuits and trials in court, and that too at the most oppressive season of the year and in the greatest heat. But since you so direct me, these things must be borne, and I must not let it happen that I should seem to have fallen short of the hope or the expectation that you and Caesar have of me, especially since, even if this should prove rather difficult, I shall nevertheless gather great goodwill and great standing from this labor. And so, as is your wish, we are taking pains not to offend anyone's feelings, and to be held dear even by those very men who are grieved that we are so closely linked with Caesar, while by those who are fair-minded toward this side, or even inclined to it, we may be vigorously cultivated and loved.
2. When the matter of electoral bribery was being pursued with the utmost ferocity in the senate over many days, because the candidates for the consulship had gone to such lengths that it was past bearing, I was not in the senate: I have resolved to approach no remedy for the commonwealth without a strong bodyguard.
3. On the day I write this, Drusus has been acquitted of collusion by the tribunes of the treasury [tribuni aerarii], by a final total of four votes, although the senators and the equestrians had voted to condemn him. I myself, on the same day, in the afternoon, was about to defend Vatinius: that matter is easy. The elections have been postponed to the month of September. The trial of Scaurus will be conducted at once, and we shall not fail him. As for the "Banqueters" of Sophocles [originally in Greek], although I see that the little play was performed by you with wit, I by no means approved of it.
4. I come now to what perhaps ought to have come first: how delightful to me was your letter about Britain! I was afraid of the Ocean, I was afraid of the island's coast: the rest I do not, for my part, make light of, but it nonetheless holds more of hope than of fear, and I am more anxious from the suspense of waiting than from dread. I see, indeed, that you have a splendid theme [originally Greek: hypothesis] for writing: what landscapes, what natures of things and places, what customs, what peoples, what battles, and what a commander himself you have at hand! I will gladly help you, as you ask, in whatever matters you wish, and I will send you the verses you request -- 'an owl to Athens' [originally in Greek; proverbial for a superfluous gift, like 'coals to Newcastle'].
5. But look here, you: I think I am being kept in the dark by you. How exactly, my dear brother, does Caesar regard our verses? For first he wrote to me earlier that he had read the first book, and of the first part he says this -- that he has never read anything better, not even in Greek; the rest, up to a certain passage, he calls 'rather carelessly done' [originally in Greek] -- for that is the word he uses. Tell me the truth: is it the subject matter, or the style [originally Greek: character], that fails to please him? There is nothing for you to fear; for I will not love you one hair less for it. On this matter write as a lover of truth [originally in Greek], and, as you are accustomed to do, in a brotherly way.
Cicero
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
XV. Scr. Romae exeunte mense Sextili a.u.c. 700. MARCUS QUINTO FRATRI SALUTEM.
1. Cum a me litteras librarii manu acceperis, ne paullum quidem me otii habuisse iudicato, cum autem mea, paullum: sic enim habeto, numquam me a causis et iudiciis districtiorem fuisse atque id anni tempore gravissimo et caloribus maximis. Sed haec, quoniam tu ita praescribis, ferenda sunt, neque committendum, ut aut spei aut cogitationi vestrae ego videar defuisse, praesertim cum, si id difficilius fuerit, tamen ex hoc labore magnam gratiam magnamque dignitatem sim collecturus. Itaque, ut tibi placet, damus operam, ne cuius animum offendamus atque ut etiam ab iis ipsis, qui nos cum Caesare tam coniunctos dolent, diligamur, ab aequis vero aut etiam propensis in hanc partem vehementer et colamur et amemur. 2. De ambitu cum atrocissime ageretur in senatu multos dies, quod ita erant progressi candidati consulares, ut non esset ferendum, in senatu non fui: statui ad nullam medicinam rei publicae sine magno praesidio accedere. 3. Quo die haec scripsi, Drusus erat de praevaricatione a tribunis aerariis absolutus, in summa quattuor sententiis, cum senatores et equites damnassent. Ego eodem die post meridiem Vatinium eram defensurus: ea res facilis est. Comitia in mensem Septembrem reiecta sunt. Scauri iudicium statim exercebitur, cui nos non deerimus. Sunde¤pnouw Sofoxl°ouw, quamquam a te actam fabellam video esse festive, nullo modo probavi. 4. Venio nunc ad id, quod nescio an primum esse debuerit: o iucundas mihi tuas de Britannia litteras! Timebam Oceanum, timebam litus insulae: reliqua non equidem contemno, sed plus habent tamen spei quam timoris, magisque sum sollicitus exspectatione ea quam metu. Te vero ÍpÒyesin scribendi egregiam habere video: quos tu situs, quas naturas rerum et locorum, quos mores, quas gentes, quas pugnas, quem vero ipsum imperatorem habes! Ego te libenter, ut rogas, quibus rebus vis, adiuvabo et tibi versus, quos rogas, glaËx' e?w 'AyÆnaw, mittam. 5. Sed heus tu, celari videor a te: quomodonam, mi frater, de nostris versibus Caesar? nam primum librum se legisse scripsit ad me ante, et prima sic, ut neget se ne Graeca quidem meliora legisse; reliqua ad quendam locum rayumÒtera—hoc enim utitur verbo—. Dic mihi verum: num aut res eum aut xaraxtØr non delectat? nihil est, quod vereare; ego enim ne pilo quidem minus te amabo. Hac de re filalhy«w et, ut soles scribere, fraterne. Cicero The Latin Library The Classics Page