Humanitext Reader

Cicero · Letters to Friends §16.23.1-16.23.2

Property Declaration and Atticus's Anxiety

Passage 410 of 413 · Latin

Summary

Cicero urges Tiro to make the property declaration while mentioning Balbus's illness and his own attitude towards Antony. He also complains that Atticus is overly anxious about him, and expresses his need for Tiro's pleasant conversation to counteract Lepta's tedious company tomorrow.

§16.23.1tu vero confice professionem, si potes; etsi haec pecunia ex eo genere est, ut professione non egeat.
But you, make the declaration, if you can; although this money is of that kind which does not require a declaration.
verum tamen-.
But still—.
Balbus ad me scripsit tanta se e)pifora=| oppressum, ut loqui non possit.
Balbus wrote to me that he was oppressed by such a severe catarrh that he cannot speak.
Antonius de lege quod egerit—liceat modo rusticari.
As to what Antony has done about the law—may I only be allowed to live in the country.
ad Bithynicum scripsi.
I have written to Bithynicus.
§16.23.2de Servilio tu videris, qui senectutem non contemnis.
As to Servilius, you must see to it, you who do not despise old age.
etsi Atticus noster, quia quondam me commoveri panikoi=s intellexit, idem semper putat nec videt quibus praesidiis philosophiae saeptus sim; et hercle, quod timidus ipse est, qorubopoiei=.
And yet our Atticus, because he once perceived that I was disturbed by panic alarms, always thinks the same, and does not see by what ramparts of philosophy I am protected; and indeed, because he is timid himself, he makes a fuss.
ego tamen Antoni inveteratam sine ulla offensione amicitiam retinere sane volo scribamque ad eum, sed non ante quam te videro.
I, however, certainly wish to retain my long-standing friendship with Antony without any offense, and I will write to him, but not before I see you.
nec tamen te avoco a syngrapha; go/nu knh/mhs.
Yet I do not call you away from the bond; the knee is closer than the shin.
cras exspecto Leptam et †n. ad cuius rutam puleio mihi tui sermonis utendum est.
Tomorrow I expect Lepta and [N.], to whose rue I must use the pennyroyal of your conversation.
vale.
Farewell.

Notes

  1. 16.23.1professionem — Refers to the official declaration (professio) of property or income to the treasury.
  2. 16.23.1de lege quod egerit — An introductory clause ('As to what Antony has done about the law'), where egerit is in the perfect subjunctive, likely in an indirect question or virtual oblique clause. The dash indicates an aposiopesis (abrupt break).
  3. 16.23.2tu videris — Future perfect indicative or perfect subjunctive in the second person singular, acting as a mild imperative or advice ('you will see to it' or 'it is for you to consider').
  4. 16.23.2go/nu knh/mhs — An ellipsis of the Greek proverb γόνυ κνήμης [ἔγγιον] ('the knee is closer than the shin'), equivalent to 'charity begins at home' or 'one's own interest comes first.' Here Cicero encourages Tiro to prioritize his own financial business (syngrapha) before coming to him.
  5. 16.23.2ad cuius rutam puleio — A metaphorical expression. Lepta's tedious or unpleasant conversation is compared to 'rue' (ruta, a bitter herb), which needs to be counteracted by Tiro's delightful conversation, compared to 'pennyroyal' (puleium, a sweet-smelling herb). The relative pronoun cuius is singular, referring back to Lepta.

Cite this passage

Cicero, Letters to Friends §16.23.1-16.23.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi056.humanitext-lat1:16.23.1-16.23.2

Please note the AI-draft status of the translation and the date accessed.

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