Humanitext Reader

Cicero · Letters to Friends §16.24.1-16.24.2

Financial Requests and Inquiries on Octavian

Passage 411 of 413 · Latin

Summary

Cicero urgently requests Atticus to settle his financial affairs (payments involving Ofilius, Flamma, etc.). He asks for definite news on public affairs (Octavian, Antony, and public opinion) and mentions Balbus and Hirtius before bidding farewell.

§16.24.1etsi mane Harpalum miseram tamen cum haberem cui recte darem litteras, etsi novi nihil erat, isdem de rebus volui ad te saepius scribere, non quin confiderem diligentiae tuae, sed rei me magnitudo movebat.
Although I had sent Harpalum in the morning, nevertheless, having someone to whom I could properly entrust a letter, although there was nothing new, I wanted to write to you more frequently about the same matters, not because I lacked confidence in your diligence, but because the magnitude of the matter was stirring me.
mihi 'prora et puppis,' ut Graecorum proverbium est, fuit a me tui dimittendi ut rationes nostras explicares.
To me, 'the prow and stern,' as the Greek proverb goes, of my letting you go was so that you might settle our accounts.
Ofilio et Aurelio utique satis fiat.
Let satisfaction be given to Ofilius and Aurelius at all events.
A Flamma, si non potes omne, partem aliquam velim extorqueas, in primisque ut expedita sit pensio K. Ian.
From Flamma, if you cannot get the whole, I would like you to squeeze out some part, and especially that the payment due on the Kalends of January be unencumbered.
de attributione conficies, de repraesentatione videbis.
You will settle the matter of the assignment of debts, and you will see to the cash payment.
§16.24.2de domesticis rebus hactenus, de publicis omnia mihi certa, quid Octavianus, quid Antonius, quae hominum opinio, quid futurum putes.
So much for domestic matters; as to public affairs, let me have all certain news: what Octavian is doing, what Antony, what is the public opinion, what you think will happen.
ego vix teneor quin accurram; sed litteras tuas exspecto.
I can scarcely restrain myself from rushing thither; but I am waiting for your letter.
et scito Balbum tum fuisse Aquini cum tibi est dictum, et postridie Hirtium.
And know that Balbus was at Aquinum at the time you were told, and Hirtius the day after.
puto utrumque ad aquas; sed quod egerint—.
I think both went to the waters; but what they have done—.
Dolabellae procuratores fac ut admoneantur.
See that Dolabella's agents are reminded.
appellabis etiam Papiam.
You will also call upon Papia.
vale.
Farewell.

Notes

  1. §16.24.1non quin confiderem — The conjunction non quin with the subjunctive (here, the imperfect subjunctive confiderem) is used to reject a hypothetical reason, meaning "not because I lacked confidence."
  2. §16.24.1fuit a me tui dimittendi ut rationes nostras explicares — The phrase a me tui dimittendi is a gerundive construction acting as the subject of the clause, literally meaning "my letting you go." Here tui is the genitive of the personal pronoun, and ut explicares forms a clause of purpose.
  3. §16.24.2de publicis omnia mihi certa — A verb of communicating or informing (such as fac sciam or scribe) is omitted, meaning "as to public affairs, [let me have / write] all certain news."
  4. §16.24.2ego vix teneor quin accurram — The idiom vix teneor quin with the subjunctive is a construction of prevention/restraint, meaning "I can scarcely restrain myself from rushing/running."

Cite this passage

Cicero, Letters to Friends §16.24.1-16.24.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi056.humanitext-lat1:16.24.1-16.24.2

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

Translation, notes and summary are AI-generated drafts, revised through reader feedback.