Humanitext Reader

Cicero · Letters to Friends §16.3.1-16.3.2

Departure from Alyzia and Admonition to Tiro Not to Hurry

Passage 393 of 413 · Latin

Summary

Cicero reports that he stayed one day at Alyzia waiting for Quintus, and upon departing before dawn, he writes to Tiro, repeatedly urging him not to hurry and to prioritize his health above all else.

§16.3.1nos apud Alyziam, ex quo loco tibi litteras ante dederamus, unum diem commorati sumus, quod Quintus nos consecutus non erat.
We stayed for one day at Alyzia—from which place we had previously sent a letter to you—because Quintus had not yet caught up with us.
is dies fuit non. Nov.
That day was November 5.
Inde ante lucem proficiscentes ante diem viii Idus Nov. has litteras dedimus.
Departing from there before daybreak, we send this letter on November 6.
tu si nos omnis amas et praecipue me, magistrum tuum, confirma te.
If you love us all, and especially me, your teacher, take care of yourself.
§16.3.2ego valde suspenso animo exspecto primum te scilicet, deinde Marionem cum tuis litteris.
With a very anxious mind I am waiting first of all, of course, for you, and next for Mario with your letter.
omnes cupimus, ego in primis, quam primum te videre sed, mi Tiro, valentem.
We all desire, I in particular, to see you as soon as possible, but, my Tiro, only when you are well.
qua re nihil properaris; satis cito te videro, si valebis.
Therefore, you must not hurry at all; I shall have seen you soon enough, if you are well.
utilitatibus tuis possum carere; te valere tua causa primum volo, tum mea, mi Tiro.
I can do without your services; my Tiro, I want you to be well first for your own sake, and then for mine.
vale.
Farewell.

Notes

  1. §16.3.1ex quo loco — The relative adjective 'quo' modifies the noun 'loco', referring back to the antecedent 'Alyziam', meaning 'from which place'.
  2. §16.3.1has litteras dedimus — Epistolary tense. The perfect 'dedimus' is used from the perspective of the recipient reading the letter, rather than the writer's current moment. In translation, it is best rendered in the present tense.
  3. §16.3.2nihil properaris — Subjunctive of prohibition. 'properaris' is a syncopated form of 'properaveris' (perfect subjunctive second-person singular). Accompanied by the adverbial accusative 'nihil' (not at all), it expresses a mild prohibition or command: 'do not hurry at all'.
  4. §16.3.2satis cito te videro — Future perfect 'videro'. Rather than just indicating a completed action in the future, it is an colloquial or epistolary usage emphasizing the certainty and immediacy of the result: 'I shall have seen you soon enough (provided that you are well)'.
  5. §16.3.2utilitatibus tuis possum carere — The verb 'carere' (to do without, lack) governs the ablative 'utilitatibus tuis'. The plural 'utilitates' refers to Tiro's helpful services, assistance, or secretarial duties rendered to Cicero.

Cite this passage

Cicero, Letters to Friends §16.3.1-16.3.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi056.humanitext-lat1:16.3.1-16.3.2

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

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