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Cicero · Letters to Atticus §11.17A.1-11.17A.3

Plans for His Son and Inquiries About Caesar

Passage 263 of 461 · Latin

Summary

Cicero mentions his plans to send his son to Caesar and return his daughter Tullia to her mother, expresses understanding for Atticus's inability to visit, and requests news regarding Caesar's movements and Africa.

§11.17A.1ego cum Sallustio Ciceronem ad Caesarem mittere cogitabam; Tulliam autem non videbam esse causam cur diutius mecum tanto in communi maerore retinerem.
I am thinking of sending Cicero to Caesar along with Sallustius; but as for Tullia, I did not see any reason why I should retain her with me any longer in such great mutual sorrow.
itaque matri eam, cum primum per ipsam liceret, eram remissurus.
Therefore, I was going to send her back to her mother as soon as her own health permitted.
Paeto, †que ad modum consolandis scripsisti†, putato ea me scripsisse quae tu ipse intellegis responderi potuisse.
As for Paetus, †in the manner you wrote for comforting him†, assume that I wrote what you yourself understand could have been answered.
§11.17A.2quod Oppium tecum scribis locutum, non abhorret a mea suspicione eius oratio.
As to what you write that Oppius spoke with you, his speech does not conflict with my suspicion.
sed non dubito quin istis persuaderi nullo modo possit ea quae faciant mihi probari posse, quoquo modo loquar.
But I do not doubt that those people can in no way be persuaded that what they do can be approved by me, in whatever way I may speak.
ego tamen utar moderatione qua potero; quamquam quid mea intersit ut eorum odium subeam non intellego.
I will, however, use what moderation I can; although I do not understand what interest of mine it is that I should undergo their hatred.
§11.17A.3te iusta causa impediri quo minus ad nos venias video, idque mihi valde molestum est.
I see that you are prevented by a just cause from coming to us, and that is very annoying to me.
illum ab Alexandrea discessisse nemo nuntiat constatque ne profectum quidem illim quemquam post Idus Martias nec post Idus Decembr. ab illo datas ullas litteras.
No one reports that he has departed from Alexandria, and it is clear that no one has even set out from there since the Ides of March, nor has any letter been given by him since the Ides of December.
ex quo intellegis illud de litteris a. d. v Idus Febr. datis, quod inane esset etiam si verum esset, non verum esse.
From this you understand that that story about the letter dated five days before the Ides of February, which would be empty even if it were true, is not true.
L. Terentium discessisse ex Africa scimus Paestumque venisse.
We know that L. Terentius has departed from Africa and has come to Paestum.
quid is adferat aut quo modo exierit aut quid in Africa fiat scire velim. dicitur enim per Nasidium emissus esse.
I should like to know what he brings, or how he escaped, or what is going on in Africa; for he is said to have been let out by Nasidius.
id quale sit velim, si inveneris, ad me scribas.
I would like you to write to me what kind of thing that is, if you find out.
de HS X_, ut scribis, faciam.
As to the ten thousand sesterces, I will do as you write.
vale.
Farewell.
xvii Kal. Quintilis.
June 15.

Notes

  1. 11.17A.1per ipsam liceret — Meaning "as soon as her own circumstances/health permitted." The preposition `per` indicates the absence of obstacle or the condition with respect to her, meaning "as far as she herself is concerned."
  2. 11.17A.2istis persuaderi — An impersonal passive construction of the verb `persuadere` (which governs the dative). The dative `istis` ("those people") is the recipient of the persuasion, and the following accusative-with-infinitive clause `ea ... probari posse` serves as the substance of what is to be persuaded.
  3. 11.17A.2quid mea intersit — The impersonal verb `intersum` takes the feminine ablative singular of the possessive pronoun (`mea` here) instead of a genitive to express "whom it concerns" or "to whom it makes a difference." `quid` is an adverbial accusative meaning "how" or "to what extent."
  4. 11.17A.3quo minus — A subjunctive clause introduced after the verb of hindering `impediri`. `quo minus` ("lest" or "from doing") is used after verbs of hindering or preventing to indicate the action that is being prevented.

Cite this passage

Cicero, Letters to Atticus §11.17A.1-11.17A.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi057.humanitext-lat1:11.17A.1-11.17A.3

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