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Cicero · Letters to Atticus §12.12.1-12.12.2

Settling the Dowry and Choosing a Site for the Shrine

Passage 285 of 461 · Latin

Summary

Cicero urges Atticus to expedite the settlement of the dowry and discusses his concerns regarding whether to build his daughter's shrine on the island or in the gardens. He also mentions the choice of characters in his dialogues and expresses his intention to send letters daily.

§12.12.1de dote tanto magis perpurga.
As for the dowry, clear it up all the more.
Balbi regia condicio est delegandi.
Balbus's condition for transferring the debt is like that of a king.
quoquo modo confice.
Settle it in any way you can.
turpe est rem impeditam iacere.
It is disgraceful for the matter to lie in an entangled state.
Insula Arpinas habere potest germanam ἀποθέωσιν; sed vereor ne minorem τιμὴν habere videatur ἐκτοπισμόσ.
The island of Arpinum can have a genuine deification (ἀποθέωσιν); but I fear lest its remote location (ἐκτοπισμός) should make it seem to have less honor (τιμὴν).
est igitur animus in hortis; quos tamen inspiciam cum venero.
Therefore, my mind is on the gardens; which, however, I shall inspect when I come.
§12.12.2de Epicuro, ut voles; etsi μεθαρμόσομαι.
As for Epicurus, as you wish; although I shall modify it (μεθαρμόσομαι).
in posterum genus hoc personarum.
In the future, this class of characters (shall be reserved).
incredibile est quam ea quidam requirant.
It is incredible how much certain people look for those things.
ad antiquos igitur; ἀνεμέσητον γάρ.
To the ancients, therefore; for it is free from censure (ἀνεμέσητον).
nihil habeo ad te quod scribam, sed tamen institui cotidie mittere ut eliciam tuas litteras, non quo aliquid ex iis exspectem sed nescio quo modo tamen exspecto.
I have nothing to write to you, but nevertheless I have resolved to send daily so that I may elicit your letters, not that I expect anything from them, but somehow or other I still expect it.
qua re sive habes quid sive nil habes, scribe tamen aliquid teque cura.
Therefore, whether you have something or have nothing, write something nevertheless and take care of yourself.

Notes

  1. 12.12.1delegandi — Genitive of the gerund modifying the noun condicio (condition). It refers to the financial process of delegating or transferring a debt (delegatio) connected to the repayment of Terentia's dowry.
  2. 12.12.1vereor ne... videatur — A clause with ne and the subjunctive (videatur), introduced by the verb of fearing vereor. It expresses a positive fear ('fear lest...'). The subject is the Greek noun ἐκτοπισμός (remoteness).
  3. 12.12.2non quo... exspectem — The construction non quo followed by the subjunctive (exspectem), used to reject a rejected reason ('not that I expect...'). The actual state of affairs is contrasted by the indicative (exspecto) after sed.

Cite this passage

Cicero, Letters to Atticus §12.12.1-12.12.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi057.humanitext-lat1:12.12.1-12.12.2

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