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Cicero · Letters to Atticus §12.24.1-12.24.3

Funds for Young Cicero in Athens and Historical Queries

Passage 296 of 461 · Latin

Summary

Cicero expresses satisfaction with Silius's settlement and asks Atticus to arrange the remittance for young Cicero's study in Athens, while also asking about the death dates of certain historical figures and requesting the settlement of other businesses.

§12.24.1bene fecit A. Silius qui transegerit.
Aulus Silius did well in settling the business.
neque enim ei deesse volebam et quid possem timebam.
For I did not want to fail him, and yet I was afraid of what I could do.
de Ovia confice, ut scribis.
As for Ovia, settle it, as you write.
de Cicerone tempus esse iam videtur; sed quaero, quod illi opus erit, Athenis permutarine possit an ipsi ferendum sit, de totaque re quem ad modum et quando placeat velim consideres.
Concerning Cicero, it seems it is now time; but I inquire whether what he will need can be remitted at Athens or must be carried by himself, and about the whole matter I would like you to consider how and when it is best.
Publilius iturusne sit in Africam et quando ex Aledio scire poteris.
You will be able to learn from Aledius whether Publilius is going to Africa and when.
quaeras et ad me scribas velim.
I would like you to inquire and write to me.
§12.24.2et ut ad meas ineptias redeam, velim me certiorem facias P. Crassus Venuleiae filius vivone P. Crasso consulari patre suo mortuus sit, ut ego meminisse videor, an postea.
And to return to my trifles, I would like you to inform me whether Publius Crassus, the son of Venuleia, died while his consular father Publius Crassus was still alive, as I seem to remember, or afterwards.
item quaero de Regillo Lepidi filio rectene meminerim patre vivo mortuum.
Likewise I inquire about Regillus, the son of Lepidus, whether I remember correctly that he died while his father was alive.
§12.24.3Cispiana explicabis itemque Preciana.
You will untangle the Cispian business, and likewise the Precian.
de Attica optime.
Concerning Attica, excellent.
et ei salutem dices et Piliae.
And give my greetings both to her and to Pilia.

Notes

  1. 12.24.1qui transegerit — The subjunctive in the relative clause (here perfect subjunctive) indicates a relative clause of cause (qui causal), explaining the reason for the main clause's praise (bene fecit).
  2. 12.24.1Athenis permutarine possit — The passive infinitive permutari from permuto, in financial contexts, means 'to remit by bills of exchange' or 'to change money locally,' referring to how the funds for Cicero Jr.'s stay in Athens should be managed.
  3. 12.24.2vivone P. Crasso consulari patre suo — An ablative absolute construction consisting of the noun P. Crasso ... patre suo and the adjective vivo ('while his father Crassus was alive'), with the interrogative enclitic -ne attached to the first word vivo to introduce the indirect question.
  4. 12.24.2rectene meminerim patre vivo mortuum — The participle mortuum stands for mortuum esse (perfect infinitive) in an accusative with infinitive clause acting as the object of meminerim. The subject of the infinitive, eum (referring to Regillus), is also omitted. patre vivo is another ablative absolute.

Cite this passage

Cicero, Letters to Atticus §12.24.1-12.24.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi057.humanitext-lat1:12.24.1-12.24.3

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

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