Humanitext Reader

Cicero · Letters to Atticus §12.34.1-12.34.2

Travel Plans to Ficulnum and Negotiations with Silius

Passage 306 of 461 · Latin

Summary

Cicero plans his move according to Atticus' advice, stating that he will go to his Ficulan estate via Sicca's villa. He also warns Atticus to be careful about the exclusion of the "edge" of the property in the negotiations with Silius, and encloses a letter from Hirtius.

§12.34.1ego hic vel sine Sicca (Tironi enim melius est) facillime possem esse ut in malis sed, quom scribas videndum mihi esse ne opprimar, ex quo intellegam te certum diem illius profectionis non habere, putavi esse commodius me istuc venire; quod idem video tibi placere.
I could stay here very easily even without Sicca (for Tiro is doing better), considering my troubles; but, since you write that I must take care not to be caught, from which I gather that you do not have a certain date for his departure, I thought it more convenient for me to come to your neighborhood; and I see that this same thing pleases you too.
cras igitur in Siccae suburbano.
Tomorrow, therefore, I shall be at Sicca's suburban estate.
inde, quem ad modum suades, puto me in Ficulensi fore.
From there, as you advise, I think I shall be at my Ficulan estate.
§12.34.2quibus de rebus ad me scripsisti, quoniam ipse venio, coram videbimus.
Concerning the matters about which you wrote to me, since I am coming myself, we shall see to them in person.
tuam quidem et in agendis nostris rebus et in consiliis ineundis mihique dandis in ipsis litteris quas mittis benevolentiam, diligentiam, prudentiam mirifice diligo.
Indeed, I wonderfully appreciate your goodwill, diligence, and wisdom, both in transacting our business and in forming and giving me advice, in the very letters you send.
tu tamen si quid cum Silio, vel illo ipso die quo ad Siccam venturus ero, certiorem me velim facias, et maxime cuius loci detractionem fieri velit.
Nevertheless, if there is anything with Silius, even on the very day I am to arrive at Sicca's, I should like you to let me know, and especially what piece of land he wishes to be excluded.
quod enim scribis "extremi," vide ne is ipse locus sit cuius causa de tota re, ut scis, est a nobis cogitatum.
For as to your writing "extremi," see to it lest that be the very place for the sake of which, as you know, the whole matter was contemplated by us.
Hirti epistulam tibi misi et recentem et benevole scriptam.
I have sent you Hirtius' letter, which is both recent and in a friendly tone.

Notes

  1. §12.34.1ut in malis — The conjunction `ut` is used here in a restrictive sense ('considering' or 'as things go'), meaning 'considering my misfortunes' or 'as well as can be expected in adversity.'
  2. §12.34.1quom scribas ... non habere — A complex embedded structure dependent on `quom scribas` ('since you write'). The indirect statement `videndum [esse] mihi` ('that I must take care') introduces the negative purpose clause `ne opprimar` ('lest I be caught'), and is followed by the relative clause of connection `ex quo` ('from which') introducing another indirect statement `te ... non habere` ('that you do not have').
  3. §12.34.2si quid cum Silio — A colloquial and epistolary omission of the verb (such as `egeris` or `actum erit`), meaning 'if there is any business / progress with Silius.'
  4. §12.34.2vide ne — The imperative `vide` followed by `ne` and the subjunctive `sit` expresses a cautionary apprehension, meaning 'take care lest it be' or 'see whether it is not.'

Cite this passage

Cicero, Letters to Atticus §12.34.1-12.34.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi057.humanitext-lat1:12.34.1-12.34.2

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.