Humanitext Reader

Cicero · Letters to Atticus §12.51.1-12.51.3

Tiro's Return and the Letter to Caesar

Passage 325 of 461 · Latin

Summary

The author rejoices at Tiro's early return and eagerly awaits a reunion with Atticus. He also consults Atticus regarding the pre-reading of a letter to Caesar and the deferral of his debt payment to Caerellia.

§12.51.1Tironem habeo citius quam verebar.
I have Tiro sooner than I feared.
venit etiam Nicias, et Valerium hodie audiebam esse venturum.
Nicias has also arrived, and I heard that Valerius is to arrive today.
quamvis multi sint, magis tamen ero solus quam si unus esses.
However many they may be, I shall still be more alone than if you, only one, were here.
sed exspecto te, a Peducaeo utique, tu autem significas aliquid etiam ante.
But I am expecting you, at any rate after Peducaeus' business; you, however, hint at something even before that.
verum id quidem ut poteris.
But that indeed as you are able.
§12.51.2de Vergilio, ut scribis.
As to Virgilius, as you write.
hoc tamen velim scire quando auctio.
I should, however, like to know this: when the auction is.
epistulam ad Caesarem mitti video tibi placere.
I see you approve of the letter being sent to Caesar.
quid quaeris? mihi quoque hoc idem maxime placuit et eo magis quod nihil est in ea nisi optimi civis, sed ita optimi ut tempora; quibus parere omnes πολιτικοὶ praecipiunt.
What more is there to say? To me also this same thing seemed best, and all the more because there is nothing in it except what is worthy of an excellent citizen, but an excellent citizen adapted to the times, which all statesmen bid us obey.
sed scis ita nobis esse visum ut isti ante legerent.
But you know it was our understanding that those fellows should read it first.
tu igitur id curabis.
You therefore will see to that.
sed nisi plane iis intelleges placere, mittenda non est.
But unless you clearly understand that they approve, it must not be sent.
id autem utrum illi sentiant anne simulent tu intelleges.
Moreover, whether they genuinely feel so or are pretending, you will perceive.
mihi simulatio pro repudiatione fuerit.
For me, a pretense will be as good as a refusal.
τοῦτο δὲ μηλώσῃ.
Sound them out on this.
§12.51.3de Caerellia quid tibi placeret Tiro mihi narravit; debere non esse dignitatis meae, perscriptionem tibi placere: " hoc métuere, alterum ín metu non pónere. " sed et haec et multa alia coram.
Tiro has told me what you would like regarding Caerellia; that to remain in debt is not suited to my dignity, and that you approve of a written draft: "To fear this, and not to reckon the other as a fear." But both this and many other things when we meet.
sustinenda tamen, si tibi videbitur, solutio est nominis Caerelliani dum et de Metone et de Faberio sciamus.
However, if you agree, the payment of Caerellia's debt should be deferred until we hear about both Meton and Faberius.

Notes

  1. 12.51.2τοῦτο δὲ μηλώσῃ — The second-person singular aorist subjunctive middle of the Greek verb μηλόω (to probe, as with a surgical probe). Here it functions as a figurative command or request meaning "probe this matter" or "sound them out."
  2. 12.51.3debere non esse dignitatis meae — The infinitive debere (to be in debt) is used substantively as the subject of the infinitive clause in indirect speech. "dignitatis meae" is a genitive of characteristic or propriety ("of my dignity," i.e., "befitting my dignity") serving as the predicate.
  3. 12.51.2mihi simulatio pro repudiatione fuerit — Future perfect indicative or perfect subjunctive. It expresses a confident future judgment or a hypothetical consequence: "(if they do so) it will have been/would be equivalent to a refusal for me."

Cite this passage

Cicero, Letters to Atticus §12.51.1-12.51.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi057.humanitext-lat1:12.51.1-12.51.3

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