Humanitext Reader

Cicero · Letters to Atticus §12.5C.1

Gratitude for Tullia's Affairs and Deep Affection for Atticus

Passage 279 of 461 · Latin

Summary

Cicero informs Atticus of Tiro's mission to meet Dolabella and his own expectation of Atticus's arrival, expressing gratitude for Atticus keeping Tullia's affairs intact and conveying his profound affection and longing for his company.

§12.5C.1ego misi Tironem Dolabellae obviam.
I have sent Tiro to meet Dolabella.
is ad me Idibus revertetur.
He will return to me on the Ides.
te exspectabo postridie.
I shall expect you on the day after.
de Tullia mea tibi antiquissimum esse video idque ita ut sit te vehementer rogo.
I see that with regard to my Tullia, you hold her business of the first importance, and I earnestly ask you that it may be so.
ergo ei in integro omnia; sic enim scribis.
Therefore everything is intact for her; for so you write.
mihi etsi Kalendae vitandae fuerunt Nicasionumque ἀρχέτυπα fugienda conficiendaeque tabulae, nihil tamen tanti ut a te abessem fuit.
For my part, although I had to avoid the Kalends, and flee the original ledgers of the Nicasiuses, and make up my accounts, yet nothing was of such value that I should be away from you.
cum Romae essem et te iam iamque visurum me putarem, cotidie tamen horae quibus exspectabam longae videbantur.
When I was in Rome and thought I would see you at any moment, yet every day the hours in which I waited seemed long.
scis me minime esse blandum; itaque minus aliquanto dico quam sentio.
You know that I am by no means a flatterer; and so I say somewhat less than I feel.

Notes

  1. §12.5C.1antiquissimum — The superlative of the adjective antiquus. While literally meaning 'most ancient', it is used here in the sense of 'most important' or 'of the highest priority'.
  2. §12.5C.1tanti ut a te abessem — A construction consisting of the genitive of value tanti ('of such value') followed by a consecutive ut-clause ('as to be away'). It means 'nothing was of such great value that it would justify my being away from you', expressing strong affection.
  3. §12.5C.1Nicasionumque ἀρχέτυπα — The Nicasiones (or the family of Nicasius) were likely money-lenders. The Greek word ἀρχέτυπα ('archetypes, original documents') refers to original financial ledgers or accounts concerning transactions with them.

Cite this passage

Cicero, Letters to Atticus §12.5C.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi057.humanitext-lat1:12.5C.1

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