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Cicero · Letters to Atticus §13.16.1-13.16.2

Recasting the Dialogue's Speakers for Varro

Passage 346 of 461 · Latin

Summary

Cicero reports to Atticus that he is confined to his villa due to heavy rain, explains how he changed the characters of his Academic treatise to Varro and asks for Atticus's feedback on this choice, while also inquiring about the activities of their mutual friends in Rome.

§13.16.1nos cum flumina et solitudinem sequeremur quo facilius sustentare nos possemus, pedem e villa adhuc egressi non sumus; ita magnos et adsiduos imbris habebamus.
Although we were seeking rivers and solitude in order that we might support ourselves more easily, we have not yet set foot out of the villa; so heavy and continuous has been the rain we have had.
illam Ἀκαδημικὴν σύνταξιν totam ad Varronem traduximus.
I have transferred that entire Academic treatise to Varro.
primo fuit Catuli, Luculli, Hortensi; deinde quia παρὰ τὸ πρέπον videbatur, quod erat hominibus nota non illa quidem ἀπαιδευσία sed in iis rebus ἀτριψία, simul ac veni ad villam, eosdem illos sermones ad Catonem Brutumque transtuli.
At first it belonged to Catulus, Lucullus, and Hortensius; then, because it seemed contrary to propriety, since those men were known to have, not indeed a lack of education, but an unfamiliarity with these matters, as soon as I came to the villa, I transferred those same dialogues to Cato and Brutus.
ecce tuae litterae de Varrone.
Lo, your letter about Varro.
nemini visa est aptior Antiochia ratio.
No system seemed more suitable to anyone than the Antiochian.
§13.16.2sed tamen velim scribas ad me, primum placeatne tibi aliquid ad illum, deinde, si placebit, hocne potissimum.
But nevertheless I would like you to write to me, first whether it pleases you for something to be dedicated to him, and then, if it pleases you, whether this one is best of all.
quid? Servilia iamne venit? Brutus ecquid agit et quando? de Caesare quid auditur? ego ad Nonas, quem ad modum dixi.
What? Has Servilia arrived yet? Is Brutus doing anything, and when? What is heard about Caesar? I shall remain until the Nones, just as I said.
tu cum Pisone, si quid poteris.
You, see to Piso, if you can do anything.

Notes

  1. 13.16.1cum ... sequeremur — A cum clause with the imperfect subjunctive, expressing concession ('although we were seeking') or circumstance ('while we were seeking'). The contrast with the main clause 'pedem e villa adhuc egressi non sumus' (we have not yet set foot out of the villa) points to a strong concessive force.
  2. 13.16.1non illa quidem ἀπαιδευσία sed ... ἀτριψία — The phrase 'non quidem [pronoun] ... sed ...' is an idiomatic expression meaning 'not indeed ..., but ...', expressing concession. The pronoun 'illa' agrees in gender, number, and case with the following feminine noun 'ἀπαιδευσία' (lack of education).
  3. 13.16.2ego ad Nonas — The verb (such as 'manebo', meaning to remain in the villa) is omitted. It ellipticially means 'I shall remain until the Nones'.

Cite this passage

Cicero, Letters to Atticus §13.16.1-13.16.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi057.humanitext-lat1:13.16.1-13.16.2

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