Humanitext Reader

Cicero · Letters to Atticus §13.24.1-13.24.2

Rumors about Cicero Minor and the Dedication to Varro

Passage 354 of 461 · Latin

Summary

Cicero inquires about the rumor of his son being seen in Corcyra, leaves the matter of Varro's dedication entirely to Atticus, and urges a swift resolution to the issue regarding retention.

§13.24.1quid est quod Hermogenes mihi Clodius Andromenem sibi dixisse se Ciceronem vidisse Corcyrae? ego enim audita tibi putaram.
What is this that Hermogenes Clodius tells me, that Andromenes told him he had seen Cicero at Corcyra? For I had thought that those things had been heard by you.
nil igitur ne ei quidem litterarum? an non vidit? facies ergo ut sciam.
Was there then no letter, not even to him? Or did he not see him? You will therefore make sure that I know.
quid tibi ego de Varrone rescribam? quattuor διφθέραι sunt in tua potestate.
What should I write back to you concerning Varro? The four parchment rolls (διφθέραι) are in your power.
quod egeris id probabo.
Whatever you do, I shall approve.
nec tamen "αἰδέομαι. " quid enim? sed ipsi quam res illa probaretur magis verebar.
And yet, I do not "fear (αἰδέομαι)." For why should I? But I was more afraid of how far that matter would be approved by him himself.
sed quoniam tu suscipis, in alteram aurem.
But since you undertake it, I shall sleep on the other ear.
§13.24.2de retentione rescripsi ad tuas accurate scriptas litteras.
Concerning the retention, I have replied to your carefully written letter.
conficies igitur et quidem sine ulla dubitatione aut retractatione.
You will therefore settle it, and indeed without any hesitation or reservation.
hoc fieri et oportet et opus est.
It is both proper and necessary that this be done.

Notes

  1. §13.24.1quid est quod Hermogenes mihi Clodius — A construction in which a verb of speaking or reporting (such as dicit or refert) is omitted. Hermogenes Clodius is the subject, governing the dative mihi, and the following accusative with infinitive clause Andromenem sibi dixisse... expresses the reported content, where sibi refers back to Hermogenes Clodius.
  2. §13.24.1audita tibi putaram — audita is either an ellipse of audita esse (perfect passive infinitive) or a neuter plural accusative noun-equivalent ('things heard, rumor'), acting as the object of putaram (a syncopated form of putaveram). The dative tibi is either a dative of agent ('heard by you') or a dative of reference ('known to you').
  3. §13.24.1nec tamen "αἰδέομαι." — An expression echoing Homer, Iliad 22.105 ('I fear/respect the Trojan men'). Cicero indicates that in leaving the decision to Atticus, he does not overly fear public criticism or how the dedication to Varro will be received.
  4. §13.24.1in alteram aurem — An elliptical expression (with dormiam or similar omitted) of a colloquial idiom found in comedy (e.g., Terence, Heauton Timorumenos 342), 'to sleep on either ear' (meaning to sleep soundly without any worry). It means Cicero can rest easy since Atticus is taking charge of the matter.

Cite this passage

Cicero, Letters to Atticus §13.24.1-13.24.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi057.humanitext-lat1:13.24.1-13.24.2

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

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