Humanitext Reader

Cicero · Letters to Atticus §13.26.1-13.26.2

Sites for Tullia's Shrine and Writing in Grief

Passage 356 of 461 · Latin

Summary

Cicero discusses potential sites for Tullia's shrine, and describes his sleepless, grieving days of intensive writing at Astura and his imminent departure to Tusculum via Lanuvium.

§13.26.1de Vergili parte valde probo.
Concerning Vergil's share, I highly approve.
sic ages igitur.
You will act accordingly, then.
et quidem id erit primum, proximum Clodiae.
And indeed, that will be the first choice, and Clodia's the next.
quod si neutrum, metuo ne turbem et inruam in Drusum.
But if neither, I fear lest I should lose my head and rush into Drusus's.
intemperans sum in eius rei cupiditate quam nosti.
I am incontinent in my desire for that thing which you know.
itaque revolvor identidem in Tusculanum.
Therefore I am repeatedly thrown back upon my Tusculum villa.
quidvis enim potius quam ut non hac aestate absolvatur.
For anything is preferable to its not being finished this summer.
§13.26.2ego, ut tempus est nostrum, locum habeo nullum ubi facilius esse possim quam Asturae.
As my circumstances are, I have no place where I can be more at ease than at Astura.
sed quia qui mecum sunt, credo, quod maestitiam meam non ferunt, domum properant, etsi poteram remanere, tamen, ut scripsi tibi, proficiscar hinc ne relictus videar.
But because those who are with me, I believe because they cannot bear my sadness, are hurrying home, although I could have remained, yet, as I wrote to you, I shall depart from here lest I should seem deserted.
quo autem? Lanuvio conor equidem in Tusculanum.
But whither? I am indeed attempting to go from Lanuvium to my Tusculum villa.
sed faciam te statim certiorem.
But I will let you know immediately.
tu litteras conficies.
You will finish the letters.
equidem credibile non est quantum scribam, quin etiam noctibus; nihil enim somni.
Indeed, it is beyond belief how much I write, even by night; for I get no sleep.
heri etiam effeci epistulam ad Caesarem; tibi enim placebat.
Yesterday I even finished a letter to Caesar; for you wished it.
quam non fuit malum scribi, si forte opus esse putares; ut quidem nunc est, nihil sane est necesse mittere.
It was no bad thing that it should be written, in case you should happen to think it necessary; as things are now, there is indeed no need to send it.
sed id quidem, ut tibi videbitur.
But that indeed shall be as you think best.
mittam tamen ad te exemplum fortasse Lanuvio, nisi forte Romam.
Yet I will send you a copy, perhaps from Lanuvium, unless perhaps from Rome.
sed cras scies.
But tomorrow you will know.

Notes

  1. §13.26.1metuo ne turbem et inruam in Drusum — A subjunctive clause of fearing introduced by `ne` after `metuo`. `turbem` means 'to lose one's head or be thrown into confusion,' while `inruam` means 'to rush headlong into (Drusus's land deal),' expressing the fear of making a hasty decision out of desperation.
  2. §13.26.1quidvis enim potius quam ut non hac aestate absolvatur — The comparative construction `quidvis potius [est] quam ut...` ('anything is preferable to...'). The negative `ut non` clause refers to the project (Tullia's shrine) not being completed this summer (`hac aestate`), emphasizing Cicero's intense urgency and desire to have it finished by then.
  3. §13.26.2Lanuvio conor equidem in Tusculanum — An ablative of place from which or route `Lanuvio` ('from/via Lanuvium') and an accusative of direction `in Tusculanum` are used with `conor` ('I am attempting/intending'), where an infinitive of motion (such as `ire`) is omitted.

Cite this passage

Cicero, Letters to Atticus §13.26.1-13.26.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi057.humanitext-lat1:13.26.1-13.26.2

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