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Cicero · Letters to Atticus §13.33.1-13.33.3

Faberius's Declaration and Historical Inquiries

Passage 363 of 461 · Latin

Summary

Cicero expresses his anger to Atticus regarding administrative negligence in Faberius's declaration, reports on negotiations for land purchases and debts, and asks for research on the military careers of historical figures Tuditanus and Antiochus.

§13.33.1O neglegentiam miram! semelne putas mihi dixisse Balbum et Faberium professionem relatam? qui etiam eorum iussu miserim qui profiteretur.
Oh, what amazing negligence! Do you think Balbus and Faberius told me only once that the declaration had been filed? Seeing that I even sent someone, by their order, to make the declaration.
ita enim oportere dicebant.
For they said that this was necessary.
professus est Philotimus libertus.
My freedman Philotimus made the declaration.
nosti, credo, librarium.
You know, I suppose, the clerk.
§13.33.2sed scribes et quidem confectum.
But you will write, and indeed write that it is completed.
ad Faberium, ut tibi placet, litteras misi, cum Balbo autem puto te aliquid fecisse †H in Capitolio†.
I have sent a letter to Faberius, as you wish; but as for Balbus, I suppose you have done something... on the Capitol.
in Vergilio mihi nulla est δυσωπία.
Regarding Virgilius, I have no embarrassment.
nec enim eius causa sane debeo et, si emero, quid erit quod postulet? sed videbis ne is tum sit in Africa ut Caelius.
For I am certainly under no obligation for his sake, and if I buy it, what will there be for him to demand? But see to it that he is not in Africa at the time, like Caelius.
de nomine tu videbis cum Cispio; sed si Plancus destinat, tum habet res difficultatem.
As for the debt, you will see to it with Cispius; but if Plancus has his eye on it, then the matter is difficult.
te ad me venire uterque nostrum cupit; sed ista res nullo modo relinquenda est.
Both of us wish for you to come to me; but that business must on no account be abandoned.
Othonem quod speras posse vinci sane bene narras.
That you hope Otho can be outbidden is indeed good news.
de aestimatione, ut scribis, cum agere coeperimus; etsi nihil scripsit nisi de modo agri.
As for the valuation, as you write, when we begin to negotiate; although he has written nothing except about the size of the land.
cum Pisone, si quid poterit.
With Piso, if anything can be done.
Dicaearchi librum accepi et καταβάσεωσ †exspecto†.
I have received Dicaearchus' book, and I am waiting for the *Descent*.
§13.33.3* * * negotium dederis, reperiet ex eo libro in quo sunt servatus consulta Cn.
... if you give the task, he will find it in that book in which are preserved the decrees of the senate from the consulship of Cn.
Cornelio L. Mummio coss.
Cornelius and L. Mummius.
de Tuditano autem quod putas, εὔλογον est tum illum, quoniam fuit ad Corinthum (non enim temere dixit Hortensius), aut quaestorem aut tribunum mil. fuisse, idque potius credo.
But as to what you think about Tuditanus, it is reasonable that at that time, since he was at Corinth (for Hortensius did not speak without reason), he was either a quaestor or a military tribune, and I rather believe the latter.
tu de Antiocho scire poteris †vide etiam†, quo anno quaestor aut tribunus mil. fuerit; si neutrum †ea de† in praefectis an in contubernalibus fuerit, modo fuerit in eo bello.
You will be able to find out about Antiochus, in what year he was quaestor or military tribune; if neither, whether he was among the prefects or the staff-officers, provided only he was in that war.

Notes

  1. 13.33.1qui etiam eorum iussu miserim — The relative pronoun qui is used with the subjunctive miserim to express a causal relation or characteristic of the subject (inasmuch as I even sent).
  2. 13.33.2videbis ne is tum sit — The expression videbis ne introduces a clause of precaution or negative purpose with the subjunctive sit (see to it that he is not / mind lest he should be).
  3. 13.33.3de Tuditano autem quod putas — The clause quod putas is a substantival clause serving as the object of the preposition de (as to what you think), placed at the beginning to introduce the topic.
  4. 13.33.3modo fuerit in eo bello — The conjunction modo introduces a proviso with the subjunctive fuerit, meaning 'provided only he was' or 'as long as he was'.

Cite this passage

Cicero, Letters to Atticus §13.33.1-13.33.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi057.humanitext-lat1:13.33.1-13.33.3

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