Humanitext Reader

Cicero · Letters to Atticus §13.37.1-13.37.4

Young Quintus's Attacks and Business Affairs

Passage 367 of 461 · Latin

Summary

Cicero writes his second letter of the day to Atticus, reporting on Xeno's debt, affairs in Epirus, Quintus's hostile talk against him, the dispatch of Porcia's eulogy, and the preparations for an upcoming auction.

§13.37.1has alteras hodie litteras.
This is my second letter today.
de Xenonis nomine et de Epiroticis x_x_x_x_ nihil potest fieri nec commodius nec aptius quam ut scribis.
Regarding Xeno's debt and the Epiroti_x_x_x_x_, nothing can be done more conveniently or more suitably than as you write.
id erat locutus mecum eodem modo Balbus minor.
The younger Balbus had spoken to me in the very same way.
§13.37.2nihil novi sane nisi Hirtium cum Quinto acerrime pro me litigasse; omnibus eum locis furere maximeque in conviviis cum multa de me tum redire ad patrem; nihil autem ab eo tam ἀξιοπίστωσ dici quam alienissimos nos esse a Caesare; fidem nobis habendam non esse, me vero etiam cavendum (φοβερὸν ἂν ἦν nisi viderem scire regem me animi nihil habere), Ciceronem vero meum vexari; sed id quidem arbitratu suo.
There is really nothing new, except that Hirtius disputed most fiercely with Quintus on my behalf; he is raging everywhere, and especially at banquets, now saying many things about me, now turning back upon his father; but nothing is said by him so plausibly as that we are most alienated from Caesar; that we should not be trusted, and indeed that I should even be guarded against (this would have been terrifying, if I did not see that the 'king' knows I have no spirit of rebellion), and that my Cicero indeed is being vexed; but that, indeed, is according to his own whim.
§13.37.3laudationem Porciae gaudeo me ante dedisse Leptae tabellario quam tuas acceperim litteras.
I am glad that I gave the eulogy of Porcia to the letter-carrier Lepta before I received your letter.
eam tu igitur, si me amas, curabis, si modo mittetur, isto modo mittendam Domitio et Bruto.
Therefore, if you love me, you will see to it that, if indeed it is to be sent, it is sent in that manner of yours to Domitius and Brutus.
§13.37.4de gladiatoribus, de ceteris quae scribis ἀνεμοφόρητα, facies me cotidie certiorem.
Regarding the gladiators, and the other things which you write of as wind-borne, make me more certain every day.
velim, si tibi videtur, appelles Balbum et Offilium.
I should like you, if it seems good to you, to call upon Balbus and Offilius.
de auctione proscribenda equidem locutus sum cum Balbo.
As for advertising the auction, I indeed spoke with Balbus.
placebat (puto conscripta habere Offilium omnia; habet et Balbus) sed Balbo placebat propinquum diem et Romae; si Caesar moraretur, posse diem differri.
It was approved (I think Offilius has everything written down; Balbus has it too), but Balbus preferred a near date and at Rome; if Caesar should delay, the date could be postponed.
sed is quidem adesse videtur.
But he indeed seems to be at hand.
totum igitur considera; placet enim Vestorio.
Consider the whole matter, therefore; for it pleases Vestorius.

Notes

  1. 13.37.1has alteras hodie litteras — A colloquial and epistolary omission of the verb (such as `mitto` or `accipies`). It means "This is my second letter to you today."
  2. 13.37.2nihil novi sane nisi Hirtium cum Quinto acerrime pro me litigasse — The accusative and infinitive construction (`litigasse`) following `nisi` depends on an omitted main verb (such as `nuntiatum est`), or is understood as `nihil novi [est] nisi [id quod]`. `pro me` means "on my behalf / defending me", and `Quinto` refers to Cicero's nephew, Quintus the younger.
  3. 13.37.2φοβερὸν ἂν ἦν nisi viderem — A Greek parenthesis equivalent to the Latin past contrary-to-fact condition (`terribile esset`). The word `regem` (king) refers to the dictator Caesar, a sarcastic term Cicero uses for him.
  4. 13.37.3ante... quam tuas acceperim litteras — In the clause introduced by the correlative `ante... quam` ("before"), the perfect subjunctive `acceperim` is used. While describing the objective receipt of the letter, the subjunctive is employed to denote an action prior to the main verb `gaudeo`.
  5. 13.37.4ἀνεμοφόρητα — A Greek neuter plural adjective in the accusative, meaning "wind-borne" or "trifling, fleeting." Cicero is quoting or borrowing an expression Atticus had used in a previous letter.

Cite this passage

Cicero, Letters to Atticus §13.37.1-13.37.4. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi057.humanitext-lat1:13.37.1-13.37.4

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