Humanitext Reader

Cicero · Letters to Atticus §13.51.1-13.51.2

Explanation of Letter to Caesar and Attica's Recovery

Passage 382 of 461 · Latin

Summary

Cicero explains to Atticus that he forgot to send the copy of his letter to Caesar, clarifying that it was not out of embarrassment. He also expresses relief over Attica's recovery and discusses Tigellius and Quintus's upcoming arrival.

§13.51.1ad Caesarem quam misi epistulam eius exemplum fugit me tum tibi mittere.
The copy of the letter I sent to Caesar, I forgot to send to you then. The copy of the letter I sent to Caesar, I forgot to send to you then.
nec id fuit quod suspicaris, ut me puderet tui ne ridicule †micillus†, nec me hercule scripsi aliter ac si πρὸσ ἴσον ὅμοιόνque scriberem.
Nor was it for the reason you suspect—that I was ashamed before you, lest I should seem ridiculously †micillus†; nor, by Hercules, did I write otherwise than if I were writing to an equal and peer.
bene enim existimo de illis libris, ut tibi coram.
For I have a good opinion of those books, just as I told you in person.
itaque scripsi et ἀκολακεύτωσ et tamen sic ut nihil eum existimem lecturum libentius.
Therefore I wrote both without flattery and yet in such a way that I think he will read nothing more gladly.
§13.51.2de Attica nunc demum mihi est exploratum; itaque ei de integro gratulare.
Concerning Attica, now at last I am fully assured; therefore congratulate her afresh. Concerning Attica, now at last I am fully assured; therefore congratulate her afresh.
Tigellium totum mihi et quidem quam primum; nam pendeo animi.
Make Tigellius entirely mine, and indeed as soon as possible; for I am in suspense.
narro tibi, Quintus cras; sed ad me an ad te nescio.
I tell you, Quintus comes tomorrow; but whether to my place or yours I know not.
mi scripsit Romam viii Kal. sed misi qui invitaret.
He wrote to me that he would be in Rome on the eighth day before the Kalends; but I sent someone to invite him.
etsi hercle iam Romam veniendum est ne ille ante advolet.
Although, by Hercules, I must now go to Rome myself, lest he fly there beforehand.

Notes

  1. §13.51.1fugit me — The impersonal expression fugit me followed by the infinitive (mittere) is an idiom meaning 'it escapes me to do something' or 'I forgot to do something.'
  2. §13.51.1puderet tui — The impersonal verb pudet governs the accusative of the person who feels shame (me) and the genitive of the cause or object of the shame (tui).
  3. §13.51.2pendeo animi — animi is an archaic locative (or genitive of respect) meaning 'in mind,' used in combination with pendeo ('to hang in suspense') to mean 'I am in suspense.'

Cite this passage

Cicero, Letters to Atticus §13.51.1-13.51.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi057.humanitext-lat1:13.51.1-13.51.2

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