Humanitext Reader

Cicero · Letters to Atticus §14.7.1-14.7.2

Paullus's Report and Provision for Cicero's Son

Passage 390 of 461 · Latin

Summary

Cicero reports hearing worrying news from Paullus about Marius and the state, and inquires about Brutus. He also requests Atticus to ensure his son Cicero in Athens lacks no resources, especially given the uncertain political times.

§14.7.1postridie Idus Paulum Caietae vidi.
On the day after the Ides, I saw Paullus at Caieta.
is mihi de Mario et de re publica quaedam sane pessima.
He told me some truly terrible things about Marius and about the state.
a te scilicet nihil; nemo enim meorum.
From you, of course, nothing; for none of my people has come.
sed Brutum nostrum audio visum sub Lanuvio.
But I hear that our Brutus has been seen near Lanuvium.
ubi tandem est futurus? nam cum reliqua tum de hoc scire aveo omnia.
Where on earth is he going to be? For I long to know everything, not only about other matters but especially about this.
ego e Formiano exiens xvii Kal. ut inde altero die in Puteolanum scripsi haec.
I am writing this on the seventeenth day before the Kalends, as I am leaving my villa at Formiae, intending to be at my villa at Puteoli from there on the next day.
§14.7.2a Cicerone mihi litterae sane πεπινωμέναι et bene longae.
From Cicero, I have received a letter that is truly elegant and quite long.
cetera autem vel fingi possunt, πίνοσ litterarum significat doctiorem.
Other things, indeed, can even be feigned, but the "patina" of a letter indicates a more learned mind.
nunc magno opere a te peto, de quo sum nuper tecum locutus, ut videas ne quid ei desit.
Now, I earnestly beg of you, concerning what I recently spoke with you about, to see to it that he lacks nothing.
id cum ad officium nostrum pertinet tum ad existimationem et dignitatem; quod idem intellexi tibi videri.
This not only pertains to our duty but also to our reputation and dignity; which same thing I understand seems so to you as well.
omnino si ego, ut volo, mense Quintili in Graeciam, sunt omnia faciliora; sed cum sint ea tempora ut certi nihil esse possit quid honestum mihi sit, quid liceat, quid expediat, quaeso, da operam ut illum quam honestissime copiosissimeque tueamur.
On the whole, if I go to Greece in the month of July, as I wish, everything will be easier; but since these times are such that nothing can be certain as to what is honorable for me, what is permitted, what is expedient, please take care that we support him as honorably and abundantly as possible.
haec et cetera quae ad nos pertinebunt, ut soles, cogita bis ad meque aut quod ad rem pertineat aut, si nihil erit, quod in buccam venerit scribes.
Think over these and other matters which will concern us, as you usually do, and write to me either what is to the point, or, if there is nothing, whatever comes into your head.

Notes

  1. 14.7.1is mihi de Mario et de re publica quaedam sane pessima. a te scilicet nihil; nemo enim meorum. — A series of ellipses characteristic of epistolary style. Verbs such as dicit/nuntiat in the first sentence, litterae allatae sunt in the second, and venit in the third are omitted.
  2. 14.7.1ego e Formiano exiens xvii Kal. ut inde altero die in Puteolanum scripsi haec. — "xvii Kal." refers to "xvii Kalendas Maias" (April 15). In the ut-clause meaning "intending to be/arrive at Puteoli the next day," a subjunctive verb like essem or venirem is omitted.
  3. 14.7.2πίνος litterarum significat doctiorem. — The Greek noun πίνος originally means "dirt" or "patina of age," but in literary contexts refers to "rustic elegance" or "refined patina" of style. "doctiorem" is an accusative comparative adjective (with "filium" or "eum" understood as subject), indicating Cicero's pleasure that his son has become more learned.
  4. 14.7.2ut certi nihil esse possit — "certi" is a partitive genitive qualifying the neuter pronoun "nihil" ("nothing of certain"). The "ut" clause is a consecutive clause (or clause of characteristic) explaining the nature of "ea tempora."

Cite this passage

Cicero, Letters to Atticus §14.7.1-14.7.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi057.humanitext-lat1:14.7.1-14.7.2

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

Translation, notes and summary are AI-generated drafts, revised through reader feedback.