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Cicero · Letters to Atticus §15.21.1-15.21.2

Young Quintus's Apologia and Changes to Travel Plans

Passage 430 of 461 · Latin

Summary

On the news of young Quintus refusing Antony's demands to flee to Brutus, and Cicero's adjustment of his travel plans and his expectation of meeting Atticus.

§15.21.1narro tibi, Quintus pater exsultat laetitia.
I tell you, Quintus the father is leaping with joy.
scripsit enim filius se idcirco profugere ad Brutum voluisse quod, cum sibi negotium daret Antonius ut eum dictatorem efficeret, praesidium occuparet, id recusasset; recusasse autem se ne patris animum offenderet; ex eo sibi illum hostem.
For the son wrote that he had wanted to flee to Brutus for the reason that, when Antony gave him the task of making him dictator and occupying the garrison, he had refused it; and that he had refused it lest he should offend his father's feelings; and that because of this, he was an enemy to him.
"tum me" inquit "conlegi verens ne quid mihi ille iratus tibi noceret.
"'Then,'" he says, "'I composed myself, fearing lest he, angry with me, might do some harm to you.
itaque eum placavi.
And so I appeased him.
et quidem c_c_c_c_ certa, reliqua in spe. " scribit autem Statius illum cum patre habitare velle (hoc vero mirum) et id gaudet.
Indeed, four hundred thousand is certain, the rest is in hope.'" Moreover, Statius writes that he wants to live with his father (this is indeed a marvel) and he rejoices at it.
ecquem tu illo certiorem nebulonem?
Do you know any more certified scoundrel than him?
§15.21.2ἐποχὴν vestram de re Cani probo.
I approve of your suspension of judgment regarding Canius's business.
nihil eram suspicatus de tabulis, ἀκεραίωσ restitutam arbitrabar.
I had suspected nothing about the tablets; I thought everything was restored intact.
quae differs ut mecum coram exspectabo.
I shall wait for the things you are postponing until we meet in person.
tabellarios quoad voles tenebis; es enim occupatus.
You may keep the letter-carriers as long as you wish; for you are busy.
quod ad Xenonem, probe.
As for Xeno, quite right.
quod scribo, cum absolvero.
What I am writing, I shall send when I finish it.
Quinto scripsisti te ad eum litteras.
You wrote to Quintus that you had sent a letter to him.
nemo attulerat.
No one had brought it.
Tiro negat iam tibi placere Brundisium et quidem dicere aliquid de militibus.
Tiro says that Brundisium no longer pleases you, and indeed that you are saying something about the soldiers.
at ego iam destinaram Hydruntem quidem.
But I had already destined Hydrus indeed.
movebant me tuae quinque horae.
Your five hours were moving me.
hic autem quantus πλοῦσ! sed videbimus.
But what a long voyage from here! But we shall see.
nullas a te xi Kal.
There was no letter from you on the eleventh day before the Kalends.
quippe`, quid enim iam novi? cum primum igitur poteris, venies.
Naturally, for what news is there now? As soon as you can, therefore, you will come.
ego propero ne ante Sextus, quem adventare aiunt.
I am in a hurry lest Sextus arrive first, who they say is approaching.

Notes

  1. §15.21.1ut eum dictatorem efficeret — The accusative pronoun 'eum' refers back to the subject of the governing clause, i.e., Antony, who imposed the task on young Quintus. It means that young Quintus refused the task of making Antony dictator.
  2. §15.21.1verens ne quid mihi ille iratus tibi noceret — Two dative pronouns 'mihi' and 'tibi' are placed closely. 'mihi' is a dative depending on 'iratus' (angry with me), while 'tibi' is the dative object of the verb 'noceret' (do harm to you).
  3. §15.21.2ἀκεραίωσ — The Greek adverb ἀκεραίως (intactly, as before) preserved in the manuscripts. Combined with the omitted infinitive phrase [rem esse] restitutam, it indicates that Cicero had believed the matter of the tablets was fully restored to its original state.

Cite this passage

Cicero, Letters to Atticus §15.21.1-15.21.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi057.humanitext-lat1:15.21.1-15.21.2

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