Humanitext Reader

Cicero · Letters to Atticus §15.22.1

Departure of Young Quintus and Political Concerns

Passage 431 of 461 · Latin

Summary

Cicero rejoices at the departure of young Quintus, shares his thoughts on the political situation involving Pansa, Antony, and Sextus's approach, and looks forward to discussing these matters with Atticus in person.

§15.22.1gratulor nobis Quintum filium exisse.
I congratulate us that young Quintus has departed.
molestus non erit.
He will not be a nuisance.
Pansam bene loqui credo.
I believe Pansa is speaking well.
semper enim coniunctum esse cum Hirtio scio; amicissimum Bruto et Cassio puto, si expediet (sed quando illos videbit?), inimicum Antonio, quando aut cur? quousque ludemur? ego autem scripsi Sextum adventare, non quo iam adesset sed quia certe id ageret ab armisque nullus discederet.
For I know he is always joined with Hirtius; I think he is very friendly to Brutus and Cassius, if it will be expedient (but when will he see them?), and an enemy to Antony—but when or why? How long shall we be played with? However, I wrote that Sextus was approaching, not because he was already present, but because he was certainly aiming at this and was by no means departing from arms.
certe si pergit, bellum paratum est.
Certainly, if he goes on, war is ready.
hic autem noster Cytherius nisi victorem neminem victurum.
But this Cytherius of ours thinks that no one will survive except as a victor.
quid ad haec Pansa? utrobi erit, si bellum erit? quod videtur fore.
What does Pansa say to this? On which side will he be, if there is war? Which indeed seems likely to be.
sed et haec et alia coram hodie quidem, ut scribis, aut cras.
But both these and other things we shall discuss in person, today indeed, as you write, or tomorrow.

Notes

  1. 15.22.1Quintum filium exisse — The verb gratulor (congratulate) takes a dative (nobis) and is accompanied by an accusative with infinitive clause (Quintum filium exisse) expressing the ground for congratulation.
  2. 15.22.1non quo iam adesset sed quia certe id ageret — The construction non quo followed by the subjunctive (adesset) expresses a rejected, non-factual reason. The subsequent clause introducing the real reason, sed quia, also takes the subjunctive (ageret, discederet) instead of the indicative, either through attraction to the preceding subjunctive or to reflect the subjective thought of the writer under the influence of the main verb scripsi.
  3. 15.22.1noster Cytherius — Refers to Mark Antony. It is a sarcastic nickname used by Cicero, referring to Antony's notorious love affair with the freedwoman and actress Cytheris.
  4. 15.22.1nisi victorem neminem victurum — The word victurum is the future participle of vivere (to live), which is homonymous with the future participle of vincere (to conquer). In this context, it means 'no one would survive except as a victor.' The clause is an accusative with infinitive structure depending on an implied verb of thinking or saying like putat.

Cite this passage

Cicero, Letters to Atticus §15.22.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi057.humanitext-lat1:15.22.1

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