Humanitext Reader

Cicero · Letters to Atticus §16.10.1-16.10.2

Diversion to Arpinum and Consultation on Next Steps

Passage 448 of 461 · Latin

Summary

Cicero informs Atticus that, hearing rumors of Antony's rapid march, he has abandoned his plan to head straight to Rome and diverted his route toward Arpinum. He urgently requests Atticus's advice on three options: staying at Arpinum, moving closer, or going directly to Rome.

§16.10.1vii Id. veni ad me in Sinuessanum.
On the seventh day before the Ides (7 November), I arrived at my villa in Sinuessa.
eodem die vulgo loquebantur Antonium mansurum esse Casilini.
On the same day there was a general rumor that Antony was going to stay at Casilinum.
itaque mutavi consilium; statueram enim recta Appia Romam.
Therefore I changed my plan; for I had intended to go straight to Rome by the Appian Way.
facile me ille esset adsecutus. aiunt enim eum Caesariana uti celeritate.
He would easily have overtaken me, for they say he travels with Caesarian speed.
verti igitur me a Menturnis Arpinum versus.
I turned myself, therefore, from Minturnae towards Arpinum.
constitueram ut v Idus aut Aquini manerem aut in Arcano.
I had decided to stay on the fifth day before the Ides (9 November) either at Aquinum or in Arcanum.
§16.10.2nunc, mi Attice, tota mente incumbe in hanc curam; magna enim res est.
Now, my dear Atticus, bend your whole mind to this concern; for it is a great matter.
tria sunt autem, maneamne Arpini an propius accedam an veniam Romam.
There are, however, three options: whether I should remain at Arpinum, or approach nearer, or come to Rome.
quod censueris faciam.
Whatever you advise, I will do.
sed quam primum.
But as soon as possible.
avide exspecto tuas litteras.
I eagerly await your letter.
vi Idus mane e Sinuessano.
On the morning of the sixth day before the Ides (8 November), from Sinuessa.

Notes

  1. §16.10.1esset adsecutus — Subjunctive pluperfect expressing a past counterfactual apodosis. The protasis ("if I had gone straight along the Appian Way") is implied by the context (statueram enim...).
  2. §16.10.1Arpinum versus — Versus is used postpositionally with an accusative noun (here Arpinum) to indicate direction ("towards").
  3. §16.10.2maneamne — The present subjunctives maneam, accedam, and veniam are deliberative subjunctives ("should I remain?"), here introducing indirect questions in apposition to tria ("three options: whether... or... or...").

Cite this passage

Cicero, Letters to Atticus §16.10.1-16.10.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi057.humanitext-lat1:16.10.1-16.10.2

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

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