Humanitext Reader

Cicero · Letters to Atticus §4.11.1-4.11.2

Inquiry on Political News and Literary Pursuits

Passage 89 of 461 · Latin

Summary

Cicero expresses delight at receiving Atticus's letters, asking for detailed updates on Pompey and Crassus's movements and Rome's political affairs. He also mentions his current reading with Dionysius and the delivery of his book to Lucceius.

§4.11.1delectarunt me epistulae tuae quas accepi uno tempore duas ante diem v Kal.
Your letters, of which I received two at one time five days before the Kalends, delighted me greatly.
Perge reliqua.
Continue with the rest.
gestio scire ista omnia.
I am eager to know all those things of yours.
etiam illud cuius modi sit velim perspicias; potes a Demetrio.
I would also like you to find out what kind of thing that is; you can do so from Demetrius.
dixit mihi Pompeius Crassum a se in Albano exspectari ante diem iiii Kal. ; is cum venisset, Romam eum et se statim venturos ut rationes cum publicanis putarent.
Pompey told me that Crassus was expected by him at his Alban villa four days before the Kalends; and that when he had arrived, he and himself would immediately come to Rome to settle accounts with the tax-farmers.
quaesivi gladiatoribusne.
I asked whether it would be during the gladiatorial games.
respondit ante quam inducerentur. id cuius modi sit aut nunc si scies aut cum is Romam venerit ad me mittas velim.
He answered, "before they are introduced." I would like you to send me word what kind of thing that is, either now if you know, or when he has come to Rome.
§4.11.2nos hic voramus litteras cum homine mirifico (ita me hercule sentio) Dionysio qui te omnisque vos salutat.
Here we are devouring literature with that wonderful man—by Hercules, I really think so—Dionysius, who greets you and all of you.
"οὐδὲν" qua re ut homini curioso ita perscribe ad me quid primus dies, quid secundus, quid censores, quid Appius, quid illa populi Appuleia;
"οὐδὲν" Therefore, as to an inquisitive man, write to me in full what the first day brought, what the second, what the censors are doing, what Appius is doing, what that Appuleian law of the people is; in short, I would also like you to write to me what is being done by you.
denique etiam quid a te fiat ad me velim scribas. non enim, ut vere loquamur, tam rebus novis quam tuis litteris delector.
For, to speak the truth, I am not so much delighted by news as by your letters.
ego mecum praeter Dionysium eduxi neminem nec metuo tamen ne mihi sermo desit.
I have brought no one with me except Dionysius, yet I do not fear lest conversation should fail me.
†abs te opere† delector.
I am delighted by †your work†.
tu Lucceio nostrum librum dabis.
You will give my book to Lucceius.
Demetri Magnetis tibi mitto, statim ut sit qui a te mihi epistulam referat.
I am sending you the work of Demetrius of Magnesia, so that there may be someone immediately to bring back a letter from you to me.

Notes

  1. §4.11.1ante diem v Kal. — "Five days before the Kalends" (usually April 27, five days before the Kalends of May). An abbreviation of `ante diem quintum Kalendas`. The preposition `ante` governs the accusative `diem quintum`, which combined with `Kalendas` forms an adverbial phrase designating a specific date.
  2. §4.11.1Crassum a se in Albano exspectari — Accusative with infinitive construction within the indirect speech reporting Pompey's statement. `Crassum` is the subject of the passive infinitive `exspectari`, and the reflexive pronoun `se` in `a se` refers to the subject of the main clause, `Pompeius`.
  3. §4.11.1gladiatoribusne — The ablative plural of `gladiatores` with the interrogative enclitic `-ne`. It functions here as an ablative of time, meaning "during the gladiatorial games."
  4. §4.11.2abs te opere — A corrupt passage in the manuscript tradition. Various emendations have been proposed, such as `ab isto ore` ("from your own mouth") or `abs te ipso` ("from you yourself").
  5. §4.11.2Demetri Magnetis — Genitive form of `Demetrius Magnes`. It means "(the book) of Demetrius of Magnesia," with the direct object `librum` (book) omitted.

Cite this passage

Cicero, Letters to Atticus §4.11.1-4.11.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi057.humanitext-lat1:4.11.1-4.11.2

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