Humanitext Reader

Cicero · Letters to Atticus §4.4.1

Welcoming Atticus's Return and Invitation to Stay

Passage 80 of 461 · Latin

Summary

Cicero, having received news from Cincius that Atticus is in Italy, writes a hasty letter expressing his joyful anticipation of Atticus's return and inviting him to stay at his house upon arrival.

§4.4.1periucundus mihi Cincius fuit ante diem iii Kal. Febr. ante lucem; dixit enim mihi te esse in Italia seseque ad te pueros mittere.
Cincius was very welcome to me before dawn on the thirtieth of January; for he told me that you were in Italy and that he was sending messengers to you.
quos sine meis litteris ire nolui, non quo haberem quod tibi, praesertim iam prope praesenti, scriberem sed ut hoc ipsum significarem, mihi tuum adventum suavissimum exspectatissimumque esse.
I did not want them to go without a letter from me, not because I had anything to write to you, especially since you are now almost present, but to indicate this very thing, that your arrival is most pleasant and eagerly awaited by me.
qua re advola ad nos eo animo ut nos ames, te amari scias.
Therefore, fly to us with the mind that you love us and know that you are loved.
cetera coram agemus.
Other things we will do in person.
haec properantes scripsimus.
I wrote this in a hurry.
quo die venies, utique cum tuis apud me sis.
On the day you arrive, be sure to stay at my house with your companions.

Notes

  1. §4.4.1quos — Connecting relative referring back to `pueros` (messengers) in the previous sentence, functioning as the object of `ire nolui`.
  2. §4.4.1non quo haberem — Subjunctive mood (`haberem`, imperfect subjunctive) used with `non quo` to introduce a rejected, counterfactual reason ('not because I had...').
  3. §4.4.1properantes scripsimus — The first-person plural verb `scripsimus` and the nominative plural present participle `properantes` are examples of the authorial plural (or plural of modesty), referring to Cicero himself writing in a hurry.

Cite this passage

Cicero, Letters to Atticus §4.4.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi057.humanitext-lat1:4.4.1

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