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Cicero · Letters to Atticus §5.3.1-5.3.3

Arrival at Trebulanum and Exchange of Letters

Passage 101 of 461 · Latin

Summary

Cicero reports his arrival in Trebulanum and the receipt of Atticus's letters. He discusses the exchange of correspondence, his anxiety about public affairs, his upcoming itinerary, and his determination to maintain a good reputation.

§5.3.1A. d. vi Idus Maias veni in Trebulanum ad Pontium.
On May 10th I came to Trebulanum to Pontius's villa.
ibi mihi tuae litterae binae redditae sunt tertio abs te die.
There two letters from you were delivered to me on the third day after you sent them.
eodem autem exiens e Pompeiano Philotimo dederam ad te litteras; nec vero nunc erat sane quod scriberem.
However, on the same day, as I was leaving my Pompeian villa, I had given a letter for you to Philotimus; and indeed now there is really nothing for me to write.
qui de re publica rumores scribe, quaeso; in oppidis enim summum video timorem sed multa inania.
Please write what rumors there are about the republic; for I see the greatest fear in the towns, but much of it is groundless.
quid de his cogites et quando scire velim.
I should like to know what you think about these matters and when.
§5.3.2ad quas litteras tibi rescribi velis nescio.
I do not know to which letters you wish a reply to be written.
nullas enim adhuc acceperam praeter quae mihi binae simul in Trebulano redditae sunt; quarum alterae edictum P. Licini habebant (erant autem Nonis Maiis datae), alterae rescriptae ad meas Menturnensis.
For I had received none so far except the two which were delivered to me together in Trebulanum; one of which contained the edict of P. Licinius (they were sent, moreover, on the Nones of May), and the other was a reply to mine from Minturnae.
quam vereor ne quid fuerit σπουδαιότερον in iis quas non accepi quibus rescribi vis! apud Lentulum ponam te in gratia.
How I fear lest there was something more important in those which I have not received, to which you wish a reply to be written! I will put you in good favor with Lentulus.
§5.3.3Dionysius nobis cordi est.
Dionysius is dear to us.
Nicanor tuus operam mihi dat egregiam.
Your Nicanor is giving me excellent service.
iam deest quod scribam et lucet.
Now there is nothing left to write, and it is dawning.
Beneventi cogitabam hodie.
Today I am thinking of being at Beneventum.
nostra continentia et diligentia †esse satis faciemus satis.
By our self-restraint and diligence we shall give full satisfaction.
a Pontio ex Trebulano a. d. v Idus Maias.
From Pontius's villa in Trebulanum, May 11th.

Notes

  1. §5.3.1tertio abs te die — Meaning "on the third day from you," indicating that the letter was received on the third day after it was dispatched. "abs te" is a prepositional phrase denoting the sender.
  2. §5.3.2ad quas litteras tibi rescribi velis — An indirect question. "rescribi" is an impersonal passive infinitive, and "tibi" is a dative ("that a reply be written to you"). The whole phrase means "to which letters you wish a reply to be written to you."
  3. §5.3.3nobis cordi est — A variation of the double dative. "cordi" is a dative of purpose/effect (dear, pleasing), and "nobis" is a dative of reference. It means "Dionysius is dear to us."
  4. §5.3.3Beneventi cogitabam hodie — "Beneventi" is the locative case of Beneventum. "cogitabam" is an imperfect used as an epistolary tense, representing Cicero's plan at the time of writing, meaning "Today I am thinking of being at Beneventum."

Cite this passage

Cicero, Letters to Atticus §5.3.1-5.3.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi057.humanitext-lat1:5.3.1-5.3.3

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

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