Humanitext Reader

Cicero · Letters to Atticus §5.5.1-5.5.2

Departure from Venusia and Planned Meeting with Pompey

Passage 103 of 461 · Latin

Summary

Cicero informs Atticus that he currently has no news to write due to many anxieties, while mentioning his departure from Venusia, his upcoming meeting with Pompey in Tarentum, and requesting information on Atticus's stay in Rome and the settlement of a financial matter.

§5.5.1plane deest quod scribam; nam nec quod mandem habeo (nihil enim praetermissum est), nec quod narrem (novi enim nihil), nec iocandi locus est; ita me multa sollicitant.
There is absolutely nothing for me to write; for I have nothing to commission (for nothing has been overlooked), nor anything to relate (for I know nothing new), nor is there any room for joking; so many worries trouble me.
tantum tamen scito, Idibus Maiis nos Venusia mane proficiscentis has dedisse.
Know this much, however: that we dispatched this letter from Venusia on the Ides of May, as we were setting out in the morning.
eo autem die credo aliquid actum in senatu.
On that day, moreover, I believe some business was transacted in the senate.
sequantur igitur nos tuae litterae quibus non modo res omnis sed etiam rumores cognoscamus.
Let your letters, therefore, follow us, by which we may learn not only all the facts but also the rumors.
eas accipiemus Brundisi; ibi enim Pomptinum ad eam diem quam tu scripsisti exspectare consilium est.
We shall receive them at Brundisium; for there it is our intention to wait for Pomptinus until that day which you wrote of.
§5.5.2nos Tarenti quos cum Pompeio διαλόγουσ de re publica habuerimus ad te perscribemus.
We shall write to you in full from Tarentum what conversations we have with Pompey about the republic.
etsi id ipsum scire cupio quod ad tempus recte ad te scribere possim, id est quam diu Romae futurus sis, ut aut quo dem posthac litteras sciam aut ne dem frustra.
Although I desire to know this very thing: up to what time I can properly write to you, that is, how long you are going to be in Rome, so that I may either know where to send my letters hereafter, or else not send them in vain.
sed ante quam proficiscare, utique explicatum sit illud HS x_x_ et d_c_c_c_.
But before you depart, by all means let that business of the 2,800,000 sesterces be settled.
hoc velim in maximis rebus et maxime necessariis habeas, ut quod auctore te velle coepi adiutore adsequar.
I would have you consider this among the greatest and most necessary matters, so that what I began to desire on your advice, I may achieve with your help.

Notes

  1. §5.5.1quod scribam — The present subjunctive `scribam` in the relative clause represents suitability, purpose, or a characteristic of an indefinite antecedent (subjunctive of characteristic). The subsequent `quod mandem` and `quod narrem` share the same construction.
  2. §5.5.1has dedisse — `has` is the feminine plural accusative, with `litteras` (letter) omitted. The perfect infinitive `dedisse` represents the sending of the letter, functioning as an epistolary perfect in indirect speech.
  3. §5.5.2quos cum Pompeio διαλόγουσ — The Greek noun `διαλόγουσ` (dialogues, plural accusative) is the antecedent but is incorporated into the relative clause introduced by the relative pronoun `quos` (masculine plural accusative). The subjunctive `habuerimus` is used for a future event or within a relative clause in indirect statement.
  4. §5.5.2HS x_x_ et d_c_c_c_ — Sums of sesterces (HS). `x_x_` with an overline represents `vicies` (20 times), multiplying the standard unit of 100,000 sesterces, thus meaning 2,000,000 sesterces. `d_c_c_c_` represents 800,000 sesterces (mentioned in §5.4.3), making the total sum 2,800,000 sesterces.

Cite this passage

Cicero, Letters to Atticus §5.5.1-5.5.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi057.humanitext-lat1:5.5.1-5.5.2

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