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Cicero · Letters to Atticus §7.24.1

Bad News from Capua and Pompey's Expected Flight

Passage 164 of 461 · Latin

Summary

Although Philotimus's letter pleased those around Cicero, bad news arriving from Capua the next day reveals that the situation is hopeless. While Cicero is certain of Pompey's flight, he remains away from the plan of escaping.

§7.24.1Philotimi litterae me quidem non nimis sed eos qui in his locis erant admodum delectarunt.
Philotimus's letter indeed did not please me very much, but it greatly delighted those who were in these parts.
ecce postridie Cassio litterae Capua a Lucretio, familiari eius, Nigidium a Domitio Capuam venisse.
Lo and behold, on the following day, a letter reached Cassius from Capua, sent by his intimate friend Lucretius, stating that Nigidius had come to Capua from Domitius.
eum dicere Vibullium cum paucis militibus e Piceno currere ad Gnaeum, confestim insequi Caesarem, Domitium non habere militum iii milia.
He said that Vibullius, with a few soldiers, was rushing from Picenum to Gnaeus, that Caesar was in immediate pursuit, and that Domitius did not have three thousand soldiers.
idem scripsit Capua consules discessisse.
The same writer wrote that the consuls had departed from Capua.
non dubito quin Gnaeus in fuga sit; modo effugiat.
I do not doubt that Gnaeus is in flight; if only he may escape.
ego a consilio fugiendi, ut tu censes, absum.
As for myself, I am keeping away from the plan of flight, as you advise.

Notes

  1. §7.24.1Cassio litterae — A structure where the verb (such as "allatae sunt" or "venerunt") is omitted. The dative "Cassio" indicates the recipient. The following accusative with infinitive clause "Nigidium ... venisse" expresses the content of the letter (litterae) in indirect speech.
  2. §7.24.1eum dicere — An accusative with infinitive construction introducing an embedded indirect speech ("that he [Nigidius] said that...") within the report of Lucretius's letter. The accusative subject "eum" refers back to Nigidius.
  3. §7.24.1modo effugiat — The present subjunctive "effugiat" used with "modo" to express a restrictive wish or proviso: "if only he may escape" or "provided that he escapes."

Cite this passage

Cicero, Letters to Atticus §7.24.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi057.humanitext-lat1:7.24.1

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