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Cicero · Letters to Atticus §9.6A.1

Caesar's Letter Requesting a Meeting with Cicero

Passage 201 of 461 · Latin

Summary

Caesar writes a brief letter to Cicero, apologizing for his haste as he travels with his legions, expressing gratitude for Cicero's goodwill, and requesting to meet near Rome to receive his counsel and support.

§9.6A.1cum Furnium nostrum tantum vidissem neque loqui neque audire meo commodo potuissem, properarem atque essem in itinere praemissis iam legionibus, praeterire tamen non potui quin et scriberem ad te et illum mitterem gratiasque agerem, etsi hoc et feci saepe et saepius mihi facturus videor; ita de me merens.
Although I had only seen our Furnius and had not been able to speak or hear him at my convenience, and although I was in a hurry and on my journey, having already sent the legions ahead, yet I could not pass over without both writing to you and sending him, and expressing my gratitude, although I have both done this often and seem likely to do so even more often; so well do you deserve of me.
in primis a te peto, quoniam confido me celeriter ad urbem venturum, ut te ibi videam, ut tuo consilio, gratia, dignitate, ope omnium rerum uti possim.
Especially I beg of you, since I trust that I shall quickly come to the city, that I may see you there, so that I may be able to use your counsel, influence, prestige, and help in all things.
ad propositum revertar; festinationi meae brevitatique litterarum ignosces.
Let me return to my purpose; you will forgive my haste and the brevity of my letter.
reliqua ex Furnio cognosces.
The rest you will learn from Furnius.

Notes

  1. 9.6A.1cum Furnium nostrum tantum vidissem neque loqui neque audire meo commodo potuissem, properarem atque essem in itinere — In the clause introduced by the conjunction cum, subjunctive pluperfects (vidissem, potuissem) and imperfects (properarem, essem) are coordinated. The former refer to completed events prior to writing (having seen and not having been able to talk), while the latter describe the ongoing state at the time of writing (being in a hurry and on the journey).
  2. 9.6A.1praeterire tamen non potui quin et scriberem ad te et illum mitterem gratiasque agerem — The construction non potui praeterire quin + subjunctive means 'I could not pass over without...' or 'I could not help but...'. The subjunctive verbs (scriberem, mitterem, agerem) are in the imperfect tense to agree with the past tense of the main verb (potui).
  3. 9.6A.1ita de me merens — The word merens is the present participle of the deponent verb mereri (to deserve, or with de + ablative, 'to deserve well of, do a favor to'). Here the subject (tu) is omitted, and it functions as a participial construction expressing cause: 'since you deserve so well of me' or 'since you do me such great favors.'
  4. 9.6A.1ad propositum revertar — The form revertar is either the first-person singular present subjunctive (hortatory/volitive: 'let me return') or the future indicative of the verb revertor. Here, in this context, it is naturally interpreted as a subjunctive expressing a self-hortation or intention to return to the main point.

Cite this passage

Cicero, Letters to Atticus §9.6A.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi057.humanitext-lat1:9.6A.1

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