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THE LOEB CLASSICAL LIBRARY
EDITED BY
T. E. PAGE, M.A., AND W. H. D. ROUSE, LITT.D.
LETTERS TO ATTICUS
I
[Illustration:
CICERO.
_BUST IN THE CAPITOLINE MUSEUM, ROME._
]
CICERO
LETTERS TO ATTICUS
WITH AN ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY
E. O. WINSTEDT, M.A.
OF MAGDALEN COLLEGE, OXFORD
IN THREE VOLUMES
I
[Illustration: WH]
LONDON: WILLIAM HEINEMANN
NEW YORK: G. P. PUTNAM’S SONS
MCMXIX.
_First printed 1912._
_Reprinted 1919._
------------------------------------------------------------------------
INTRODUCTION
The letters contained in this volume cover a large and important period
in Cicero’s life and in the history of Rome. They begin when he was 38
years of age; and at first they are not very numerous. There are only
two of that year (68 B.C.), six of the following year, one of the year
66, when he held the praetorship, and two of 65. Then there is a gap in
his correspondence. No letters at all survive from the period of his
consulship and the Catilinarian conspiracy; and the letters to Atticus
do not begin again until two years after that event. Thereafter they are
sufficiently frequent to justify Cornelius Nepos’ criticism, that
reading them, one has little need of an elaborate history of the period.
There are full—almost too full—details, considering the frequent
complaints and repetitions, during the year of his banishment (58–57
B.C.), and the correspondence continues unbroken to the year 54. Then
after a lapse of two years or more, which Atticus presumably spent in
Rome, it begins again in 51, when Cicero was sent to Cilicia as
pro-consul, much against his will; and the volume ends with a hint of
the trouble that was brewing between Caesar and Pompey, as Cicero was
returning to Rome towards the end of the next year.
The letters have been translated in the traditionary order in which they
are usually printed. That order, however, is not strictly chronological;
and, for the convenience of those who would read them in their
historical order, a table arranging them so far as possible in order of
date has been drawn up at the end of the volume.
For the basis of the text the Teubner edition has been used; but it has
been revised by comparison with more recent works and papers on the
subject. Textual notes have only been given in a few cases where the
reading is especially corrupt or uncertain; and other notes too have
been confined to cases where they seemed absolutely indispensable. For
such notes and in the translation itself, I must acknowledge my
indebtedness to predecessors, especially to Tyrrell’s indispensable
edition and Shuckburgh’s excellent translation.
There remain two small points to which I may perhaps call attention here
in case they should puzzle the general reader. The first is that, when
he finds the dates in this volume disagreeing with the rules and tables
generally given in Latin grammars and taught in schools, he must please
to remember that those rules apply only to the Julian Calendar, which
was introduced in 45 B.C., and that these letters were written before
that date. Before the alterations introduced by Caesar, March, May, July
and October had 31 days each, February 28, and the other months 29.
Compared with the Julian Calendar this shows a difference of two days in
all dates which fall between the Ides and the end of the months January,
August and December, and of one day in similar dates in April, June,
September and November.
The second point, which requires explanation, is the presence of some
numerals in the margin of the text of letters 16 to 19 of Book IV. As
Mommsen pointed out, the archetype from which the existent MSS. were
copied must have had some of the leaves containing these letters
transposed. These were copied in our MSS. in the wrong order, and were
so printed in earlier editions. In the text Mommsen’s order, with some
recent modifications introduced by Holzapfel, has been adopted; and the
figures in the margin denote the place of the transposed passages in the
older editions, the Roman figures denoting the letter from which each
particular passage has been shifted and the Arabic numerals the section
of that letter.
The following signs have been used in the apparatus criticus:—
_M_ = the _Codex Mediceus_ 49, 18, written in the year 1389 A.D., and
now preserved in the Laurentian Library at Florence. _M_^1 denotes
the reading of the first hand, and _M_^2 that of a reviser.
Δ = the reading of _M_ when supported by that of the _Codex Urbinas_
322, a MS. of the 15th century, preserved in the Vatican Library.
_E_ = _Codex Ambrosianus_ E, 14, a MS. probably of the 14th century,
in the Ambrosian Library at Milan.
_N_ = the _Codex ex abbatia Florentina_ n. 49 in the Laurentian
Library, written in the 14th or 15th century.
_P_ = No. 8536 of the Latin MSS. in the Bibliothèque Nationale at
Paris, a MS. of the 15th century.
_R_ = No. 8538 of the same collection, written in the year 1419. These
four MSS. _E_, _N_, _P_, _R_, with some others form a separate
class; and
Σ = the reading of all the MSS. of this class, or of a preponderant
number of them.
_C_ = the marginal readings in Cratander’s edition of 1528, drawn from
a MS. which is now lost.
_Z_ = the readings of the lost _Codex Tornaesianus_, _Z_^b denoting
the reading as preserved by Bosius, and _Z_^l that testified to by
Lambinus.
_I_ = the reading of the _editio Jensoniana_ published at Venice in
1470.
_Rom._ = the edition published at Rome in 1470.
CONTENTS
Letters to Atticus Book I _Page_ 3
Letters to Atticus Book II 101
Letters to Atticus Book III 197
Letters to Atticus Book IV 259
Letters to Atticus Book V 337
Letters to Atticus Book VI 415
CICERO’S LETTERS
TO ATTICUS
BOOK I
M. TULLI CICERONIS
EPISTULARUM AD ATTICUM
LIBER PRIMUS
I
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
[Sidenote: _Scr. Romae m. Quint. a. 689_]
Petitionis nostrae, quam tibi summae curae esse scio, huius modi ratio
est, quod adhuc coniectura provideri possit. Prensat unus P. Galba. Sine
fuco ac fallaciis more maiorum negatur. Ut opinio est hominum, non
aliena rationi nostrae fuit illius haec praepropera prensatio. Nam illi
ita negant vulgo, ut mihi se debere dicant. Ita quiddam spero nobis
profici, cum hoc percrebrescit, plurimos nostros amicos inveniri. Nos
autem initium prensandi facere cogitaramus eo ipso tempore, quo tuum
puerum cum his litteris proficisci Cincius dicebat, in campo comitiis
tribuniciis a. d. XVI Kalend. Sextiles. Competitores, qui certi esse
videantur, Galba et Antonius et Q. Cornificius. Puto te in hoc aut
risisse aut ingemuisse. Ut frontem ferias, sunt, qui etiam Caesonium
putent. Aquilium non arbitrabamur, qui denegavit et iuravit morbum et
illud suum regnum iudiciale opposuit. Catilina, si iudicatum erit
meridie non lucere, certus erit competitor. De Aufidio et Palicano non
puto te exspectare dum scribam. De iis, qui nunc petunt, Caesar certus
putatur. Thermus cum Silano contendere
CICERO’S LETTERS
TO ATTICUS
BOOK I
I
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
[Sidenote: _Rome, July_, B.C. _65_]
With regard to my candidature, in which I know you take the greatest
interest, things stand as follows, so far as one can guess at present.
P. Galba is the only canvasser who is hard at work; and he meets with a
plain and simple, old-fashioned, No. As people think, this unseemly
haste of his in canvassing is by no means a bad thing for my interests:
for most refusals imply a pledge of support to me. So I have hope that I
may derive some advantage from it, when the news gets abroad that my
supporters are in the majority. I had thought of beginning to canvass in
the Campus Martius at the election of tribunes on the 17th of July, the
very time that, Cincius tells me, your man will be starting with this
letter. It seems certain that Galba, Antonius, and Q. Cornificius will
be standing with me. I can imagine your smile or sigh at the news. To
make you tear your hair, there are some who think Caesonius will be a
candidate too. I don’t suppose Aquilius will. He has said not, pleading
his illness and his supremacy in the law courts in excuse. Catiline will
be sure to be standing, if the verdict is, No sun at midday. Of course
you will know all about Aufidius and Palicanus, without waiting for
letters from me. Of those who are standing, Caesar is thought to be a
certainty: the real fight is expected
existimatur; qui sic inopes et ab amicis et existimatione sunt, ut mihi
videatur non esse ἀδύνατον Curium obducere. Sed hoc praeter me nemini
videtur. Nostris rationibus maxime conducere videtur Thermum fieri cum
Caesare. Nemo est enim ex iis, qui nunc petunt, qui, si in nostrum annum
reciderit, firmior candidatus fore videatur, propterea quod curator est
viae Flaminiae, quae tum erit absoluta sane facile. Eum libenter nunc
Caesari consuli accuderim.[1] Petitorum haec est adhuc informata
cogitatio. Nos in omni munere candidatorio fungendo summam adhibebimus
diligentiam, et fortasse, quoniam videtur in suffragiis multum posse
Gallia, cum Romae a iudiciis forum refrixerit, excurremus mense
Septembri legati ad Pisonem, ut Ianuario revertamur. Cum perspexero
voluntates nobilium, scribam ad te. Cetera spero prolixa esse his
dumtaxat urbanis competitoribus. Illam manum tu mihi cura ut praestes,
quoniam propius abes, Pompei, nostri amici. Nega me ei iratum fore, si
ad mea comitia non venerit. Atque haec huius modi sunt.
Sed est, quod abs te mihi ignosci pervelim. Caecilius, avunculus tuus, a
P. Vario cum magna pecunia fraudaretur, agere coepit cum eius fratre A.
Caninio Satyro de iis rebus, quas eum dolo malo mancipio accepisse de
Vario diceret. Una agebant ceteri creditores, in quibus erat L. Lucullus
et P. Scipio et, is quem putabant magistrum fore, si bona venirent, L.
Footnote 1:
que cum (tum _Z_) erit—libenter nunc ceteri (nuntitere _M marg._:
nunciteri _Z_) consuli (concili _Z_), acciderim (acciderunt _Z_) _M
Z_^l: _the reading in the text is that of Boot_.
to lie between Thermus and Silanus. But they are so unpopular and so
unknown, that it seems to me to be on the cards to smuggle in Curius.
Nobody else thinks so, however. It would probably suit our book best for
Thermus to get in with Caesar: for, of the present batch of candidates,
he would be the most formidable rival if he were put off to my year, as
he is commissioner for the repairing of the Flaminian road. That will
easily be finished by then: so I should like to lump him together with
Caesar now. Such is the present rough guess of the chances of the
candidates. I shall take the greatest care to fulfil all a candidate’s
duties: and, as Gaul’s vote counts high, I shall probably get a free
pass and take a run up to visit Piso, as soon as things have quieted
down in the law courts here, returning in January. When I have
discovered the views of the upper ten, I will let you know. The rest I
hope will be plain sailing, with my civilian rivals at any rate. For our
friend Pompey’s followers you must be responsible, as you are quite
close to them. Tell him I shall not take it unkindly if he does not come
to my election. So much for that.
But there is a thing for which I have to crave your pardon. Your uncle,
Caecilius, was cheated out of a large sum of money by P. Varius, and has
taken an action against his brother, A. Caninius Satyrus, about some
property which he says was fraudulently made over to him by Varius. The
other creditors have made common cause with him: and among them are L.
Lucullus and P. Scipio and the man who was expected to act for them at
the sale, if the goods were put up for auction, L. Pontius.
Pontius. Verum hoc ridiculum est de magistro. Nunc cognosce rem. Rogavit
me Caecilius, ut adessem contra Satyrum. Dies fere nullus est, quin hic
Satyrus domum meam ventitet; observat L. Domitium maxime, me habet
proximum; fuit et mihi et Quinto fratri magno usui in nostri
petitionibus. Sane sum perturbatus cum ipsius Satyri familiaritate tum
Domiti, in quo uno maxime ambitio nostra nititur. Demonstravi haec
Caecilio simul et illud ostendi, si ipse unus cum illo uno contenderet,
me ei satis facturum fuisse; nunc in causa universorum creditorum,
hominum praesertim amplissimorum, qui sine eo, quem Caecilius suo nomine
perhiberet, facile causam communem sustinerent, aequum esse eum et
officio meo consulere et tempori. Durius accipere hoc mihi visus est,
quam vellem, et quam homines belli solent, et postea prorsus ab
instituta nostra paucorum dierum consuetudine longe refugit.
Abs te peto, ut mihi hoc ignoscas et me existimes humanitate esse
prohibitum, ne contra amici summam existimationem miserrimo eius tempore
venirem, cum is omnia sua studia et officia in me contulisset. Quodsi
voles in me esse durior, ambitionem putabis mihi obstitisse. Ego autem
arbitror, etiamsi id sit, mihi ignoscendum esse,
ἐπεὶ οὐχ ἱερήιον οὐδὲ βοείην.
Vides enim, in quo cursu simus et quam omnes gratias non modo
retinendas, verum etiam acquirendas
But it is absurd to talk of acting for them at present. Now for the
point. Caecilius asked me to take a brief against Satyrus. Now there is
hardly a day but Satyrus pays me a visit. He is most attentive to L.
Domitius and after him to me, and he was of great assistance to me and
to my brother Quintus when we were canvassing. I am really embarrassed
on account of the friendliness of Satyrus himself and of Domitius, who
is the mainstay of my hopes. I pointed this out to Caecilius, assuring
him at the same time that, if he stood alone against Satyrus, I would
have done my best for him: but, as things were, when the creditors had
combined and were such influential persons that they would easily win
their case without any special advocate whom Caecilius might retain on
his own account, it was only fair for him to consider my obligations and
my circumstances. He seemed to take it more ungraciously than I could
have wished or than a gentleman should: and afterwards he withdrew
entirely from the intimacy which had grown up between us in the last few
days.
Please try to forgive me and to believe that delicacy prevented me from
appearing against a friend whose very good name was at stake, in the
hour of his misfortune, when the friendly attentions he had paid to me
had been unfailing. If you cannot take so kind a view, pray consider
that my candidature stood in the way. I think even so I may be forgiven:
for there is not “a trifle, some eightpenny matter,”[2] at [Sidenote:
Iliad xxii, 159] stake. You know the game I am playing, and how
important it is for me to keep in with every one and
Footnote 2:
Lit. “Since it was not for a victim for sacrifice nor for an oxhide
shield (they strove).”
putemus. Spero tibi me causam probasse, cupio quidem certe.
Hermathena tua valde me delectat et posita ita belle est, ut totum
gymnasium eius ἀνάθημα[3] esse videatur. Multum te amamus.
II
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
[Sidenote: _Scr. Romae paulo post ep. 1 a. 689_]
L. Iulio Caesare, C. Marcio Figulo consulibus filiolo me auctum scito
salva Terentia. Abs te tam diu nihil litterarum! Ego de meis ad te
rationibus scripsi antea diligenter. Hoc tempore Catilinam, competitorem
nostrum, defendere cogitamus. Iudices habemus, quos volumus, summa
accusatoris voluntate. Spero, si absolutus erit, coniunctiorem illum
nobis fore in ratione petitionis; sin aliter acciderit, humaniter
feremus.
Tuo adventu nobis opus est maturo; nam prorsus summa hominum est opinio
tuos familiares nobiles homines adversarios honori nostro fore. Ad eorum
voluntatem mihi conciliandam maximo te mihi usui fore video. Quare
Ianuario mense, ut constituisti, cura ut Romae sis.
III
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
[Sidenote: _Scr. Romae ex. a. 687_]
Aviam tuam scito desiderio tui mortuam esse, et simul quod verita sit,
ne Latinae in officio non manerent et in montem Albanum hostias non
adducerent.
Footnote 3:
eius ἀνάθημα, Schütz: eiut αναθμα _M_: eliu onaohma _C_.
even to make new friends. I hope I have justified myself to you. I am
really anxious to do so.
I am highly delighted with your Hermathena, and have found such a good
position for it, that the whole class-room seems but an offering at its
feet.[4] Many thanks for it.
II
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
[Sidenote: _Rome, shortly after letter 1_, B.C. _65_]
I beg to inform you that on the very day that L. Julius Caesar and C.
Marcius Figulus were elected to the consulship I was blessed with a baby
boy; and Terentia is doing well. It is ages since I had a letter from
you! I have written before and told you all my affairs. At the present
minute I am thinking about defending my fellow candidate Catiline. We
can have any jury we like with the greatest good will of the prosecutor.
I hope, if Catiline is acquitted, it will make us better friends in our
canvassing: but, if it does not, I shall take it quietly.
I badly want you back soon: for there is a widespread opinion that some
friends of yours among the upper ten are opposed to my election, and I
can see that you will be of the greatest assistance to me in winning
their good will. So be sure you come back to town in January, as you
proposed.
III
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
[Sidenote: _Rome, towards the end of_ B.C. _67_]
I beg to inform you that your grandmother has died of grief at your
absence and of fear that the Latin tribes would revolt and not bring the
beasts
Footnote 4:
ἀνάθημα is generally used of an offering at a shrine, and Cicero seems
to speak here of the Hermathena as the goddess to whom the whole room
was dedicated. But the reading is uncertain.
Eius rei consolationem ad te L. Saufeium missurum esse arbitror. Nos hic
te ad mensem Ianuarium exspectamus ex quodam rumore an ex litteris tuis
ad alios missis; nam ad me de eo nihil scripsisti. Signa quae nobis
curasti, ea sunt ad Caietam exposita. Nos ea non vidimus; neque enim
exeundi Roma potestas nobis fuit. Misimus, qui pro vectura solveret. Te
multum amamus, quod ea abs te diligenter parvoque curata sunt.
Quod ad me saepe scripsisti de nostro amico placando, feci et expertus
sum omnia, sed mirandum in modum est animo abalienato. Quibus de
suspicionibus etsi audisse te arbitror, tamen ex me, cum veneris,
cognosces. Sallustium praesentem restituere in eius veterem gratiam non
potui. Hoc ad te scripsi, quod is me accusare de te solebat. In se
expertus est illum esse minus exorabilem, meum studium nec sibi nec tibi
defuisse. Tulliolam C. Pisoni L. f. Frugi despondimus.
IV
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
[Sidenote: _Scr. Romae in. a. 688_]
Crebras exspectationes nobis tui commoves. Nuper quidem, cum iam te
adventare arbitraremur; repente abs te in mensem Quintilem reiecti
sumus. Nunc vero sentio, quod commodo tuo facere poteris, venias
to the Alban hill for sacrifice.[5] No doubt Saufeius will send you a
letter of condolence. I am expecting you back by January—from mere
hearsay, or was it perhaps from letters you have sent to others? You
have not said anything about it to me. The statues you have obtained for
me have been landed at Caieta. I’ve not seen them yet, as I’ve not had a
chance of getting away from town: but I’ve sent a man to pay for the
carriage. Many thanks for the trouble you’ve taken in getting them—so
cheaply too.
You keep writing to me to make your peace with our friend. I have tried
every means I know: but it is surprising how estranged he is from you. I
expect you have heard what he thinks about you: anyhow I’ll let you know
when you come. I have not been able to restore the old terms of intimacy
between him and Sallustius, though the latter was on the spot. I mention
it because Sallustius used to grumble at me about you. Now he has found
out that our friend is not so easy to appease, and that I have done my
best for both of you. Our little Tullia is engaged to C. Piso Frugi, son
of Lucius.
IV
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
[Sidenote: _Rome, at the beginning of_ B.C. _66_]
You keep on raising our hopes of seeing you: and just the other day,
when we thought you were nearly here, we find ourselves suddenly put off
till July. Now I really do think you ought to keep your promise
Footnote 5:
The point is not very clear. My translation follows Mr Strachan
Davidson’s interpretation that the old lady was thinking of the Social
War which took place twenty years earlier. Others understand _feriae_
with _Latinae_. and take it to refer merely to possible delays of the
festival.
ad id tempus, quod scribis; obieris Quinti fratris comitia, nos longo
intervallo viseris, Acutilianam controversiam transegeris. Hoc me etiam
Peducaeus ut ad te scriberem admonuit. Putamus enim utile esse te
aliquando eam rem transigere. Mea intercessio parata et est et fuit. Nos
hic incredibili ac singulari populi voluntate de C. Macro transegimus.
Cui cum aequi fuissemus, tamen multo maiorem fructum ex populi
existimatione illo damnato cepimus quam ex ipsius, si absolutus esset,
gratia cepissemus.
Quod ad me de Hermathena scribis, per mihi gratum est. Est ornamentum
Academiae proprium meae, quod et Hermes commune omnium et Minerva
singulare est insigne eius gymnasii. Quare velim, ut scribis, ceteris
quoque rebus quam plurimis eum locum ornes. Quae mihi antea signa
misisti, ea nondum vidi; in Formiano sunt, quo ego mine proficisci
cogitabam. Illa omnia in Tusculanum deportabo. Caietam, si quando
abundare coepero, ornabo. Libros tuos conserva et noli desperare eos me
meos facere posse. Quod si adsequor, supero Crassum divitiis atque
omnium vicos et prata contemno.
V
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
[Sidenote: _Scr. Romae paulo ante IV K. Dec. 686_]
Quantum dolorem acceperim et quanto fructu sim privatus et forensi et
domestico Luci fratris nostri morte, in primis pro nostra consuetudine
tu existimare potes. Nam mihi omnia, quae iucunda ex humanitate
and come if you possibly can manage it. You will be in time for my
brother Quintus’ election: you will see me after all this long while;
and you will settle the bother with Acutilius. The latter point
Peducaeus too suggested that I should mention to you: we think it would
be much better for you to get the thing settled at last. I am and have
long been ready to use my influence for you. You would never believe how
pleased every one is with my conduct of Macer’s case. I might certainly
have shown more partiality to him: but the popularity I have gained from
his condemnation is far more important to me than his gratitude at an
acquittal would have been.
I am delighted at your news about the Hermathena. It is a most suitable
ornament for my Academy, since no class-room is complete without a
Hermes, and Minerva has a special appropriateness in mine. So please do
as you suggest and send as many ornaments as possible for the place. The
statues you sent before I have not seen yet. They are in my house at
Formiae, where I am just thinking of going. I’ll have them all brought
to my place at Tusculum, and, if that ever gets too full, I’ll begin
decorating Caieta. Keep your books and don’t despair of my making them
mine some day. If I ever do, I shall be the richest of millionaires and
shan’t envy any man his manors and meadows.
V
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
[Sidenote: _Rome, shortly before Nov. 27_ B.C. _68_]
You, who know me so well, can guess better than anyone the grief I have
felt at the death of my cousin Lucius and the loss it means to me both
in my public and in my private life. He has always
alterius et moribus homini accidere possunt, ex illo accidebant. Quare
non dubito, quin tibi quoque id molestum sit, cum et meo dolore moveare
et ipse omni virtute officioque ornatissimum tuique et sua sponte et meo
sermone amantem adfinem amicumque amiseris.
Quod ad me scribis de sorore tua, testis erit tibi ipsa, quantae mihi
curae fuerit, ut Quinti fratris animus in eam esset is, qui esse
deberet. Quem cum esse offensiorem arbitrarer, eas litteras ad eum misi,
quibus et placarem ut fratrem et monerem ut minorem et obiurgarem ut
errantem. Itaque ex iis, quae postea saepe ab eo ad me scripta sunt,
confido ita esse omnia, ut et oporteat et velimus.
De litterarum missione sine causa abs te accusor. Numquam enim a
Pomponia nostra certior sum factus esse, cui dare litteras possem, porro
autem neque mihi accidit, ut haberem, qui in Epirum proficisceretur,
nequedum te Athenis esse audiebamus. De Acutiliano autem negotio quod
mihi mandaras, ut primum a tuo digressu Romam veni, confeceram; sed
accidit, ut et contentione nihil opus esset, et ut ego, qui in te satis
consilii statuerim esse, mallem Peducaeum tibi consilium per litteras
quam me dare. Etenim, cum multos dies aures meas Acutilio dedissem,
cuius sermonis genus tibi notum esse arbitror, non mihi grave duxi
scribere ad te de illius querimoniis, cum eas audire, quod erat
subodiosum, leve putassem. Sed abs te ipso, qui me accusas, unas mihi
scito litteras redditas esse, cum et otii ad scribendum plus et
facultatem dandi maiorem habueris.
Quod scribis, etiamsi cuius animus in te esset
been kindness itself to me, and has rendered me every service a friend
could. I am sure you too will feel it, partly out of sympathy with me,
and partly because you will miss a dear and valued friend and relative,
who was attached to you of his own accord and at my prompting.
You mention your sister. She herself will tell you the pains I have
taken to make my brother Quintus behave as he should to her. When I
thought he was a little annoyed, I wrote to him trying to smooth matters
down with him as a brother, to give him good advice as my junior and to
remonstrate with him as in error. Judging by all the letters I have had
from him since, I trust things are as they should be and as we wish them
to be.
You have no reason to complain of lack of letters from me, as Pomponia
has never let me know when there was a messenger to give them to.
Besides it has so happened that I have not had anyone starting for
Epirus and have not yet heard of your arrival at Athens. Acutilius’
business I settled according to your directions, as soon as ever I got
to Rome after your departure: but, as it happened, there was no hurry,
and, knowing I could trust your good judgement, I preferred Peducaeus to
advise you by letter rather than myself. It was not the bother of
writing you an account of his grievances that I shirked. I spent several
days listening to him, and you know his way of talking; and I did not
mind, though it was a bit of a bore. Though you grumble at me, I’ve only
had one letter from you, let me tell you, and you have had more time to
write and a better chance of sending letters than I’ve had.
You say, “if so and so is a little annoyed with
offensior, a me recolligi oportere, teneo, quid dicas, neque id neglexi,
sed est miro quodam modo adfectus. Ego autem, quae dicenda fuerunt de
te, non praeterii; quid autem contendendum esset, ex tua putabam
voluntate me statuere oportere. Quam si ad me perscripseris, intelleges
me neque diligentiorem esse voluisse, quam tu esses, neque
neglegentiorem fore, quam tu velis.
De Tadiana re mecum Tadius locutus est te ita scripsisse, nihil esse
iam, quod laboraretur, quoniam hereditas usu capta esset. Id mirabamur
te ignorare, de tutela legitima, in qua dicitur esse puella, nihil usu
capi posse. Epiroticam emptionem gaudeo tibi placere. Quae tibi mandavi,
et quae tu intelleges convenire nostro Tusculano, velim, ut scribis,
cures, quod sine molestia tua facere poteris. Nam nos ex omnibus
molestiis et laboribus uno illo in loco conquiescimus. Quintum fratrem
cotidie exspectamus. Terentia magnos articulorum dolores habet. Et te et
sororem tuam et matrem maxime diligit salutemque tibi plurimam ascribit
et Tulliola, deliciae nostrae. Cura, ut valeas et nos ames et tibi
persuadeas te a me fraterne amari.
VI
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
[Sidenote: _Scr. Romae paulo post IV K. Dec. a. 686_]
Non committam posthac, ut me accusare de epistularum neglegentia possis;
tu modo videto, in tanto otio ut par in hoc mihi sis. Domum Rabirianam
Neapoli, quam tu iam dimensam et exaedificatam
you,” I ought to patch things up. I know what you mean, and I’ve done my
best: but he is in a very odd mood. I’ve said all I could for you. I
think I ought to follow your wishes as to what special arguments I
should use. If you will write and tell me your wishes, you will find
that I did not wish to be more energetic than you were, nor will I be
less energetic than you wish.
In that matter about Tadius’ property, he tells me you have written him
that there is no necessity for him to trouble any more about it: the
property is his by right of possession. I wonder you forgot, that in the
case of legal wards—and that is what the girl is said to be—right of
possession does not count. I am glad you like your new purchase in
Epirus. Please carry out my commissions, and, as you suggest, buy
anything else you think suitable for my Tusculan villa, if it is no
trouble to you. It is the only place I find restful after a hard day’s
work. I am expecting my brother Quintus every day. Terentia has a bad
attack of rheumatism. She sends her love and best wishes to you and your
sister and mother: and so does my little darling Tullia. Take care of
yourself, and don’t forget me. Your devoted friend.
VI
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
[Sidenote: _Rome, shortly after Nov. 27_, B.C. _68_]
I’ll take care that you shall not have any reason to complain of my
slackness in writing to you in the future. See to it yourself that you
keep up with me. You have plenty of spare time. M. Fontius has bought
Rabirius’ house at Naples, which you had in your mind’s eyes ready
mapped out and finished,
animo habebas, M. Fontius emit HS CCCIↃↃↃ¯XXX¯. Id te scire volui, si
quid forte ea res ad cogitationes tuas pertineret. Quintus frater, ut
mihi videtur, quo volumus animo, est in Pomponiam, et cum ea nunc in
Arpinatibus praediis erat, et secum habebat hominem χρηστομαθῆ, D.
Turranium. Pater nobis decessit a. d. IV Kal. Dec.
Haec habebam fere, quae te scire vellem. Tu velim, si qua ornamenta
γυμνασιώδη reperire poteris, quae loci sint eius, quem tu non ignoras,
ne praetermittas. Nos Tusculano ita delectamur, ut nobismet ipsis tum
denique, cum illo venimus, placeamus. Quid agas omnibus de rebus, et
quid acturus sis, fac nos quam diligentissime certiores.
VII
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
[Sidenote: _Scr. Romae ante Id. Febr. 687_]
Apud matrem recte est, eaque nobis curae est. L. Cincio HS ¯XX¯CD
constitui me curaturum Idibus Febr. Tu velim ea, quae nobis emisse et
parasse scribis, des operam ut quam primum habeamus, et velim cogites,
id quod mihi pollicitus es, quem ad modum bibliothecam nobis conficere
possis. Omnem spem delectationis nostrae, quam, cum in otium venerimus,
habere volumus, in tua humanitate positam habemus.
for about £1150.[6] I mention it in case you still hanker after it. My
brother is getting on as well as we can wish, I think, with Pomponia. He
is living with her at his estate at Arpinum now, and has with him a
_littérateur_, D. Turranius. My poor father died on November the 27th.
That is about all my budget of news. If you can come across any articles
of _vertu_ fit for my Gymnasium, please don’t let them slip. You know
the place and what suits it. I’m so pleased with my house at Tusculum
that I am never really happy except when I am there. Send me a full
account of your doings and of what you are thinking of doing.
VII
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
[Sidenote: _Rome, before Feb. 13_, B.C. _67_]
Things are all right at your mother’s: and I have got my eye on her.
I’ve arranged to deposit £180[7] with L. Cincius on February the 13th.
Please hurry up with the things you say you have bought and got ready
for me. I want them as soon as possible. And keep your promise to
consider how you can secure the library for me. All my hopes of enjoying
myself, when I retire, rest on your kindness.
Footnote 6:
130,000 sesterces.
Footnote 7:
20,400 sesterces.
VIII
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
[Sidenote: _Scr. Romae post Id. Febr. a. 687_]
Apud te est, ut volumus. Mater tua et soror a me Quintoque fratre
diligitur. Cum Acutilio sum locutus. Is sibi negat a suo procuratore
quicquam scriptum esse et miratur istam controversiam fuisse, quod ille
recusarit satis dare amplius abs te non peti. Quod te de Tadiano negotio
decidisse scribis, id ego Tadio et gratum esse intellexi et magno opere
iucundum. Ille noster amicus, vir mehercule optimus et mihi amicissimus,
sane tibi iratus est. Hoc si quanti tu aestimes sciam, tum, quid mihi
elaborandum sit, scire possim.
L. Cincio HS CCIↃↃ CCIↃↃ CCCC pro signis Megaricis, ut tu ad me
scripseras, curavi. Hermae tui Pentelici cum capitibus aeneis, de quibus
ad me scripsisti, iam nunc me admodum delectant. Quare velim et eos et
signa et cetera, quae tibi eius loci et nostri studii et tuae elegantiae
esse videbuntur, quam plurima quam primumque mittas, et maxime quae tibi
gymnasii xystique videbuntur esse. Nam in eo genere sic studio
efferimur, ut abs te adiuvandi, ab aliis prope reprehendendi simus. Si
Lentuli navis non erit, quo tibi placebit, imponito. Tulliola deliciolae
nostrae, tuum munusculum flagitat et me ut sponsorem appellat; mi autem
abiurare certius est quam dependere.
VIII
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
[Sidenote: _Rome, after Feb. 13_, B.C. _67_]
All’s well—as well as could be desired—at home. Quintus and I are
looking after your mother and sister. I’ve spoken to Acutilius. He says
his broker has not advised him, and is much surprised there should have
been such a fuss because he refused to guarantee that there should be no
further claims on you. The settlement that you have arranged about
Tadius’ affairs is, I am sure, very good news for him, and he is pleased
about it. That friend of mine, who is really quite a good soul and very
amiable to me, is exceedingly annoyed with you. When I know how deeply
you take it to heart, I may be able to lay my plans accordingly.
I have raised the £180[8] for L. Cincius for the statues of Megaric
marble, as you advised me. Those figures of Hermes in Pentelic marble
with bronze heads, about which you wrote, I have already fallen in love
with: so please send them and anything else that you think suits the
place, and my enthusiasm for such things, and your own taste—the more
the merrier, and the sooner the better—especially those you intend for
the Gymnasium and the colonnade. For my appreciation for art treasures
is so great that I am afraid most people will laugh at me, though I
expect encouragement from you. If none of Lentulus’ boats are coming,
put them on any ship you like. My little darling, Tullia, keeps asking
for your promised present and duns me as though I were answerable for
you. But I am going to deny my obligation rather than pay up.
Footnote 8:
20,400 sesterces.
IX
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
[Sidenote: _Scr. Romae post ep. 8 a. 687_]
Nimium raro nobis abs te litterae adferuntur, cum et multo tu facilius
reperias, qui Romam proficiscantur, quam ego, qui Athenas, et certius
tibi sit me esse Romae quam mihi te Athenis. Itaque propter hanc
dubitationem meam brevior haec ipsa epistula est, quod, cum incertus
essem, ubi esses, nolebam illum nostrum familiarem sermonem in alienas
manus devenire.
Signa Megarica et Hermas, de quibus ad me scripsisti, vehementer
exspecto. Quicquid eiusdem generis habebis, dignum Academia tibi quod
videbitur, ne dubitaris mittere et arcae nostrae confidito. Genus hoc
est voluptatis meae; quae γυμνασιώδη maxime sunt, ea quaero. Lentulus
naves suas pollicetur. Peto abs te, ut haec diligenter cures. Thyillus
te rogat et ego eius rogatu Εὐμολπιδῶν πάτρια.
X
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
[Sidenote: _Scr. in Tusculano ante Quintil. a. 687_]
Cum essem in Tusculano (erit hoc tibi pro illo tuo: “Cum essem in
Ceramico”) verum tamen cum ibi essem Roma puer a sorore tua missus
epistulam mihi abs te adlatam dedit nuntiavitque eo ipso die post
meridiem iturum eum, qui ad te proficisceretur. Eo factum est, ut
epistulae tuae rescriberem aliquid, brevitate temporis tam pauca cogerer
scribere.
IX
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
[Sidenote: _Rome_, B.C. _67_]
Your letters are much too few and far between, considering that it is
much easier for you to find some one coming to Rome than for me to find
anyone going to Athens. Besides you can be surer that I am at Rome than
I can be that you are in Athens. The shortness of this letter is due to
my doubts as to your whereabouts. Not knowing for certain where you are,
I don’t want private correspondence to fall into a stranger’s hands.
I am awaiting impatiently the statues of Megaric marble and those of
Hermes, which you mentioned in your letter. Don’t hesitate to send
anything else of the same kind that you have, if it is fit for my
Academy. My purse is long enough. This is my little weakness; and what I
want especially are those that are fit for a Gymnasium. Lentulus
promises his ships. Please bestir yourself about it. Thyillus asks you,
or rather has got me to ask you, for some books on the ritual of the
Eumolpidae.
X
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
[Sidenote: _Tusculum, before July_, B.C. _67_]
When I was in my house at Tusculum—that’s tit for tat against your “When
I was in Ceramicus”—but when I really was there, your sister sent a man
from Rome with a letter from you, and told me that some one was going to
start for Greece that very afternoon. So for lack of time I must make a
very short answer to your letter.
Primum tibi de nostro amico placando aut etiam plane restituendo
polliceor. Quod ego etsi mea sponte ante faciebam, eo nunc tamen et agam
studiosius et contendam ab illo vehementius, quod tantum ex epistula
voluntatem eius rei tuam perspicere videor. Hoc te intellegere volo,
pergraviter illum esse offensum; sed, quia nullam video gravem subesse
causam, magno opere confido illum fore in officio et in nostra
potestate.
Signa nostra et Hermeraclas, ut scribis, cum commodissime poteris, velim
imponas, et si quod aliud οἰκεῖον eius loci, quem non ignoras, reperies,
et maxime quae tibi palaestrae gymnasiique videbuntur esse. Etenim ibi
sedens haec ad te scribebam, ut me locus ipse admoneret. Praeterea typos
tibi mando, quos in tectorio atrioli possim includere, et putealia
sigillata duo. Bibliothecam tuam cave cuiquam despondeas, quamvis acrem
amatorem inveneris; nam ego omnes meas vindemiolas eo reservo, ut illud
subsidium senectuti parem.
De fratre confido ita esse, ut semper volui et elaboravi. Multa signa
sunt eius rei, non minimum, quod soror praegnans est. De comitiis meis
et tibi me permisisse memini, et ego iam pridem hoc communibus amicis,
qui te exspectant, praedico, te non modo non arcessi a me, sed
prohiberi, quod intellegam multo magis interesse tua te agere, quod
agendum est hoc tempore, quam mea te adesse comitiis. Proinde eo animo
te velim esse, quasi mei negotii
First I promise to patch up the quarrel between you and our friend, even
if I cannot quite make peace. I should have done it before of my own
accord: but now that I see from your note that you have set your heart
on it, I’ll give my mind to it and try harder than ever to win him over.
I would have you to know that he is very seriously annoyed with you:
but, as I cannot see any serious ground for his annoyance, I hope I
shall find him pliable and amenable to my influence.
Please do as you say about the statues and the Hermeraclae: and have
them shipped as soon as you can conveniently, and any other things you
come across that are suitable for the place—you know what it is
like—especially for the Palaestra and Gymnasium. That’s where I am
sitting and writing now, so my thoughts naturally run on it. I give you
a commission too for bas-reliefs for insertion in the stucco walls of
the hall, and for two well-covers in carved relief. Be sure you don’t
promise your library to anyone, however ardent a suitor you may find for
it. I am saving up all my little gleanings to buy it as a prop for my
old age.
My brother’s affairs are, I trust, as I have always wished them to be
and striven to make them. Everything points that way, and not the least
that your sister is enceinte. As for my election, I’ve not forgotten
that I gave you leave to stop away: and I’ve already warned our common
friends, who expect you to come, that I’ve not only forborne to ask you
to do so, but even forbidden it, knowing that present business is of
much more importance to you than your presence at my election would be
to me. I should like you to feel exactly as though it were my business
which
causa in ista loca missus esses; me autem eum et offendes erga te et
audies, quasi mihi, si quae parta erunt, non modo te praesente, sed per
te parta sint. Tulliola tibi diem dat, sponsorem me appellat.
XI
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
[Sidenote: _Scr. Romae Quint. aut Sext. a. 687_]
Et mea sponte faciebam antea et post duabus epistulis tuis perdiligenter
in eandem rationem scriptis magno opere sum commotus. Eo accedebat
hortator adsiduus Sallustius, ut agerem quam diligentissime cum Lucceio
de vestra vetere gratia reconcilianda. Sed, cum omnia fecissem, non modo
eam voluntatem eius, quae fuerat erga te, recuperare non potui, verum ne
causam quidem elicere immutatae voluntatis. Tametsi iactat ille quidem
illud suum arbitrium, et ea, quae iam tum, cum aderas, offendere eius
animum intellegebam, tamen habet quiddam profecto, quod magis in animo
eius insederit, quod neque epistulae tuae neque nostra adlegatio tam
potest facile delere, quam tu praesens non modo oratione, sed tuo vultu
illo familiari tolles, si modo tanti putaris, id quod, si me audies et
si humanitati tuae constare voles, certe putabis. Ac, ne illud mirere,
cur, cum ego antea significarim tibi per litteras me sperare illum in
nostra potestate fore, nunc idem videar diffidere, incredibile est,
quanto mihi videatur illius voluntas
had taken you away. And you will find and hear from others that my
feelings towards you are just as they would be if my success, supposing
I have any, were gained not only with you here, but by your aid.
My little Tullia is for having the law of you, and is dunning me as your
representative.
XI
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
[Sidenote: _Rome, July or Aug._, B.C. _67_]
I had been working for you of my own free will, and my energies were
redoubled by the receipt of two letters from you insisting on the same
point. Besides Sallustius was continually pressing me to do my best to
replace you on your old friendly footing with Lucceius. But when I had
done the uttermost, I failed not only to win back his old affection for
you, but even to extract from him the reason for his change of feelings
towards you. Though he is continually harping on that arbitration case
of his, and the other things which I noticed provoked him when you were
here, there is something else, I am sure, which is rankling in his mind.
And this your presence, a talk with him, and still more the sight of
your familiar face, would do more to remove than either your letters or
my services as intermediary, if you think it worth while to come. And,
if you will listen to me and are disposed to act with your usual
courtesy, you will certainly think it worth while. You would never
believe how self-willed and stiff-necked he seems to be on the point: so
don’t be astonished that I now appear to doubt my ability to manage him,
though in former letters I hinted that I thought he would
obstinatior et in hac iracundia offirmatior. Sed haec aut sanabuntur,
cum veneris, aut ei molesta erunt, in utro culpa erit.
Quod in epistula tua scriptum erat me iam arbitrari designatum esse,
scito nihil tam exercitum esse nunc Romae quam candidatos omnibus
iniquitatibus, nec, quando futura sint comitia, sciri. Verum haec audies
de Philadelpho.
Tu velim, quae Academiae nostrae parasti, quam primum mittas. Mire quam
illius loci non modo usus, sed etiam cogitatio delectat. Libros vero
tuos cave cuiquam tradas; nobis eos, quem ad modum scribis, conserva.
Summum me eorum studium tenet sicut odium iam ceterarum rerum; quas tu
incredibile est quam brevi tempore quanto deteriores offensurus sis,
quam reliquisti.
XII
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
[Sidenote: _Scr. Romae K. Ian. a. 693_]
Teucris illa lentum sane negotium, neque Cornelius ad Terentiam postea
rediit. Opinor, ad Considium, Axium, Selicium confugiendum est; nam a
Caecilio propinqui minore centesimis nummum movere non possunt. Sed ut
ad prima illa redeam, nihil ego illa impudentius, astutius, lentius
vidi. “Libertum mitto, Tito mandavi.” Σκήψεις atque ἀναβολαί; sed nescio
an ταὐτόματον ἡμῶν. Nam mihi Pompeiani prodromi nuntiant aperte Pompeium
acturum Antonio succedi
be under my thumb. But that will be all put right when you come, or he
will smart for it who deserves it.
You say in your note that my election is thought certain; but let me
tell you that candidates are plagued to death nowadays with all sorts of
unfairness, and even the date of the election is not fixed. But you will
hear about that from Philadelphus.
Please send what you have purchased for my Academy as soon as possible.
It is astonishing how the mere thought of the place raises my spirits
even when I am not in it. Be sure you don’t get rid of your books. Keep
them for me as you promise. My enthusiasm for them increases with my
disgust at everything else. You would never believe how changed for the
worse you will find everything has been in the short time you have been
away.
XII
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
[Sidenote: _Rome, Jan. 1_ B.C. _61_]
Teucris[9] is an unconscionably slow coach and Cornelius has never come
back to Terentia: so I suppose I shall have to turn to Considius, Axius
or Selicius. Even his relatives can’t screw a penny out of Caecilius at
less than 12 per cent. But to return to the point; Teucris’ behaviour is
the most shameless mixture of cunning and laziness I have ever seen.
“I’m sending a freedman,” says she, or “I’ve given Titus a commission.”
All excuses and delays! But perhaps “_dieu dispose_”;[10] for Pompey’s
advance party bring news that he is going to move for Antony’s
Footnote 9:
Probably a pseudonym for some agent of Gaius Antonius, though some
suggest that it stands for Antonius himself.
Footnote 10:
Menander, ταὐτόματον ἡμῶν καλλίω βουλεύεται.
oportere, eodemque tempore aget praetor ad populum. Res eius modi est,
ut ego nec per bonorum nec per popularem existimationem honeste possim
hominem defendere, nec mihi libeat, quod vel maximum est. Etenim accidit
hoc, quod totum cuius modi sit, mando tibi, ut perspicias. Libertum ego
habeo sane nequam hominem, Hilarum dico, ratiocinatorem et clientem
tuum. De eo mihi Valerius interpres nuntiat, Thyillusque se audisse
scribit haec, esse hominem cum Antonio; Antonium porro in cogendis
pecuniis dictitare partem mihi quaeri et a me custodem communis quaestus
libertum esse missum. Non sum mediocriter commotus neque tamen credidi,
sed certe aliquid sermonis fuit. Totum investiga, cognosce, perspice et
nebulonem illum, si quo pacto potes, ex istis locis amove. Huius
sermonis Valerius auctorem Cn. Plancium nominabat. Mando tibi plane
totum, ut videas cuius modi sit.
Pompeium nobis amicissimum constat esse. Divortium Muciae vehementer
probatur. P. Clodium, Appi f., credo te audisse cum veste muliebri
deprehensum domi C. Caesaris, cum pro populo fieret, eumque per manus
servulae servatum et eductum; rem esse insigni infamia. Quod te moleste
ferre certo scio.
Quod praeterea ad te scribam, non habeo, et mehercule eram in scribendo
conturbatior. Nam puer festivus anagnostes noster Sositheus decesserat,
meque plus quam servi mors debere videbatur, commoverat.
retirement, and a praetor will bring the motion forward. Under my
circumstances I couldn’t honourably champion him. I should lose the
respect of both parties if I did: and what’s more, I wouldn’t, if I
could, in view of certain things that have happened, to which I should
like to call your attention. There’s a freedman of mine, an utter
scoundrel—Hilarus I mean—an accountant and a client of yours. Valerius
the interpreter sends me news of him, and Thyillus says he has heard too
that the fellow is with Antony, and that Antony, when he is making
requisitions, always asserts that part is levied on my authority, and
that I have sent a freedman to look after my share. I am considerably
annoyed, though I hardly believe the story: but there has been a good
deal of talk. Look into the matter thoroughly and try to get to the
bottom of it, and, if you possibly can, get that rascal shifted.
Valerius mentioned Cn. Plancius as his authority for the statement. I
leave the whole matter entirely in your hands to investigate.
I am assured that Pompey is on the best of terms with me. Mucia’s
divorce meets with every one’s approval. I expect you have heard that P.
Clodius, son of Appius, was discovered in woman’s clothes in C. Caesar’s
house, where the sacrifice was going on: but a servant girl managed to
smuggle him out. It has created a public scandal: and I am sure you will
be sorry to hear of it.
I don’t think I have any other news for you: and I’m sorry to say I’ve
been rather upset while writing. My reader Sositheus, a charming fellow,
has died; and I am more upset about it than anyone would suppose I
should be about a slave’s death. Please
Tu velim saepe ad nos scribas. Si rem nullam habebis, quod in buccam
venerit, scribito. Kal. Ianuariis M. Messalla, M. Pisone coss.
XIII
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
[Sidenote: _Scr. Romae VI K. Febr. a. 693_]
Accepi tuas tres iam epistulas, unam a M. Cornelio, quam Tribus
Tabernis, ut opinor, ei dedisti, alteram, quam mihi Canusinus tuus
hospes reddidit, tertiam, quam, ut scribis, ancora soluta[11] de phaselo
dedisti; quae fuerunt omnes,[12] ut rhetorum pueri loquuntur, cum
humanitatis sparsae sale tum insignes amoris notis. Quibus epistulis sum
equidem abs te lacessitus ad rescribendum; sed idcirco sum tardior, quod
non invenio fidelem tabellarium. Quotus enim quisque est, qui epistulam
paulo graviorem ferre possit, nisi eam pellectione relevarit? Accedit
eo, quod mihi non est notum ut quisque in Epirum proficiscitur. Ego enim
te arbitror caesis apud Amaltheam tuam victimis, statim esse ad Sicyonem
oppugnandum profectum, neque tamen id ipsum certum habeo, quando ad
Antonium proficiscare, aut quid in Epiro temporis ponas. Ita neque
Achaicis hominibus neque Epiroticis paulo liberiores litteras committere
audeo.
Sunt autem post discessum a me tuum res dignae litteris nostris, sed non
committendae eius modi periculo, ut aut interire aut aperiri aut
intercipi possint. Primum igitur scito primum me non esse rogatum
sententiam praepositumque esse nobis pacificatorem
Footnote 11:
ancora sublata _Lambinus_: ora soluta _Peerlkamp_. _But Schmalz
(Antibarbarus, ii. 588, 7th ed.) points out the reading of the MSS. is
defensible as a contamination of_ ancora sublata _and_ nave soluta.
Footnote 12:
ut rhetorum pueri _Madvig_: rethorum pure _MSS._
write frequently. If you’ve no news, write the first thing that comes
into your head.
Jan. 1, in the consulship of M. Messalla and M. Piso.
XIII
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
[Sidenote: _Rome, Jan. 25_, B.C. _61_]
I have had your three letters: one from M. Cornelius, to whom you gave
it, I think at the Three Taverns; another brought by your host at
Canusium; and a third which you say you posted from the boat just as you
got under weigh. All three of them were, as a pupil in the rhetorical
schools would say, at once sprinkled with the salt of refinement and
stamped with the brand of affection. They certainly provoke an answer:
but I have been rather slow about sending one, for lack of a safe
messenger. There are very few who can carry a letter of weight without
lightening it by a perusal. Besides, I don’t hear of every traveller to
Epirus. For I suppose, when you have offered sacrifice at your villa
Amalthea, you will start at once to lay siege to Sicyon. I’m not certain
either how or when you are going to join Antony or how long you will
stay in Epirus. So I dare not trust at all outspoken letters to people
going either to Achaia or to Epirus.
Plenty of things have happened worth writing about since your departure,
but I dared not commit them to the risk of the letters being either lost
or opened or intercepted. First then let me tell you I was not asked my
opinion first in the House, but had to play second fiddle to the
“peace-maker” of the
Allobrogum, idque admurmurante senatu neque me invito esse factum. Sum
enim et ab observando homine perverso liber et ad dignitatem in re
publica retinendam contra illius voluntatem solutus, et ille secundus in
dicendo locus habet auctoritatem paene principis et voluntatem non nimis
devinctam beneficio consulis. Tertius est Catulus, quartus, si etiam hoc
quaeris, Hortensius. Consul autem ipse parvo animo et pravo tamen
cavillator genere illo moroso, quod etiam sine dicacitate ridetur, facie
magis quam facetiis ridiculus, nihil agens cum re publica, seiunctus ab
optimatibus, a quo nihil speres boni rei publicae, quia non vult, nihil
speres mali, quia non audet. Eius autem collega et in me perhonorificus
et partium studiosus ac defensor bonarum. Qui nunc leviter inter se
dissident. Sed vereor, ne hoc, quod infectum est, serpat longius. Credo
enim te audisse, cum apud Caesarem pro populo fieret, venisse eo
muliebri vestitu virum, idque sacrificium cum virgines instaurassent;
mentionem a Q. Cornificio in senatu factam (is fuit princeps, ne tu
forte aliquem nostrum putes); postea rem ex senatus consulto ad virgines
atque ad pontifices relatam idque ab iis nefas esse decretum; deinde ex
senatus consulto consules rogationem promulgasse; uxori Caesarem nuntium
remisisse. In hac causa Piso amicitia P. Clodi ductus
Allobroges.[13] Nor did I mind much, though the senate murmured
disapproval. It has freed me from the necessity of bowing to a crotchety
individual, and sets me at liberty to preserve my political dignity in
spite of him. The second place carries nearly as much weight with it as
the first, and one’s actions are not so much bound by obligation to the
consul. The third place fell to Catulus: the fourth, if you want to go
as far, to Hortensius. The consul is petty-minded and perverse, a
quibbler who used that bitter kind of sarcasm, which raises a laugh even
when there is no wit in the words, on the strength of his expression
rather than his expressions. He is no politician at all, he stands aloof
from the conservatives: and one cannot expect him to render any good
services to the state, because he does not wish to do so, nor any bad,
because he does not dare. But his colleague is most polite to me, a keen
politician and a bulwark of the conservative party. There is a slight
difference of opinion between them at present: but I am afraid that the
contagion may spread. No doubt you have heard that, when the sacrifice
was taking place in Caesar’s house, a man in woman’s clothes got in; and
that after the Vestal Virgins had performed the sacrifice afresh, the
matter was mentioned in the House by Cornificius. Note that he was the
prime mover and none of us. Then a resolution was passed, the matter was
referred to the Virgins and the priests, and they pronounced it a
sacrilege. So the consuls were directed by the House to bring in a bill
about it. Caesar has divorced his wife. Piso’s friendship
Footnote 13:
C. Calpurnius Piso, consul in 67 B.C. and governor of Gallia
Narbonensis in 66–65 B.C. He had temporarily pacified the Allobroges,
but they were already in revolt again.
operam dat, ut ea rogatio, quam ipse fert et fert ex senatus consulto et
de religione, antiquetur. Messalla vehementer adhuc agit severe. Boni
viri precibus Clodi removentur a causa, operae comparantur, nosmet ipsi,
qui Lycurgei a principio fuissemus, cotidie demitigamur, instat et urget
Cato. Quid multa? Vereor, ne haec neglecta a bonis, defensa ab improbis
magnorum rei publicae malorum causa sit. Tuus autem ille amicus (scin,
quem dicam?), de quo tu ad me scripsisti, posteaquam non auderet
reprehendere, laudare coepisse, nos, ut ostendit, admodum diligit,
amplectitur; amat, aperte laudat, occulte, sed ita, ut perspicuum sit,
invidet. Nihil come, nihil simplex, nihil ἐν τοῖς πολιτικοῖς illustre,
nihil honestum, nihil forte, nihil liberum. Sed haec ad te scribam alias
subtilius; nam neque adhuc mihi satis nota sunt, et huic terrae filio
nescio cui committere epistulam tantis de rebus non audeo.
Provincias praetores nondum sortiti sunt. Res eodem est loci, quo
reliquisti. Τοποθεσίαν, quam postulas, Miseni et Puteolorum, includam
orationi meae. “A. d. III Non. Decembr.” mendose fuisse animadverteram.
Quae laudas ex orationibus, mihi crede, valde mihi placebant, sed non
audebam antea dicere; nunc vero, quod a te probata sunt; multo mi
ἁττικώτερα videntur. In illam orationem Metellinam
for Clodius is making him do his best to have the bill shelved, though
he is the person who has to bring it forward under the House’s
orders—and a bill for sacrilege too! Messalla at present takes a strict
view of the case. The conservatives are dropping out of it under
persuasion from Clodius. Gangs of rowdies are being formed. I, who at
first was a perfect Lycurgus, am daily cooling down. Cato, however, is
pressing the case with energy. But enough. I am afraid that what with
the lack of interest shown in the case by the conservatives, and its
championship by the socialists, it may cause a lot of mischief to the
state. Your friend[14]—you know whom I mean, the man who, you say, began
to praise me as soon as he feared to blame me—is now parading his
affection for me openly and ostentatiously; but in his heart of hearts
he is envious, and he does not disguise it very well. He is totally
lacking in courtesy, candour, in brilliancy in his politics, as well as
in sense of honour, resolution and generosity. But I’ll write more fully
about that another time. I’ve not got hold of the facts properly yet,
and I dare not trust an important letter to a man in the street like
this messenger.
The praetors have not drawn their provinces yet: and things are just as
they were when you left. I will insert a description of Misenum and
Puteoli in my speech as you suggest. I had already spotted the mistake
in the date, Dec. 3. The passages in my speeches which took your fancy
were, do you know, just those that I was proud of, but didn’t like to
say so before: and after Atticus’ approval they look much more Attic in
my eyes. I have added a
Footnote 14:
Pompey.
addidi quaedam. Liber tibi mittetur, quoniam te amor nostri φιλορήτορα
reddidit.
Novi tibi quidnam scribam? quid? etiam. Messalla consul Autronianam
domum emit HS ¯CXXXIIII¯. “Quid id ad me?” inquies. Tantum, quod ea
emptione et nos bene emisse iudicati sumus, et homines intellegere
coeperunt licere amicorum facultatibus in emendo ad dignitatem aliquam
pervenire. Teucris illa lentum negotium est, sed tamen est in spe. Tu
ista confice. A nobis liberiorem epistulam exspecta. VI Kal. Febr. M.
Messalla, M. Pisone coss.
XIV
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
[Sidenote: _Scr. Romae Id. Febr. a. 693_]
Vereor, ne putidum sit scribere ad te, quam sim occupatus, sed tamen ita
distinebar, ut huic vix tantulae epistulae tempus habuerim atque id
ereptum e summis occupationibus. Prima contio Pompei qualis fuisset,
scripsi ad te antea, non iucunda miseris, inanis improbis, beatis non
grata, bonis non gravis; itaque frigebat. Tum Pisonis consulis impulsu
levissimus tribunus pl. Fufius in contionem producit
little to my reply to Metellus. I’ll send the book to you since your
affection for me has given you a taste for rhetoric.
Is there any news to tell you? Let me see—yes. The consul Messalla has
bought Autronius’ house for £1200.[15] What business is that of mine,
you will ask. Only that it proves that my house was a good investment,
and is beginning to open people’s eyes to the fact that it is quite
legitimate to make use of a friend’s pocket to buy a place that gives
one a social position. That Teucris is a slow coach; but it is not
hopeless yet. Mind you get your part finished. I’ll write less guardedly
soon.
Jan. 25, in the consulship of M. Messalla and M. Piso.
XIV
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
[Sidenote: _Rome, Feb. 13_, B.C. _61_]
I’m afraid you’ll be heartily sick of my pleas of business, but I’m so
driven from pillar to post that I can hardly find time for these few
lines, and even that I have to snatch from important business. I have
already written and told you what Pompey’s first public speech was like.
The poor did not relish it, the socialists thought it pointless, the
rich were not pleased with it, and the conservatives were dissatisfied:
so it fell flat. Then at the instance of the consul Piso, an
untrustworthy tribune, Fufius, must
Footnote 15:
There seems to be some mistake about the numeral, as £1,200 (134,000
sesterces) is too little for a house which could be compared with
Cicero’s, which cost £30,000. If it is supposed to stand for ¯CXXXIV¯
(i.e. 13,400,000 sesterces) it would be too large. Tyrrell suggests
reading ¯XXXIV¯ (i.e. 3,400,000 sesterces), about £30,000.
Pompeium. Res agebatur in circo Flaminio, et erat in eo ipso loco illo
die nundinarum πανήγυρις. Quaesivit ex eo, placeretne ei iudices a
praetore legi, quo consilio idem praetor uteretur. Id autem erat de
Clodiana religione ab senatu constitutum. Tum Pompeius μάλ’
ἀριστοκρατικῶς locutus est senatusque auctoritatem sibi omnibus in rebus
maximam videri semperque visam esse respondit et id multis verbis.
Postea Messalla consul in senatu de Pompeio quaesivit, quid de religione
et de promulgata rogatione sentiret. Locutus ita est in senatu, ut omnia
illius ordinis consulta γενικῶς laudaret, mihique, ut adsedit, dixit se
putare satis ab se etiam “de istis rebus” esse responsum. Crassus
posteaquam vidit illum excepisse laudem ex eo, quod suspicarentur
homines ei consulatum meum placere, surrexit ornatissimeque de meo
consulatu locutus est, cum ita diceret, “se, quod esset senator, quod
civis, quod liber, quod viveret, mihi acceptum referre; quotiens
coniugem, quotiens domum, quotiens patriam videret, totiens se
beneficium meum videre.” Quid multa? totum hunc locum, quem ego varie
meis orationibus, quarum tu Aristarchus es, soleo pingere, de flamma, de
ferro (nosti illas ληκύθους), valde graviter pertexuit. Proximus Pompeio
sedebam. Intellexi hominem moveri, utrum Crassum inire eam gratiam, quam
ipse
needs trot out Pompey to deliver an harangue. This happened in the
Circus Flaminius, where there was the usual market-day gathering of
riff-raff. Fufius asked him whether he agreed with the proposal that the
praetor should have the selection of the jurymen and then use them as
his panel. That of course was the plan proposed by the Senate in
Clodius’ trial for sacrilege. To this Pompey replied _en grand seigneur_
that he felt and always had felt the greatest respect for the Senate’s
authority; and very long-winded he was about it. Afterwards the consul
Messalla asked Pompey in the Senate for his opinion on the sacrilege and
the proposed bill. He delivered a speech eulogizing the Senate’s
measures _en bloc_, and said to me as he sat down at my side, that he
thought he had given a sufficiently clear answer to “those questions.”
Crassus no sooner saw that he had won public appreciation, because
people fancied that he approved of my consulship, than up he got and
spoke of it in the most complimentary way. He said that he owed his seat
in the House, his privileges as a citizen, his freedom and his very
life, to me. He never saw his wife’s face, or his home, or his native
land, without recognizing the debt he owed to me. But enough. He worked
up with great effect all that purple patch which I so often use here and
there to adorn my speeches, to which you play Aristarchus[16]—the
passage about fire and sword—you know the paints I have on my palette. I
was sitting next to Pompey, and noticed that he was much affected,
possibly at seeing Crassus
Footnote 16:
An Alexandrine grammarian noted especially for his criticism of the
Homeric poems, in which he detected many spurious lines.
praetermisisset, an esse tantas res nostras, quae tam libenti senatu
laudarentur, ab eo praesertim, qui mihi laudem illam eo minus deberet,
quod meis omnibus litteris in Pompeiana laude perstrictus esset. Hic
dies me valde Crasso adiunxit, et tamen ab illo aperte tecte quicquid
est datum, libenter accepi. Ego autem ipse, di boni! quo modo
ἐνεπερπερευσάμην novo auditori Pompeio! Si umquam mihi περίοδοι, si
καμπαί, si ἐνθυμήματα, si κατασκευαί suppeditaverunt, illo tempore. Quid
multa? clamores. Etenim haec erat ὑπόθεσις, de gravitate ordinis, de
equestri concordia, de consensione Italiae, de intermortuis reliquiis
coniurationis, de vilitate, de otio. Nosti iam in hac materia sonitus
nostros. Tanti fuerunt, ut ego eo brevior sim, quod eos usque istinc
exauditos putem.
Romanae autem se res sic habent. Senatus Ἄρειος πάγος; nihil
constantius, nihil severius, nihil fortius. Nam, cum dies venisset
rogationi ex senatus consulto ferendae, concursabant barbatuli iuvenes,
totus ille grex Catilinae, duce filiola Curionis et populum, ut
antiquaret, rogabant. Piso autem consul lator rogationis idem erat
dissuasor. Operae Clodianae pontes occuparant, tabellae ministrabantur
ita, ut nulla daretur “VTI ROGAS.” Hic tibi in rostra Cato advolat,
snap up the chance of winning popularity, which he had thrown away, and
perhaps at realizing the importance of my achievements, when he saw that
praise of them met with the Senate’s entire approval, especially coming
from one who had all the less necessity to praise me, because in every
one of my works he has been censured for Pompey’s benefit. To-day has
done a great deal to cement my friendship with Crassus: but still I
gladly received any crumbs Pompey let fall openly or covertly.[17] As
for me, ye gods, how I showed off before my new listener Pompey! Then,
if ever, my flow of rounded periods, my easy transitions, my antitheses,
my constructive arguments stood me in good stead. In a word, loud
applause! For the gist of it was the importance of the Senatorial order,
its unison with the knights, the concord of all Italy, the paralysed
remains of the conspiracy, peace and plenty. You know how I can thunder
on a subject like that. This time my thunders were so loud that I
forbear to say any more about them. I expect you heard them right over
there.
Well, there you have the news of the town. The Senate is a perfect
Areopagus, all seriousness, steadfastness and firmness. For when the
time came for passing the Senate’s measure, all those callow youths,
Catiline’s cubs, met under the leadership of Curio’s feminine son, and
asked the people to reject it. The consul Piso had to propose the law,
but spoke against it. Clodius’ rowdies held the gangways; and the voting
papers were so managed that no _placet_ forms were given out. Then you
have Cato flying to the
Footnote 17:
Or “let fall with obvious covertness”; or “I openly received what he
covertly gave.”
commulcium Pisoni consuli mirificum facit, si id est commulcium,[18] vox
plena gravitatis, plena auctoritatis, plena denique salutis. Accedit
eodem etiam noster Hortensius, multi praeterea boni; insignis vero opera
Favoni fuit. Hoc concursu optimatium comitia dimittuntur, senatus
vocatur. Cum decerneretur frequenti senatu contra pugnante Pisone, ad
pedes omnium singillatim accidente Clodio, ut consules populum
cohortarentur ad rogationem accipiendam, homines ad quindecim Curioni
nullum senatus consultum facienti adsenserunt, ex altera parte facile
CCCC fuerunt. Acta res est. Fufius tribunus tum concessit. Clodius
contiones miseras habebat, in quibus Lucullum, Hortensium, C. Pisonem,
Messallam consulem contumeliose laedebat; me tantum “comperisse” omnia
criminabatur. Senatus et de provinciis praetorum et de legationibus et
de ceteris rebus decernebat, ut, antequam rogatio lata esset, ne quid
ageretur.
Habes res Romanas. Sed tamen etiam illud, quod non speraram, audi.
Messalla consul est egregius, fortis, constans, diligens, nostri
laudator, amator, imitator. Ille alter uno vitio minus vitiosus, quod
iners, quod somni plenus, quod imperitus, quod ἀπρακτότατος, sed
voluntate ita καχέκτης, ut Pompeium
Footnote 18:
Commulticium _M_: convicium _M in the margin_. _But as Schmidt points
out_, commulcium, _which is the reading of Z in the first case, and of
Z M in the second case, is probably a genuine vulgar Latin word._
rostrum and giving Piso a slap in the face, if one can say “slap in the
face” of an utterance full of dignity, full of authority, and full of
saving counsel. Our friend Hortensius joined him too, and many other
loyalists, Favonius particularly distinguishing himself for his energy.
This rally of the conservatives broke up the meeting, and the Senate was
called together. In a full house a resolution was passed that persuasion
should be used to induce the people to accept the measure, though Piso
opposed it and Clodius went down on his knees to us one by one. Some
fifteen supported Curio’s rejection of the bill, while the opposite
party numbered easily 400. That settled the matter. Funfius the tribune
collapsed. Clodius delivered some pitiful harangues, in which he hurled
reproaches at Lucullus, Hortensius, C. Piso, and the consul Messalla: me
he only twitted with my sensational discoveries.[19] The Senate decided
that no action was to be taken as to the distribution of provinces among
the praetors, hearing of legations or anything else, till this measure
was passed.
There you have the political situation. But there is one piece of news I
must tell you, as it is better than I expected. Messalla is an excellent
consul, resolute, reliable and energetic: for me he expresses admiration
and respect, and shows it by imitating me. That other fellow has only
one redeeming vice, laziness, sleepiness, ignorance, and _fainéance_:
but at heart he is such a _mauvais sujet_ that he began to
Footnote 19:
Cicero had contented himself at the time he unmasked Catiline with
declaring-that he had “discovered” (_comperisse_) full details without
making them public. Hence the phrase was frequently cast in his teeth.
Cf. _Fam._ v. 5. 2.
post illam contionem, in qua ab eo senatus laudatus est, odisse
coeperit. Itaque mirum in modum omnes a se bonos alienavit. Neque id
magis amicitia Clodi adductus fecit quam studio perditarum rerum atque
partium. Sed habet sui similem in magistratibus praeter Fufium neminem.
Bonis utimur tribunis pl., Cornuto vero Pseudocatone. Quid quaeris?
Nunc ut ad privata redeam, Τεῦκρις promissa patravit. Tu mandata effice,
quae recepisti. Quintus frater, qui Argiletani aedificii reliquum
dodrantem emit HS ¯DCCXXV¯, Tusculanum venditat, ut, si possit, emat
Pacilianam domum. Cum Lucceio in gratiam redii. Video hominem valde
petiturire. Navabo operam. Tu quid agas, ubi sis, cuius modi istae res
sint, fac me quam diligentissime certiorem. Idibus Febr.
XV
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
[Sidenote: _Scr. Romae Id. Mart. a. 693_]
Asiam Quinto, suavissimo fratri, obtigisse audisti. Non enim dubito,
quin celerius tibi hoc rumor quam ullius nostrum litterae nuntiarint.
Nunc, quoniam et laudis avidissimi semper fuimus et praeter ceteros
φιλέλληνες et sumus et habemur et multorum odia atque inimicitias rei
publicae causa suscepimus. παντοίης ἀρετῆς μιμνήσκεο curaque, effice, ut
ab omnibus et laudemur et amemur. His de rebus plura ad te in ea
epistula scribam, quam ipsi Quinto
detest Pompey after that speech of his in praise of the Senate. So he is
at daggers drawn with all the patriotic party. It was not so much
friendship for Clodius that induced him to act like this as a taste for
knaves and knavery. But there are none of his kidney in office except
Fufius. Our tribunes of the people are all sound men, and Cornutus is
Cato’s double. Can I say more?
Now for private affairs. Teucris has kept her promise. Do you carry out
the commissions you received. My brother Quintus has bought the
remaining three-quarters of his house on the Argiletum for £6000,[20]
and is selling his place at Tusculum to buy Pacilius’ house, if he can.
I’ve made it up with Lucceius. I see he’s got the office-seeking
complaint badly. I’ll do my best for him. Please keep me posted up in
your doings, your address and the progress of our affairs. 13 Febr.
XV
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
[Sidenote: _Rome, March 15_, B.C. _61_]
You have heard that that good brother of mine, Quintus, has Asia
assigned him as his province. I’ve no doubt a rumour of it has reached
you before any of our letters. We have always had a keen regard for our
reputation, and both are and are considered unusually Philhellenic, and
our public services have won us a host of ill-wishers. So now is the
time for you to “screw your courage to the sticking-place,” [Sidenote:
Iliad xxii, 8] and help us to secure universal applause and approval. I
will write further about it in a letter which I shall
Footnote 20:
725,000 sesterces.
dabo. Tu me velim certiorem facias, quid de meis mandatis egeris atque
etiam quid de tuo negotio; nam, ut Brundisio profectus es, nullae mihi
abs te sunt redditae litterae. Valde aveo scire, quid agas. Idibus
Martiis.
XVI
CICERO ATTICO SAL.
[Sidenote: _Scr. Romae m. Quint. a. 693_]
Quaeris ex me, quid acciderit de iudicio, quod tam praeter opinionem
omnium factum sit, et simul vis scire, quo modo ego minus, quam soleam,
proeliatus sim. Respondebo tibi ὕστερον πρότερον Ὁμηρικῶς. Ego enim,
quam diu senatus auctoritas mihi defendenda fuit, sic acriter et
vehementer proeliatus sum, ut clamor concursusque maxima cum mea laude
fierent. Quodsi tibi umquam sum visus in re publica fortis, certe me in
illa causa admiratus esses. Cum enim ille ad contiones confugisset in
iisque meo nomine ad invidiam uteretur, di immortales! quas ego pugnas
et quantas strages edidi! quos impetus in Pisonem, in Curionem, in totam
illam manum feci! quo modo sum insectatus levitatem senum, libidinem
iuventutis! Saepe, ita me di iuvent! te non solum auctorem consiliorum
meorum, verum etiam spectatorem pugnarum mirificarum desideravi. Postea
vero quam Hortensius excogitavit, ut legem de religione Fufius tribunus
pl. ferret, in qua nihil aliud a consulari rogatione differebat nisi
iudicum genus (in eo autem erant omnia), pugnavitque, ut ita fieret,
quod et sibi et aliis persuaserat nullis illum iudicibus effugere
give to Quintus himself. Please let me know which of my orders you have
carried out, and how your own affairs are getting on. I haven’t had a
single letter from you since you left Brundisium: and I badly want to
know how you are. March 15.
XVI
CICERO TO ATTICUS, GREETING.
[Sidenote: _Rome, June_ B.C. _61_]