Cicero’s Letters to Atticus. Vol. II. 58-54 B.C. 46-93 (Books III and IV) [2]

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C I C E R O ’S L E T T E R S TO ATTICUS EDITED BY D .R . S H A C K L E T O N

B A IL E Y

VOLUME II

5 8 -54 4 6 -93

(B O O K S

B .C . III A N D

IV )

C A M B R ID G E A T T H E U N IV E R S IT Y P R E SS 19 6 5

PUBLISHED BY THE SYNDICS OF THE CAMBRIDGE UN IVERSITY PRES

Bentley House, 200 Euston Road, London, N.W. 1 American Branch: 32 East 57th Street, New York, N.Y. 10022 West African Office: P.O. Box 33, Ibadan, Nigeria

© CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS

1965

tlniv. Bibl.

Printed in Great Britain at the University Printing House, Cambridge (Brooke Crutchley, University Printer) LI B R A R Y OF C O N C R B SS C A T A L O C U E c a r d n u m b e r : 63- 18929

CO NTENTS pag e vii

A bbreviation s

T E X T A N D T R A N S L A T IO N

3

139

CO M M EN TARY A pp en d ices I

C I C E R O ’ S J O U R N E Y IN T O E X I L E

n

T H E DATES OF L E T T E R S

(iv. 4 0 -12) in

LETTER

82 (iv. 8 a ) . 2

Concordance

227

77-86

233 236 239

Indices I

IN D EX NOMINVM

24I

n

I N D E X VE R B O R V M

244

I N D E X RERVM

246

m M aps

Greece and the Balkans Southern Italy

238 at en d o f volum e

A B B R E V IA T IO N S T h e fo llow in g m ay be noted: B rou ghton = T . R . S. Broughton,

The

Magistrates

o f the

Roman Republic (N ew Y o rk , 19 5 1-6 0 ). References unless otherwise stated are to V o l. n. D rum ann-G roebe = K . W . Drum ann and P . Groebe,

G e-

schichte Rom s. 2nd edition (Leipzig, 18 9 9 -19 29 ). K.

- S . = R . K iihner and C . Stegmann, Ausfuhrliche G ram matik der lateinischen Sprache: Satzlehre. 3rd edition (Lever-

kusen, 1955). Lehm ann, de C ic. ad A tt. = C . A . Lehm ann, D e Ciceronis ad Atticum epistulis recensendis et emendandis (Berlin, 1892). Lehmann, Quaest. = C . A . Lehm ann, Quaestiones Tullianae (Prague and Leipzig, 1886). L.

- S .- J . = Liddell-Scott-Jones, G reek -E n glish Lexico n , 9th edition.

M om m sen, St. = T h . M om m sen, Romisches Staatsrecht, 3rd edition (Leipzig, 18 8 7 -8 ). M om m sen, Str. = T h . M om m sen, Romisches Strafrecht (Leipzig, 1899). O tto, Sprichworter = A . O tto, D ie Sprichworter und sprichwortlichen Redensarten der Rom er (Leipzig, 1890). Propertiana = D . R . Shackleton

B ailey,

Propertiana

(C am -

bridge, 1956 ). R E . = P au ly-W isso w a, Realencyklopadie. Sjogren, Comm. T u ll. = H . Sjogren, Commentationes Tullianae (Uppsala, 19 10 ). Thes. = Thesaurus Linguae Latinae.

vii

ABBREVIATIONS Towards a Text - D. R. Shackleton Bailey, Towards a Text of G aro, adAttiaim (Cambridge, i960). T.-P. = R. Y. Tyrell and L C. Purser, The Correspondence of Ctaro, third and second editions (Dublin, 1904-33). The Letters to Quintus and to M. Brutus are cited from W. S. Watt’s Oxford Text, Asconius by line and page from that o fA .G Clark.

TEXT

AND

T R A N S L A T IO N

46-93 (B O O K S IIM V ) 58-54 B .C

S B C II

I N D E X S IG L O R V M E = Am brosianus E 14 inf. (sacc. xrv). G = Parisinus 'N o u v . Ponds’ 16248 (sacc. x r v - x v ) . H = Landianus 8 (saec. x r v - x v ) . N — Laurentianus (cx C o n v . Suppr.) 49 (sacc. x r v - x v ) . V — Palatinus Lat. 1 5 1 0 (saec. x v ). O = Taurinensis Lat. 495 (saec. x v ). R = Parisinus Lat. 8538 (anno 14 1 9 scriptus). P = Parisinus Lat. 8536 (saec. x v ). A nt. = Antonianus a M alaespina citatus. F = Faerni cod ex a M alaespina v el V rsin o citatus. codd. M al. = M alaespinae codices ab ipso generarim citari. Z = consensus codicum EGNVR v e l omnium v e l eo ru m qui quoque loco praesto sunt. M = M ediceus 49. 18 (anno 139 3 scriptus). b = Berolinensis (ex bibL H am iltoniana) 168 (saec. x v ) . d = Laurentianus (ex bibi, aedilium ) 2 1 7 (saec. x v ) . m = Berolinensis (ex bibi. H am iltoniana) 16 6 (anno 1408 scriptus). s = V rbinas 322 (saec. x v ) . 6 = consensus codicum bdms. A = consensus codicis M cum codicibus bdms, aut om nibus aut tribus. O = consensus codicum Z et M = archetypum om nium quos supra nom inavi codicum . C = lectiones m argini editionis C ratandrinae (an. 15 2 8 ) ad . scriptae. c = lectiones in textu eiusdem editionis prim u m prolatae. Z = Tornesianus (de Z\ Z(l\ Z \ Z{b\ Z^\ Z\ Z ® vid e V o l. 1 , P '9? ) ’ X = lectiones in m argine alterius editionis Lam binianae (an. 1 5 7 2 -3 ) veteri codici (v.c.) adtributae. Lam b. (marg.) = lectiones ibidem quibus littera ‘ L .’ praefixa est. S' = lectiones e x codicibus deterioribus, ut videntur, hic illic citatae v e l in editionibus ante C ratandrinam prim u m inventae. M a, O 8, etc. = codicum M , O , etc. secundae manus.

3

i-a

TEXT

46 (m. i)

46 (m. 1) Scr. in exsilium proficiscens c. x i Kal. Apr., ut vid., an. 58 CICERO ATTICO SAL. Cum antea maxime nostra interesse arbitrabar te esse nobiscum, tum vero, ut legi rogationem, intellexi ad iter id quod constitui nihil mihi optadus cadere posse quam ut tu me quam primum consequarc, ut, cum ex Italia profecti essemus, sive per Epirum iter esset faciendum tuo tuorumque praesidio uteremur, sive s aliud quid agendum esset certum consilium de tua sententia capere possemus, quam ob rem te oro des operam ut me stadm consequare; quod eo facilius potes, quoniam de provincia Macedonia pedata lex est. pluribus verbis tecum agerem nisi pro me apud te res ipsa loqueretur.

10

47 (m. 3) Scr. in itinere c. ix Kal. A pr., ut vid., an. 58 CICERO ATTICO SAL. Vdnam illum diem videam cum tibi agam gratias quod m e vivere coegisti! adhuc quidem valde me paenitct. sed te oro ut ad me Vibonem statim venias, quo ego multis de causis converti iter meum, sed eo si veneris, de toto itinere ac fuga mea consilium capere potero, si id non feceris, m irabor; sed confido s te esse ficturum.

Ep. 46] 8 quod co t: m. Q. Ep. 47] 2 quidem V: eq- CNORA. 3 de cm. Mm.

6 cuia ut dto (cito ut R) advoles add. infine KR.

TRANSLATION

46 (in. i)

46 (m. i) Place unknown, c. 22 March (?) 58 CICERO TO ATTICUS E v e n before I read the bill I felt it was v e ry im portant to m e to have yo u w ith m e, and n o w that I have done so I see that nothing could be m ore desirable w ith a v ie w to the jo u rn e y on w hich I have decided than that y o u should overtake m e as soon as possible, so that w h en I leave Italy I m ay have the protection o f yo u and y o u r people i f I am to travel through Epirus, o r i f I am to take som e different course I m ay have y o u r advice in fixin g upon a plan.

So I beg yo u to try to overtake m e

directly. Y o u can do so m ore easily n o w that the la w about the province o f M acedonia has gone through. I should urge y o u at greater length, but y o u have the facts and they w ill speak fo r me.

47 (m. 3) En route, c. 24 (?) March 58 CICERO TO ATTICUS I

hope I m ay see the day w hen I shall thank y o u fo r m aking me

go on livin g. So far I am heartily sorry yo u did. B u t I beg yo u to com e to m e as soon as possible at V ib o , w here I am goin g. I have changed direction for m any reasons. B u t i f yo u com e there, I shall be able to m ake a plan fo r m y w h ole jo u rn ey and exile. I f yo u do not do that, I shall be surprised; but I am confident y o u w ill.

5

48 (m. 2)

TEXT

48 (m. 2) Sa. Naribus Lucanis vi Kal. Apr. an. jS CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Itineris nostri causa fuit quod non habebam locum ubi pro meo ture diutius esse possem quam fundum Siccae, praesertim nondum rogatione correcta; et simul intellegebam ex eo loco, si te haberem, posse me Brundisium referre, sine te autem non esse nobis illas partes tenendas propter Autronium, nunc, ut ad te

5

antea scripsi, si ad nos veneris, consilium totius rei capiemus, iter esse molestum scio, sed too calamitas omnis molestias habet plura scribere non possum; ita sum animo perculso et abiccto. cura ut valeas, data vi Kal. Apr. Narib. Luc.

4

49 (HL )

Sa. Vibone, ut vid., Hi Non. Apr. an. 58 CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Miseriae nostrae potius velim quam inconstantiae tribuas quod a Vibone quo te arcessebamus subito discessimus, adlata est enim nobis rogatio de pernicie mea, in qua quod correctum esse audieramus erat eius modi ut mihi ultra quadringenta milia liceret esse, illuc pervenire non liceret, statim iter Brun- j disium versus contuli ante diem rogationis, ne et Sicca, apud quem eram, periret et quod Melitae esse non licebat, nunc tu propera ut nos consequare, si modo recipiemur, adhuc inviamur benigne, sed quod superest timemus, me, mi Pomponi, E p . 48] 1 fimdnm C : in f-OA. 3-4 si te haberem C : se iter habere (si.. .haberem NO) I : si recte habere m (it M non liquet). j Autronium pulg.: antro- GNMdm: anto- HVRbs. 9 KaL scripsi: Id. (1 Narib. Luc. K loiz: naris luc. CiZ. Ep . 491 3 correctum C : confc-Q.

6

TRANSLATION

48 (in. 2)

48 (ill. 2) Nares Lucanae, 27 March 38 CICERO TO ATTICUS T he reason fo r m y route was that I have no place where I can feel free to stay longer than at Sicca’s farm , especially as the bill has not ye t been amended. Also I have in mind that i f I have yo u w ith m e I can get back from there to Brundisium , w h ile w ithout y o u I had best not make fo r those parts on account o f Autronius. N o w , as I w rote to y o u previously, i f yo u jo in m e w e shall m ake a com prehensive plan. I

k n o w the jo u rn e y is troublesom e, but the w h ole disaster is

full o f all manner o f troubles. I cannot w rite an y m ore, I am too

stricken and dejected.

Dispatched 27 M arch, N ares

Lucanae.

49 (m. 4) V ib o [?), 3 A p ril 38 CICERO TO ATTICUS I hope y o u w ill put it d o w n to the m isery I am in rather than to fickleness o f purpose that I h ave suddenly left V ib o after I have been asking y o u to com e there. T h e bill fo r m y destruction has com e into m y hands, and the correction about w h ich I had heard w as to the effect that I am allow ed to live at a distance o f not less than 400 miles, bu t am not allow ed to get there. I at once changed m y course fo r B ru nd isiu m before the bill should becom e la w fo r fear that m y host Sicca m ight be ruined to o and because I cannot stay in M alta. D o m ake haste to catch m e u p , that is i f I can get an yo n e to take m e in. So far people in vite m e k in d ly enough, bu t I am afraid o f w h at is to

4 quadringenta GOPA: quadraginta HVR: XI N. 5 illuc HVP: illoc GORMbd: -o cum ins: illcc N.

7

49 (m. 4)

TEXT

valde pacnitet vivere, qua in re apud me tu plurimum valuisti. io sed haec coram, fac modo ut venias.

50 (m. 5)

Scr, Tliuriis viii Id. Apr. an. 38 CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Terenda tibi et saepe et maximas agit gratias, id est milii gratissimum, ego vivo miserrimus et maximo dolore conficior, ad te quid scribam nescio, si enim es Romae, iam me adsequi non potes; sin es in via, cum eris me adsecutus, coram agemus quae erunt agenda, tantum te oro ut, quoniam me ipsum s semper amasti, ut eodem amore sis; ego enim idem sum. inimici mei mea mihi, non me ipsum ademerunt, cura ut valeas, data vm Id. Apr. Thuri.

s ilM )

Scr. in Tarentino xiv Kal. Mai. an. 38 CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Nem fuerat mihi dubium quin te Tarenti aut Brundisi visurus essemidque ad multa pertinuit, in eis et ut in Epiro consisteremus et de reliquis rebus tuo consilio uteremur, quoniam id non contigit, erit hoc quoque in magno numero nostrorum malorum, nobis iter est in Atiam, maxime Cyzicum, tibi s meos commendo, me vix misereque sustento, data xnn Kal. MaL de Tarentino. Ep. 50] 6 ut eodem GNAX: eodem VTL Ep. 51] 2 in eis NOR: meis HA: me his G . 5-6 meos tibi A. 6 nmOZ'*): vnn P ; xm c 7 de Tarentino etim Q_

8

49 (m. 4)

TRANSLATION follow . For m y part, m y dear Pomponius,

1 am

heartily sorry

to be alive. In that decision you weighed with me most. B ut o f this when w e meet. O nly do come.

50

(rn. 5)

Thurii, 6 A p ril 58 CICERO TO ATTICUS Terentia tells me continually how v ery thankful she is to you. For that I am most grateful. M y life is a misery and I am overwhelmed b y profound unhappiness. W hat to write to yo u I don't know , for i f y o u are in R om e yo u cannot catch up with me now , whereas i f yo u are on you r w a y w e shall discuss what needs discussing together when yo u jo in me. A ll I beg o f yo u is, since yo u have always loved me for m y ow n sake, not to change. I am the same man. M y enemies have robbed m e o f what I have, but not o f w hat I am. T ake care o f yo u r health. Dispatched 6 A pril, T hurii.

51

(m. 6)

N ear Tarentum, 17 A p ril 38 CICBRO TO ATTICUS I had counted on seeing y o u at Tarentum or Brundisium , and it was from m any points o f v ie w desirable that I should, fo r example so that I could stop in Epirus and to have yo u r advice about all other points. Since it has not happened I must include this in the multitude o f m y misfortunes. M y w a y lies to Asia, Cyzicus fo r preference. I com mend m y fam ily to yo u r care. I keep goin g w ith difficulty and wretchedness. Dispatched 1 7 April, near Tarentum .

9

52

(in. 7)

TEXT

52

7

(m. )

Scr. Brundisi prid. Kal. Mai. an. 58 (§3) CICER O A T T IC O SA L.

1 Brundisium vcni a. d. xrai Kal. Mat eo die pueri tui mihi a te litteras reddiderunt, et alii pueri post diem tertium eius diei alias litteras attulerunt, quod me rogas et hortaris ut apud te in Epiro sim, voluntas tua mihi valde grata est et minime nova. (es)sct consilium mihi quidem optatum si liceret ibi omne 5 tempus consumere; odi enim celebritatem, fugio homines, lucem aspicere vix possum, esset mihi ista solitudo, praesertim tam familiari in loco, non amara, sed itineris causa ut deverterer, primum est devium, deinde ab Autronio et ceteris quadridui, deinde sine te, nam castellum munitum habitanti

io

mihi prodesset, transeunti non est necessarium, quod si auderem, Athenas peterem, sane ita cadebat ut vellem, nunc et nostri hostes ibi sunt et te non habemus et veremur ne interpretentur illud quoque oppidum ab Italia non satis abesse, nec scribis quam ad diem te exspectemus. 2

U

Quod me ad vitam vocas, unum efficis ut a me manus abstineam, alterum non potes ut me non nostri consili vitaeque paeniteat quid enim est quod me retineat, praesertim si spes ea non est quae nos proficiscentis prosequebatur? non faciam ut enumerem miserias omnis in quas incidi per summam 5 in ju riam

et scelus non tam inimicorum meorum quam in-

vidorum, ne et meum maerorem exagitem et te in eundem luctum vocem; hoc adfirmo, neminem umquam tanta calamitate esse adfectum, nemini mortem magis optandum Ep . 52]

1 , 1 xim l Z ‘Lrk: m . Mm.

et eo Mm.

2 diei 0 : dic C. 5 esset Bentivoliui: sed 0 . 8 sed V : si E N : sit G £ A : sic m. IO

TRANSLATI ON 52

52 (m . 7)

(in. 7)

Brundisium, 29 A pril 58 CICBRO TO ATTICUS 1 I arrived at Brundisium on 17 April. Y o u r boys gave me a letter from yo u that day, and others brought me another letter tw o days later. I am deeply touched and not at all surprised b y the kindness o f your pressing invitation to stay at your place in Epirus. The idea would be much to m y mind i f I could spend all the time there— I hate crowds and shun m y fellow creatures, I can hardly bear the light o f day. T he solitude, especially in such a friendly place, would be no hardship to me. B u t as a stopping-place en route, to begin with it’ s o ff m y road, and then it’s only four days’ journey from Autronius and the others, and then yo u w ould not be there. A fortified place w ould have its advantages i f I w ere going to live there, but i f I am ju st passing through it isn’ t necessary. I f I dared, I should make fo r Athens.

Certainly as things w ere

falling out I should have wanted to do so. B u t as it is, I have enemies there, I don’t have you , and I am afraid they m ay make out that even Athens is not far enough aw ay from Italy; and you don’ t say w hen I am to expect you. 2

Y o u r exhortation to me to live is only partially effective. Y o u keep m e fro m laying violent hands upon m yself, but yo u cannot keep m e fro m regretting m y decision and the fact that I am alive. W h at is there to hold me, especially i f the hope which fo llow ed m e when I left R o m e is no m ore ? I shall not proceed to m ake a catalogue o f all the tribulations on w hich I have fallen b y the signal in ju ry and villainy not so m uch o f those w h o hated m e as o f those w h o w ere jealous o f me. That w ould o n ly be to bring m y g rie f to the surface and ask yo u to share m y m ourning. T his I do say flatly, that no one ever suffered so crushing a b lo w or had greater cause to pray for

11

52 (in. 7) 2

TEX T

fuisse. cuius oppetendae tempus honestissimum praetermissum 10 est; reliqua tempora sunt non iam ad medicinam sed ad finem doloris. 3 De re publica video te colligere omnia quae putes aliquam spem mihi posse adferre mutandarum rerum; quae quamquam exigua sunt, tamen, quoniam placet, exspectemus. Tu nihilominus, si properaris, nos consequere, nam aut accedemus in Epirum aut tarde per Candaviam ibimus. 5 dubitationem autem de Epiro non inconstantia nostra adfcrcbat sed quod de fratre, ubi eum visuri essemus, nesciebamus; quem quidem ego nec (quo) modo visurus nec ut dimissurus sim sdo. id est maximum et miserrimum mearum omnium miseriarum. 10 Ego et saepius ad te et plura scriberem nisi mihi dolor meus cum omnis partis mentis tum maxime huius generis facultatem ademisset, videre te cupio, cura ut valeas, d. prid. Kal. MaL Brundisio proficiscens.

53 K 8) S a . Thessalonicae iv K al. Iun. an. 58 (§ 4) CICERO ATTICO S A L

I Scripseram ad te quas ob causas in Epirum non essemus profecti, quod et Achaia prope esset plena audarissimorum inimicorum et exitus difficilis haberet cum inde proficisceremur. accessit, cum Dyrrachi essemus, ut duo nuntii adferrentur, unus, classe fratrem Epheso Athenas, alter, pedibus per Mace- 5 donum venire, itaque illi obviam misimus Athenas ut inde

1 , 1 1 sunt non ZmA: non sunt A (sed in M corr. manus prima, ut vid.) Z ° (nimirum aliud agens Bosius vulgatum sequebatur). iam A nt.Z*1 : tainQA. sed G N l/R A ZtX: quam Et. 2 quamquam Htns: quam 0 (om. R). i accedemus Es: -damus 0 . 12

TRANSLATION

52 (in. 7) 2

death. I m igh t h ave m et it w ith honour, but the m om ent was let pass. Fro m the tim e that remains I do not look an y longer fo r a rem ed y but o n ly fo r an end to m y m isery. 3

I see y o u are collecting e v e ry item in the political news which yo u think could afford m e som e hope o f a change. T h e y don’t am ount to m uch, but, since y o u w ish, let us w ait and see. I f y o u m ake haste y o u w ill catch m e up even n o w , as I shall either g o to E p iru s o r travel slo w ly through Candavia. M y hesitation about E p iru s is not due to fickleness o f purpose but to uncertainty about m y brother, i.e. w here I am to m eet him — though h o w I am to m eet him o r to say go od -bye to him I k n o w not. T h at is the greatest and saddest o f all m y sorrow s. I

should w rite to y o u m o re often and m ore fu lly, i f it w ere

not that m y distress has robbed m e o f all m y mental powers and m ore particu larly o f this sort o f faculty. I lo n g to see yo u . T ak e care o f y o u r health. Dispatched 29 A p ril, on departure fro m B rundisium .

53 K

8)

Thessalonica, 29 M ay 58 CICERO TO ATTICUS i

I have already w ritten to y o u the reasons w h y I did n o t g o to Epirus, n am ely the p ro x im ity o f Achaea w h ich is fu ll o f enemies w h o w o u ld stop at nothing and the difficulty o f getting o u t o f the cou n try w h en I cam e to leave it. Furtherm ore, w h ile I w as at D yrrach iu m tw o messages arrived, one to the effect that m y brother w as travelling b y sea fro m Ephesus to Athens, the other that he w as proceeding b y land through M acedonia.

I therefore sent a messenger to m eet him at

8 quomodo S': modo Q. ut Bosius: vi N : cui E: vidi G: ubi I ’A: nugas habent RP. 9 sim ms: sum fl. 13 d. scripsi: data O. 14 Brundisio Klotz : -sii O.

13

53 (m. 8) i

TEXT

Thessalonicam veniret, ipsi processimus et Thessalonicam a. d. x Kal. lun. venimus, neque de illius itinere quicquam certi habebamus nisi eum ab Epheso ante aliquanto profectum. 1 Nunc isde quid agatur magno opere timeo, quamquam tu altera epistula scribis Id. Mai. audiri fore ut acrius postularemur), altera iam esse mitiora, sed haec est pridie data quam illa, quo conturbor magis, itaque cum meus me maeror cottidianus lacerat et conficit, tum vero haec addita cura vix mihi vitam j reliquam facit. Sed et navigatio perdifficilis fuit et ille incertus ubi ego essem fortasse alium cursum petivit nam Phaetho libertus eum non vidit; vento reiectus ab Dio in Macedoniam Pellae mihi praesto fiiit reliqua quam mihi timenda sint video, nec quid io scribam habeo et omnia timeo, nec tam miserum est quicquam quod non in nostram fortunam cadere videatur, equidem adhuc miser in maximis meis aerumnis et luctibus hoc metu adiecto maneo Thessalonicae suspensus nec audeo quicquam. J Nunc ad ea quae scripsisti. Tryphonem Caecilium non vidi, sermonem tuum et Pompei cognovi ex tuis litteris, motum in re publica non tantum ego impendere video quantum tu aut vides aut ad me consolandum adfers. Tigrane enim neglecto sublata sum omnia. Varroni me iubes agere gratias, faciam; s item Hypsaeo. quod suades ne longius discedamus dum acta mensis Mai ad nos perferantur, puto me ita esse facturum; sed ubi, nondum statui, atque ita perturbato sum animo de Quinto

Ep-S3 l

a . i - i tu altera M *1 *8 : tua t-H (-am) bds: tua littera (vel lira) G N O R M : tua Vm. i eputuL F S : -am G N O RM . au d iriZ *A :-refl. postularetur B osiu s: -cttO : -rer AiU. 4 conturbor Im : -ber A. 8 Phaetho (sed pheton) libertis eum Bnmus (M *): phctolibeum vel sim. Q . 9 Hio F : illo 0 . i i equidem ER s: q- H N V L: quid est C . 3, 3 impendere em. him. 8 perturbatus E N .

TRANSLATION

53

(ni. 8) i

Athens, to tell him to go from there to Thessalonica. I myself went on and reached Thessalonica on 23 May, but I still have no definite information about his route except that he left Ephesus some time ago.

2

And now I am very anxious about what is happening in Rome. True, in one o f your letters dated the Ides o f M ay you write that according to report he will be vigorously prosecuted, whereas in another you say that the atmosphere has become milder. But that letter was dispatched the day before the other, which makes me doubly uneasy. So with this new anxiety on top o f m y own chronic grief that tears my heart and wears me down, I am pretty well at the end o f my tether. However, sailing was very difficult, and perhaps in uncertainty o f m y whereabouts he has taken a different direction. M y freedman Phaetho did not see him. He was turned back to Macedonia from Ilium by a contrary wind and reported to me at Pella. Clearly I have every reason for apprehension, but I don’t know what to write. I’m afraid o f all manner o f things, and nothing seems too bad to happen to us in our present plight. As for my unhappy self, plunged in woes and afflictions o f my own and now with this added fear, I am staying for the present at Thessalonica, in suspense and not daring to make any move.

3

N ow to answer the points in your letter. I have not seen Caecilius Trypho. I have taken note o f your talk with Pompey as recounted in your letter. I perceive no sign o f so great a movement in the political situation as you either see coming or profess to see in order to comfort me. I f Tigranes has been passed over, it all goes by the board. You tell me to thank Varro; so I shall, and Hypsaeus likewise. I think I shall follow your advice not to go further away until the public transactions for M ay reach me. But where to go, I have not yet made up my mind. Indeed I am so worried about Quintus that I cannot

15

53 (m. 8) 3

TEXT

ut nihil queam statuere; sed tam en statim te fa c ia m c e rtio rem.

4

10

E x epistularum m earum inconstantia p u to te m en tis m eae motum videre, qui, etsi incredibili et sin gu lari cala m ita te a d flictus sum, tamen non tam est ex m iseria q u am e x cu lp ae n o strae recordatione com m otus,

cuius en im scelere im p u lsi et

proditi simus iam profecto vid es; atque u tin am an te vid isses 5 neque totum animum tuum m aerori m cc u m sim u l d e d is s e s ! qua re cum me a dilictum et confectum lu ctu audies, e x istim a to me stultitiae meae poenam ferre graviu s q u am e v e n ti, q u o d ei crediderim quem esse nefarium non pu tarim , m e et m e o r u m m alorum m aeror et metus de fratre in scrib en d o im p e d it, tu

10

ista omnia vide et guberna. T eren tia tibi m a x im a s g ra tia s a g it, litterarum exem plum quas ad P o m p e iu m scrip si m isi tib i, data nn KaL Iun. Thessalonicae.

5 4 (m . 9 )

Ser. Thessalonicae Id. Iun. an. 58 ( § 3 ) CICERO A T T I C O SAL.

I Q uintus frater cum e x A sia discessisset ante K a l. M a i. et Athenas venisset Id. M ai., vald e fu it ei p ro p e ra n d u m , n e q u id absens a c ap eret calamitatis, si quis fo rte fuisset q u i c o n te n tu s nostris malis non esset, itaque eu m m alu i p ro p e ra re R o m a m quam ad m e ven ire; et sim ul (dicam en im q u o d v e r u m est, e x 5 quo m agnitudinem m earum m iseriarum p ersp icere po ssis) anim um inducere non potui ut aut illu m , a m an tissim u m m e i,

4,

1 Constantii Mm.

3 est om. ENV.

3 simus EG 5 : sumus NVRM. ante Z: iam ante HA. 10 m(a)eror Pbds; memor GNVRMm: memor* H: memoria EO. ia tibi misi, vale c. 13 Iun(ias) Z: Maias Mm, l6

TRANSLATION

53 (ill. 8) 3

make up in y m ind abou t anything. H ow ever, I shall let you k n o w at once.

4

From the w a y m y letters chop and change I expect yo u perceive d ie agitation o f m y m ind, w hich is not so much caused b y unhappiness, sm itten though I am b y a disaster beyond b elief o r exam ple, as b y the recollection o f m y o w n fault. Surely y o u see n o w w h ose v illain y it was that urged m e on and betrayed m e.

I f o n ly y o u had seen it sooner and not

surrendered y o u r w h o le soul to g r ie f as I did m y s e lf! W hen therefore y o u hear o f m e as plunged in the low est depths o f m isery, y o u are to suppose that the penalty o f m y fo lly weighs upon m e m o re h e a v ily than that o f the event itself, in that I trusted a m an w h o m I did n o t think to be a blackguard. G r ie f fo r m y o w n troubles and fear on m y brother’s behalf alike make it hard fo r m e to w rite . Please see to everything o ver there and direct. T erentia says she is m ost grateful to yo u . I am sending you a c o p y o f a letter I h ave w ritten to P o m p ey. Dispatched 29 M a y , Thessalonica.

54

(m. 9)

Thessalonica, 13 Ju n e 58 CICERO TO ATTICUS I

M y brother Q uintus left A sia before the Kalends o f M a y and reached A then s o n the Ides. H e had to m ake great haste fo r fear a b lo w m igh t be struck against h im in his absence— there m ight perhaps h ave been som e fo r w h o m our present misfortunes are n o t en ou gh . I therefore thought it better fo r him to h u rry o n to R o m e rather than to com e to m e. A t the same time (I m ust tell the truth, and fro m it y o u can gauge the extent o f m y w retchedness) I could not brin g m y se lf to meet him , devo ted to m e an d soft-hearted as he is, in so sad a state,

Ep. 54] z, 2 maiis bds: maias Q. 6 mearum miseriarum EG VR: mis- me- HNA.

17

S B C II

54 (in. 9) I

TEXT

mollissimo animo, tanto in maerore adspiccrem aut meas miserias luem adflictus et perditam fortunam illi o fferrem aut ab illo adspici paterer,

atque edam illud dm ebam , quod i0

profecto aeddisset, ne a me digredi non posset, versabatur m ilii tempus illud ante oculos cum ille aut lictores dim itteret aut v i avelleretur ex complexu meo.

huius acerbitatis eventum

altera acerbitate non videndi fratris vitavi, in hunc m e casum vos vivendi auctores impulistis, itaque m ei peccad lu o poenas. 15 2 quamquam me tuae litterae sustentant— e quibus quantum tu ipse speres facile perspido; [et] quae quidem tamen aliquid habebant solad ante quam eo venisd a P o m p eio : ‘ nunc Hortensium adlice et du s m odi viros.’ obsecro, m i Pom p on i, nondum perspicis quorum opera, quorum insidiis, quorum $ scelere perierimus? sed tecum haec coram agem us; tantum dico quod scire te p u to: nos non in im id sed in vid i perdiderunt, nunc si ita sunt quae speras, sustinebimus nos et spe qua iubes nitemur; sin, ut mihi videntur, (in )firm a sunt, quod optim o tempore facere non licuit minus idoneo fiet. 3

10

Terentia tibi saepe agit gratias, mihi edam unum de malis in metu est, fratris miseri negodum; quod si sciam cuius modi sit, sdam quid agendum mihi sit. me edam nunc istorum benefidorum et litterarum exspectado, ut dbi placet, Thessalonicae tenet, si quid erit novi adlatum, sdam de reliquo quid agendum s sit. tu si, ut scribis, Kal. Iun. Roma profectus es, prope diem nos videbis, litteras quas ad Pompdum scripsi dbi misi, data Id. Iun. Thessalonicae.

X, 9 adflictus Reid: -tu 0 . ia lictores Cr. lect- vel tim. ceti. 13 eventuro ENORMm; -tu G VP. 14 altera acerbitate Em: -ram -cm CNVRA (sed aliam bds). 2,2 quae f: et q-fl. 6 haec LZ*: haec omnia A. 9 infirma s': (-CL 10 tempore CICERO TO. ATTICUS I You .are .at pains, to durgufc'whjat may he hoped for, particularly through the Senate, and yet you write that the clause in the bill

57 (m. 12) 1

TEXT

in senatu dici nihil liceat, itaque siletur, h ic tu m e accusas q u o d m e adflictem, cura ita sini addictus u t n em o u m q u a m , q u o d tute intellegis, spera ostendis secundum c o m itia, q u ae ista est 5

2 eodem tribuno plebis et inim ico consule d esign ato ? percussisti autem m e edam de oradone prolata, cui v u ln e ri, u t scrib is, medere, si quid potes, scripsi equidem o lim iratus q u o d ille prior scripserat, sed ita com presseram ut n u m q u a m em an aturam putarem, quo m odo exciderit nescio, sed q u ia n u m - 5 quam accidit ut cum eo verb o uno con certarem et q u ia scripta mihi videtur neglegendus quam ceterae pu to e x se (p o s s e ) probari non esse m eam , id, si putas m e posse sanari, cures v e lim ; sin plane perii, minus laboro. 3

E g o edam nunc eodem in loco iaceo sine serm one u llo , sine cogitadone ulla, licet dbi, ut scribis, sign ificarim u t ad m e venires, id dono tamen et intellego te istic prodesse, h ic n e verbo quidem levare m e posse, non queo plura scribere n ec est quod scribam ; vestra m agis exspecto,

data x v i K a l. S e x t. 5

Thessalonicae.

58 (m. 14) Scr. Thessalonicae xii Kal. Sext. an. j 8 (§ 2) C IC E R O A T T IC O SAL.

I E x tuis litteris plenus sum exspectatione de P o m p eio , q u id n am de nobis velit aut ostendat, com itia enim credo esse habita, quibus absolutis scribis illi placuisse agi de nobis,

si tibi *3

a, 3 in tu s E V R : ei ratus GNMm: ei ir- Hbds.

E N V R : m an- p u t- Mm: naturae im p u t- G . exciderit E V : -int NM(?)m: -im GR. e x se posse scripsi: ex sc E G V : esse ORMm: posse NP. significarim Victorius: -rem Q . id dono tamen et scripsi, similia iam Springer et Constatis: si donatam ut NVRA: d dona E : si d o n atam .. .posse om. GH.

4 - 5 em ail- p ut-

5 7 3, 2 3

24

TRANSLATION

57 (ill. 12) I

which forbids an y reference to the subject in the Senate is being posted up. So naturally silence reigns. A nd in these circumstances yo u take m e to task fo r tormenting myself, when I am tried beyond an y m ortal that ever was, as you w ell know. You hold out hope after the elections. W hat does it amount to, with the same Tribune still in office and m y enem y Consul-Desig2 nate ? Then yo u have given m e a b lo w about the circulation o f that speech. T r y , as y o u say, to patch up the damage i f you can. 1 did w rite it lo n g ago in a fit o f annoyance w ith him because he had written against m e, but I suppressed it and never expected it to leak out. H o w it did get out I don’t know . H ow ever, as I have never exchanged a contentious w ord with him in m y life and as it seems to m e m ore carelessly written than m y other com positions, I think it m a y be passed o ff on internal evidence as a fo rg e ry . W o u ld y o u please see to that, i f yo u think m y case is curable ? I f I am past praying for, I don’t so much care. 3

la m still stuck here, w ith n o one to talk to and nothing to think about. I m ay have suggested to yo u , as y o u say, that yo u should jo in m e ; but I g iv e that up, and realize that yo u are helping m e w h ere y o u are, w hereas y o u could do nothing even verbally to lighten m y load here. I can’ t w rite an y m ore, nor have I anything to w rite about. I am rather waiting for news from yo u r side. D ispatched 1 7 Ju ly , Thessalonica. 58 (ni. 14 ) Thessalonica, 2 1 Ju ly 58 CICERO TO ATTICUS

I

After yo u r letter I am all expectation about Pom pey, what he means b y m e o r professes to m ean. F o r I suppose that the elections are n o w o v e r, at the conclusion o f w hich yo u say he thought m y case should be taken up. I f yo u think me a fool to

25

58 (m. 14) i

TEXT

stultus esse videor qui sperem, facio tuo iussu fe t scio te meis epistulisj* potius et meas spes solitum esse remorari, nunc velim 5 mihi plane perscribas quid videas, scio nos nostris multis peccatis in hanc aerumnam incidisse, ea si qui casus aliqua ex parte correxerit, minus moleste feremus nos vixisse et adhuc vivere. 2

E g o propter viae celebritatem et co ttid ia n a m ex sp e cta tio n e m rerum n ovarum n on c o m m o v i m e a d h u c T h e s s a lo n ic a ,

sed

iam extrudim ur, n on a P lan cio (n am is q u id e m retin et) v e r u m ab ipso loco m inim e apposito ad to le ra n d a m in tan to lu ctu calamitatem, in E p iru m id eo , u t scrip se ram , n o n v e n i q u o d s subito mihi universi nuntii ven e ra n t et litterae q u a re n ih il esset necesse quam p ro x im e Italiam esse, h in c , si a liq u id a co m itiis audierimus, nos in A s ia m c o n v e rte m u s ; n e q u e a d h u c stabat quo potissimum, sed scies, data x n K a l. S e x t. T h essalo n icae.

5 9 (m . 1 3 )

Ser. Thessalonicae Non. Sext. an. 58 (§ 2) C ICERO A T T IC O SA L. I

Q u o d ad te scripseram m e in E p ir o fu tu ru m , postea q u am extenuari spem nostram et evanescere v id i, m u ta v i consilium nec m e Thessalonica c o m m o v i, u b i esse statu eram

quoad

aliquid ad m e de eo scriberes q u o d p ro x im is litteris scripseras, fore uti secundum co m id a aliquid d e n o b is in senatu a ge re tu r; 5 id tibi Pom peium dixisse, qua d e re q u o n ia m c o m itia habita sunt tuque nihil ad m e scribis, p ro in d e h a b e b o ac si scripsisses

Ep. 58] I, 4 etsi sdo F. 3 meas spes ms: mea spes Md: mea spe Zb. (remem-) A.

7 qui Z5 : quis M. 8 correxerit N R : -int EVA: correxit G. %, s veni HPZ^X: mei R : ivi GN : ii EVA. 6 subito Z*X: -ti Q. universi etiam X.

26

remorari E H : -re GNVR

TRANSLATION

58 (in. 14) I

hope, well, I do so at your kidding, and you (?) know that in your letters you have rather been wont to lead me on and keep m y hopes alive (?). N o w I should be glad i f you would let me know the prospects fully and frankly, as you see them. I know that I have fallen into this unhappy plight by my own mistakes, which have been many. I f chance in some measure puts them right I shall be less inclined to regret that I was ever bom and that I am alive to-day. 2 I have not yet moved from Thessalonica because the route is so frequented and because I am waiting from day to day for news o f a turn in the situation. But I am now being forced out, not by Plancius, who for his part would like me to stay on, but by the place itself— there could be no less suitable spot in which to bear calamity in such a state o f grief as I am in. I have not gone to Epirus, as I wrote that I should, because all at once my letters and reports indicated with one accord that there was no occasion for me to be as near as possible to Italy. From here, once I hear something after the elections, I shall betake myself to Asia, where in particular I am not yet sure, but you shall know. Dispatched 2 1 Ju ly , Thessalonica.

59 (m. 13) Thessalonica, 5 August 5S C I C E R O TO A T T I C U S

I Though I w rote to you that I should stay in Epirus, I changed m y mind when I saw that m y chances were thinning and fading aw ay, and have not moved from Thessalonica. I had decided to stay there until I heard something from you about what you said in your last letter, namely that some move would be made about m y case in the Senate after the elections, Pompey having told you so. W ell, the elections are over and you don’t write a w ord to me, so I shall regard that as equivalent to 27

59 (ill.

TEXT

13) I

nihil cssc, mequc temporis non longinqui spe d u ctu m esse (n o n ) moleste feram, quem autem m otum te vid ere scripseras qui nobis utilis fore videretur, eum nuntiant q u i ven iu n t nullum io fore, in tnbunis pl. designatis reliqua spes est. qu am si exspectaro, non erit quod putes m e causae m eae, voluntati meorum defuisse.

2

Quod me saepe accusas cur hunc m eum casum tam graviter feram, debes ignoscere, cum ita me adflictum videas ut nem inem umquam nec videris nec audieris, nam qu o d scribis te audire me edam mentis errore e x dolore ad fid , m ih i v e ro mens integra est. atque urinam tam in periculo fuisset, cu m ego iis 5 quibus meam salutem carissimam esse arbitrabar, inimicissimis crudclissimisquc usus s u m ! qui ut me paulum inclinari tim ore viderunt, sic impulerunt ut om ni suo scelere et perfidia abuterentur ad exitium meum. Nunc quoniam u m est Cyzicum nobis eundum , quo rarius 10 ad me litterae perferentur, hoc velim diligentius om nia quae putaris me scire opus esse perscribas. Q uintum , fratrem m eum , fac diligas, quem ego miser si incolum em relinquo, non me totum perisse arbitrabor, data N on. Sext.

60 (m. 15)

Ser. Thessalonicae xiv Kal. Sept. an. 58 (§£) CICERO ATTICO SAL.

I Accepi Id. Sext. quattuor epistulas a te missas: unam qua me obiurgas et rogas ut sim firm ior; alteram qua Crassi libertum i, 8 mequc Q: neque P. non add. Otto. ia ac post meae add. ( (‘ veteres codices non habent copulationem a c ' niarg. ed.

Ep. 59]

alt. Lamb.). 2,

7 paululum G .

GVs: -tum ERA. exerdtum N. ECV: a me R : om. NA.

9 exinum 10 tam

1 1 perferemur < : -runtur Q .

28

T R AN SL AT IO N

59 (h i .

13)

I

writing that there is nothing doing, and I shall not take it too hard that fo r no ve ry long time I have been amused by hope. As for the change likely to turn to m y advantage which you wrote that yo u saw com ing, those who come from Rome say that nothing o f the kind w ill happen. The remaining hope lies in the Tribunes-Designatc. I f I wait for that, you will have no reason to think that I have failed in what I owe to my cause and m y friends’ good will. 2

You repeatedly take me to task for bearing what has happened to me so hard, but y o u ought to forgive me when you see how I am tried beyond anything yo u ever witnessed or heard of. You say you hear that g r ie f has actually disturbed the balance o f my mind. N o , m y mind is sound enough. I f it had only been equally so in the hour o f danger, when I experienced the cruellest malice from those w h o I thought cared most about my welfare! The moment they saw me a litde unnerved and inclined to w aver, they pushed me on, employing all their wickedness and perfidy to bring about m y downfall. As matters stand I must go to Cyzicus, where letters will reach me less often. So I hope yo u w ill be all the more careful to send me full reports o f everything you think I ought to know. B e good to m y brother Quintus. I f I leave him out o f danger (ah m e !), I shall not feel I am altogether lost. Dispatched Nones o f August. 60 (in. 15) Thessalonica, 17 August 58 C IC B R O TO A T T IC U S

I

On the Ides o f August I received four letters from you. In the first you scold me and ask me to show more fortitude. In the second you say that Crassus’ freedman has told you how Ep. (0] 1, a et rogas om. A. 29

6o (in. 15) i

TEXT

ais dbi dc mea sollicitudine madeque narrasse; tertiam qua demonstras acta in senatu; quartam de eo quod a Varrone scribis tibi esse confirmatum de voluntate Pom pei. 2

5

Ad primam tibi hoc scribo, me ita dolere ut non m odo a mente non deserar sed id ipsum doleam, me tam firm a mente ubi utar et quibuscum non habere, nam si tu me uno non sine maerore cares, quid me censes, qui et te et omnibus ? et si tu incolumis me requiris, [et] quo modo a me ipsam incolumita- j tem desiderari putas? nolo commemorare quibus rebus sim spoliatus, non solum quia non ignoras sed etiam ne scindam ipse dolorem meum; hoc confirmo, neque tantis bonis esse pnvatum quemquam neque in tantas miserias incidisse, dies autem non modo non levat luctum hunc sed edam auget, nam 10 ceteri dolores mitigantur vetustate, hic non potest non et sensu praesentis miseriae et recordadone praetentae vitae cotddic augeri. desidero enim non mea solum neque meos sed me ipsum, quid enim sum ? sed non faciam ut aut tuum animum angam querelis aut meis vulneribus saepius manus adferam.

ij

nam quod purgas eos quos ego mihi scripsi invidisse et in eis Catonem, ego vero tantum illum puto ab isto scelere afuisse ut maxime doleam plus apud me simuladonem aliorum quam isdus fidem valuisse, ceteros quod purgas, debent mihi probau

3 esse dbi si sunt, sed haec sero agimus.

20

Crassi libertum nihil puto sincere locutum, in senatu rem probe sedbis actam, sed quid C udo ? an illam oradonem non legit? quae unde sit prolata nescio, sed Axius eiusdem diei23 2 , 5 quo P : et quo OX. 10 non m odo levat c. 16 ego mihi E R M m : mihi G N K . 18 aliorum Z C : m alo- A.

scripsi E m : scribis G N V R M (? ).

19 quod 2 'X : qu o sQ . probati E G N V P Z : purgati H R M m . 3 , 4 axius N C : aax - E G V R : au x- M (?)m .

30

TRAN SLATION

60 (in. 15) 1

anxious he found me and how I have lost weight. In the third you give an account o f transactions in the Senate. In the fourth you write that Varro has given you confirmation o f Pompey’s good will. 2

In reply to the first, I have this to say. M y distress has not affected my mind; on the contrary one o f its elements is that, my faculties being as sound as they are, I have neither matter nor company in which to use them. I f the loss o f m y single self causes you some pain, w hat do you think my pain must be in losing you and all besides ? And i f you, w ho still enjoy you r status in the community, feel m y absence, h o w do yo u think I feel the loss o f that very status ? I don’t propose to rehearse all the good things o f which I have been stripped, fo r yo u know them already and I don’t want to tear m y o w n sore. B u t I do assert that no man has ever lost so much or fallen into such a pit of misery. Time, far from relieving this heartache, actually increases it. Other hurts g ro w less acute as they g ro w older, this cannot but increase from day to day from the sense o f present misery and the recollection o f the life that is past. I mourn the loss not only o f the things and persons that were mine, but o f m y very self. W hat am I n o w ? B u t I must refrain from torturing yo u w ith complaints or putting m y hands too often to m y wounds. A s fo r yo u r exculpation o f those who I said were jealous o f me, am ong w h om y o u include Cato, I am so far from thinking him guilty o f the villainy in question that it is one o f m y principal regrets that the pretences of others counted more with me than his good faith. As fo r the

3 rest whom you exculpate, I must approve them i f yo u do. B u t it’s late in the day for us to talk o f this. I

imagine that Crassus’ freedman spoke only in malice. Y o u

say that the debate in the Senate went w ell. B u t w hat o f C u rio ? Or has he not read that speech?

H o w it became public

property I can’t think. B u t Axius, in giving me an account o f 3i

6o (in. 15) 3

TEXT

scribens ad me acta non ita laudat Curionem, at potest illc j aliquid praetermittere; tu, nisi quod erat, profecto non scripsisti. Varronis sermo facit exspectationem Caesaris, atque urinam ipse Varro incumbat in causam ! quod profecto cum sua sponte tum te instante faciet. 4 Ego, si me aliquando vestri ct patriae compotem fortuna fecerit, certe efficiam ut maxime laetere unus ex omnibus amicis meaque officia et studia quae parum antea luxerunt (fetendum est enim) sic exsequar ut me aeque tibi ac fratri et liberis nostris restitutum putes, si quid in te peccavi, ac potius 5 quoniam peccavi, ignosce; in me enim ipsum peccavi vehementius. neque haec eo scribo quo te non meo casu maximo dolore esse adfcctum sciam; sed profecto (si) quantum me amas et amasti tantum amare deberes ac debuisses, numquam esses passus me, quo tu abundabas, egere consilio, nec esses passus to mihi persuaderi utile nobis esse legem de collegiis perferri, sed tu tantum lacrimas praebuisti dolori meo, quod erat amoris, tamquam ipse ego; quod meritis meis perfectum potuit, ut dies ac noctes quid mihi faciendum esset cogitares, id abs te meo, non tuo scelere praetermissum est. quod si non modo tu sed 15 quisquam fuisset qui me Pompei minus liberali responso perterritum a turpissimo consilio revocaret, quod unus tu facere maxime potuisti, (aut honeste occubuissemus) aut victores hodie viveremus, hic mihi ignosces, me enim ipsum multo magis accuso, deinde te quasi me alterum, et simul meae culpae 30 socium quae(ro). ac si restituor, etiam minus videbimur 3.

S

i -a e d

9 fid e t G 6 : -iat E N O R M : fadt V. 4, a l(a)ctere f ' 6 : lat-Q {praei. V). 8 si Pm : om. Q. 1 1 perferri G K R C : prof- ENM m . 13 tamquam.. .praesto esses (7, 3) om. C H . 14 cogitares P : -em N V 6: -e R M {?). id s': si Q. 18 aut honeste occubuissemus W all (aut occ- hon- Corradas) : om. C lZ 1. 2 1 quaero, ac f : qu(a)e ac V R L (ac ellam \ ) : quare P : ac N .

32

TRANSLATION

60 (m. 15) 3

the same day’ s proceedings, doesn't praise Curio so highly. H owever, he m ay be leaving something out, whereas you o f course w ill not have written anything but what was fact. "What V arro says gives some hope o f Caesar. I f only Varro himself w ould put his shoulder to the w h e e l! N o doubt he will, under pressure from yo u as well as o f his own volition. 4

I f fortune ever gives m e back m y friends and m y country, I promise to see that none o f them has so much cause to rejoice as yourself. I shall be so assiduous in friendly offices and tokens o f good will, w luch in the past I must confess have not been sufficiently conspicuous, that yo u w ill feel that I am restored to you no less than to m y brother and our children. I f I have treated you badly in any w ay, or rather since I have done so, forgive me. I have treated m yself worse. I f I write in this strain, it is not that I am unaware how deeply distressed you are by m y misfortune. B u t surely, i f n ow and in the past I had really deserved the affection you felt and feel for me, you would never have let me go short o f that good advice o f which you have so ample a store, never have let me be persuaded that the passage o f the law about the clubs was to m y advantage. But you had only tears for m y distress, the tribute o f affection, just as I had myself. Desert on m y part might have gained me something beyond, yo u r daily and nighdy meditation as to what it was best for me to do ; that, through m y delinquency not yours, yo u did not furnish. I f you, or anyone else for that matter, at the time when I was thrown into consternation by Pompey’s ungenerous response had held me back from a most discreditable resolution, as you were uniquely in a position to do, I should either have met an honourable death or be living triumphant to-day. Y o u must forgive me here. I am reproaching m yself far more than you, and i f I do reproach you it is as m y alter ego; also I am looking for someone to share the blame. I f I am restored, m y fault will come to seem less grave,

3

33

S B C II

60 (u l

is)

4

TBXT

deliquisse abs teque certe, quoniam nullo nostro, tuo ipsius benefido diligemur. 5

Quod te cum Culleone scribis de privilegio locutum, est aliquid, sed multo est melius abrogari, si enim nemo impediet, quid est firmius ? sin erit qui ferri non sinat, idem senatusconsulto intercedet, nec quicquam aliud opus est [quam] abrogari; nam prior lex nos nihil laedebat, quam si, ut est promulgata, laudare S voluissemus aut, ut erat neglegenda, neglegere, nocere omnino nobis non potuisset, hic mihi primum meum consilium defuit, sed etiam obfuit, caed, caeri inquam, fuimus in vestitu mutando, in populo rogando, quod, nisi nominarim mecum agi coeptum esset, fieri pemidosum fuit, sed pergo praeterita, io verum tamen ob hanc causam, ut, si quid agetur, legem illam, in qua popularia multa sunt, ne tangatis.

6

Verum est stultum me praeripere quid agatis aut quo modo, urinam modo agatur aliquid! in quo ipso multa occultant tuae litterae, credo ne vehementius desperatione perturber, quid enim vides agi posse aut quo modo ? per senatumne ? at tute scripsisti ad me quoddam caput legis Clodium in curiae poste S fixisse, ne referri neve diri liceret, quo modo igitur Domitius se dixit relaturum? quo modo autem iis quos tu scribis et de re dicentibus et ut referretur postulantibus Clodius tacuit ? ac si per populum, poteritne nisi de omnium tribunorum pl. sententia? quid de bonis? quid de domo? poteritne restitui? io . aut si non poterit, egomet quo modo potero ? haec nisi vides expediri, quam in spem me vocas? sin autem spei nihil est,

5,3 quid CZ*A: sicO. firmius A: -mus U. 4 quamdel. Tunstall. 7-8 meum...obfuit etiamA. H agetur Lambinus: ageretur fi.

6, a in quo ipso Z*: in quo ipsa I : quo ipsa A.

idemHervagius: eidemO.

4 at tute Ms: astute Wt: aut t- N: ast tute Af (redast in ros.) m. 7 iis quos r: i(i)s (Ius, id) quo(d) O. 8 ac etiamA.

34

TRANSLATION

6o (in. 15) 4

and you at any rate will care for me, for the sake o f what you have done for me since I have done nothing for you. 5 You say you have talked to Culleo about its being a law ad hominem. There is something in that, but it would be far better to get it repealed. That is the safest way i f nobody obstructs. On the other hand, i f anyone is going to block a law, he will equally veto a senatorial decree. And there is no need for anything else to be repealed, since the first law did not touch me. I f I had chosen to welcome it when it was first promulgated or to ignore it as it deserved, it could have done me no harm whatsoever. That was the first point where my judgement let me down, or rather did me down. W e were blind, yes, blind, to put on mourning and appeal to the people—a fatal blunder where no proceedings had been taken against me by name. But this is crying over spilt milk. I do it however for a reason, to dissuade you, i f any m ove is to be made, from touching that law, which has many popular features. 6 But it is fatuous for me to lay down what you people are to do or how you are to do it. I f only something is do n e! In that very regard your letters leave many things obscure, I suppose because you are afraid o f despair throwing me quite o ff m y balance. For what in your view can be done and how ? Through the Senate ? B u t you yourself told me that Clodius posted in the doorw ay o f the Senate House a clause in his law banning ‘ any motion or mention’ . H ow then could Domitius say that he would make a motion ? And how was it that Clodius sat mum while the persons you mention spoke on the subject and demanded that a motion be put to the House? And i f it is to go through the Assembly, w ill that be possible without the unanimous approval o f the Tribunes ? What about my property, and m y house? Can it be restored, and, i f not, how can I be ? Unless you see solutions to these problems, what sort o f a hope are yo u asking me to entertain ? I f on the other

35

3-a

6o (ill. 15) 6

TEXT

quae est niihi vita? itaque exspecto Thessalonicae acta Kal. Sext., ex quibus statuam in tuosne agros confugiam , ut neque videam homines quos nolim et te, ut scribis, videam et propius 15 sim si quid agatur, id quod intellexi cum tibi tum Q uinto fratri placere, an abeam Cyzicum .

7

Nunc, Pomponi, quoniam nihil impertisti tuae prudentiae ad salutem meam, quod aut in me ipso satis esse consili decreras aut te nihil plus mihi debere quam ut praesto esses, quoniamque ego proditus, inductus, coniectus in fraudem omnia mea praesidia neglexi, totam Itabam [in me] erectam ad m e de- j fendendum destitui et rehqui, me, meos tradidi inimicis inspectante et tacente te, qui, si non plus ingenio valebas quam ego, certe timebas minus: si potes, erige addictos et in eo nos hiva; sin omnia sunt obstructa, id ipsum fac ut sciamus et nos ahquando aut obiurgare aut communiter consolari desine, ego 10 si tuam fidem accusarem, non me potissimum tuis tectis crederem; meam amentiam accuso, quod me a te tantum amari quantum ego vellem putavi,

quod si fuisset, fidem

eandem, curam maiorem adhibuisses, me certe ad exitium praecipitantem retinuisses, istos labores, quos nunc in naufragiis 1$ nostris susdpis, non subisses. 8

Qua re fac ut omnia ad me perspecta et explorata perscribas meque, ut facis, velis esse ahquem, quoniam qui fili et qui esse potui, iam esse non possum, et ut his btteris non te sed me ipsum a me esse accusatum putes, si qui erunt quibus putes opus esse meo nomine Utteras dari, velim conscribas curesque dandas, data xun KaL Sept.

6 , 16 id quod Klotz: idque fi. 7, 2 decreras ellam A. j in me sect. Emesli. 6 meos ENOR: meis Mm: mcosque GV: meos me A. 12 me r. om. fi. 8, 6 xin HNc. 36

s

TRANSLATION

6 o (in. 15) 6

hand there is no hope, what has life to offer me? So I am waiting at Thessalonica for the proceedings o f the Kalends o f August, in the light o f which I shall decide whether to take refuge on your land, where I shall not see anyone I don’t want and where I shall see you, so you say, and be closer if anything is done, as I understand you and m y brother Quintus both think advisable, or go aw ay to Cyzicus. 7 N o w , Pomponius, I appeal to you. You did not give me o f your worldly wisdom to save me from ruin, considering perhaps that I was competent to judge for myself or else that you owed me nothing more than your presence. Betrayed, decoyed, trapped as I was, I neglected all my defences, deserted and abandoned the Italy which stood as one man ready to protect me, and surrendered myself and my family to my enemies, while you, m y superior in sang-froid i f not in motherwit, looked on and said nothing. N ow, i f it is in your power, raise m e from the dust and help me in that. But i f all paths are blocked, then tell me so, and don’t let us have any more either o f scolding or o f consolatory commonplace. I f I were saying anything against your good faith I should not choose your house for a refuge. It is m y own folly that I reproach, in imagining that you felt as warm ly towards me as I could have wished. Had that been so you would have brought not better faith indeed but greater solicitude to bear, you would certainly have held me back as I rushed upon destruction, and would have saved yourself all the labours you are now undertaking in the wreck o f my fortunes. 8 So please go thoroughly into everything and let me have a frill and reliable account. Wish me (as you do) to be somebody, since I can no longer be what l was or what I might have been. And please take me as reproaching myselfin this letter, not you. I should be grateful i f you would write letters and arrange for their dispatch to any persons you think ought to be written to in m y name. Dispatched 17 August.

37

6i (in. 16)

T EX T

6l (ill. 16) Scr. Thessalonicae xii Kal. Sept. an. 5S CICERO A TTIC O SAL.

Totum iter mihi incertum fad t exspectatio litterarum vestrarum KaL Sext. datarum, nam si spes erit, E p iru m , si m inus, Cyzicum aut aliud quid sequemur, tuae quidem litterae quo saepius a me leguntur hoc spem fadunt m ihi m inorem , quod cum (diligentius) lectae sunt tum id quod attulerunt ad spem 5 infirmant, ut facile appareat te et consolationi servire et veritati, itaque te rogo plane ut ad me quae sdes ut erunt, quae putabis ita scribas ut putabis, data xn K al. [April.].

62 (m. 17) Sct. Thessalonicae prid. Non. Sept. an. 58 (§3) CICERO A T T IC O SAL.

I De Quinto fratre nuntii nobis tristes nec varii venerant ex a. d. nn Non. lun. usque ad prid. Kal. Sept.

eo autem dic

Livindus, L. Reguli libertus, ad me a R egu lo missus venit, is omnino mendonem nullam factam esse nuntiavit, sed fuisse tamen sermonem de C . Clodi filio; isque m ihi tum a fratre 3 litteras attulit, sed postridie Sesri pueri venerunt, qui a te litteras attulerunt non tam exploratas a tim ore quam sermo Livinei fuerat, sane sum in meo infinito m aerore sollidtus, ct eo magis quod Appi quaesdo est.

Ep. 4 5 7 8 Ep .

61] 2 nam si s: nam aliud aliquid si O. quod Z l: quam Q. diligendus addidi. lect(a)e HNA: lctc G : laetae Z : lat(a)e VR. itaque Bruma (Mi): idque G. sdes Wesenbcrg: scis Q. data G: D. A. April, del. Baiter. ut putabis Z*A: om. G. 62] I, 2 a.d. un scripsi: ante diem Q. non. iun(iis) usque 6 : non uiuus que al. G. e o .. .attulit (v. 6) om. CH. eo C : ego O.

38

TRANSLATION

6l (in. 16)

6 1 (ill. 1 6) Thessalonica, /p August 38 C IC E R O

TO A T T IC U S

I am waiting fo r letters from yo u and others o f date Kalends o f August, and that makes m y w hole plan o f travel uncertain. I f there is hope I shall m ake fo r Epirus; i f not, for Cyzicus or some place or other. T h e oftener I read yo u r letters the less optimistic they m ake me. W h en carefully read they cast doubts on the reasons fo r optim ism w hich they adduced. It’s easy to see that you are trying to com bine consolation w ith honesty. I do ask you therefore to w rite to m e plainly, givin g what you know just as it is, and w hat yo u think ju st as yo u think it. Dispatched 19th. 62

(m. 17)

Thessalonica, 4 September 38 C IC E R O

TO A T T IC U S

I Gloomy and also consistent reports about m y brother Quintus continued to reach m e betw een 2 Ju n e and 29 August. O n that day however, Livineius, L . Regulus’ freedm an, arrived, sent to me by Regulus. He told m e that nothing had been said publicly, but there had been som e talk o f C . Clod iu s’ son. H e also brought me a letter fro m m y brother. B u t the follow in g day boys o f Sestius’ arrived brin ging a letter fro m yo u w hich was not quite so reassuring as w h at Livineius had said. N aturally I feel anxiety, am id m y o w n infinite distress, and all the m ore because Appius is President o f the C ou rt.

2-3 die Livineius Victorius: dici ei ve in eius R : diei ei (om. s) veniens KA: dic (spat, seq.) eius N : die Livinus C : (dic) Levineius A. 3 L. Mamilius : m vel in KA: om. NRC. libertus vulg.: 1. fiC. 3 tum a V: cum (quom) a NOR: qm M: cum bdm: Quinto s. 8 livini GRM. 9 appi(i) qu(a)e$tio Z62 *A: -ispecdo M. 39

TEXT

6 2 (m. 17 ) 2

2

Cetera quae ad me eisdem litteris scribis de nostra spe intellego esse languidiora quam alii ostendunt, ego autem, quoniam non longe ab eo tempore absumus in quo res diiudicabitur, aut ad te conferam me aut edam nunc circum haec loca commorabor.

3

S

Scribit ad me frater omnia sua per te unum sustineri, quid te aut horter quod facis aut agam gradas, quod non exspectas ? tantum velim fortuna det nobis potestatem ut incolumes amore nostro perfruamur. tuas litteras semper m axim e exspecto; in quibus cave vereare ne aut diligenda tua m ihi molesta aut 5 veritas acerba sit data prid. N on. S cp t

63 (m. 18)

Scr. Thessalonicae c. iv Id. Sept. an. 58 CICERO ATTICO SAL.

X Exspectationem nobis non parvam attuleras cum scripseras Varronem tibi pro amicitia confirmasse causam nostram Pom peium certe suscepturum et, simul a Caesare ei litterae quas exspectaret remissae essent actorem edam daturum, utrum id nihil fuit an adversatae sunt Caesaris litterae an est aliquid in 5 spe ? edam illud scripseras, eundem ‘ secundum com itia ’ dixisse. 2 fac, si vides quantis in malis iaceam et si putas esse humanitatis tuae, me fac de tota causa nostra certiorem, nam Quintus frater, homo mirus qui me tam valde amat, omnia mittit spei plena, metuens, credo, defectionem animi mei. tuae autem litterae sunt variae; neque enim me desperare vis nec temere sperare, fac, obsecro te, ut omnia quae perspici a te possunt sciamus. 3 ,4 exopto CN. 5 cavere R vereare Baiter: -eriZ 1 (" quamquampostrema syllaba non admodum appareat'): om. fi. d om. NMm. E p . 63] 1, 3 simul ac a Mm. 4 actorem Z : au(c)t-fi. 3, 2 fac om. EH.

40

J

TRANSLATION

62 (nr. 17 ) 2

2

I perceive that the rest o f your letter dealing with my own prospects strikes a less sanguine note than what I hear from other correspondents. However, as we are not far away from : the time o f decision one w ay or the other, I shall either move to your place or stay yet awhile around here. 3 M y brother writes that you are in everything his sole support and stay. I won’t encourage you to do what you are already doing or offer rhanks which you do not expea. I can only wish that fortune m ay grant us to enjoy one another s affection in our native land. I always eagerly await your letters. Don’t have any fear that I m ay find them tediously detailed or painfully candid. Dispatched 4 September. 63 (in. 18) Thessalonica, c. 10 September 58 C IC E R O T O A T T IC U S

1 M y expectations were' considerably aroused b y what you told me about Varro’s having assured you as a friend that Pompey would definitely take up m y cause, and would further appoint an agent as soon as he had received a letter which he was expecting from Caesar. D id tins mean nothing, or was Caesar’s letter unfavourable, or is there still a hope ? Y ou also wrote that 2 he said ‘ after the elections’. D o, i f you see the trouble I am in and think it becomes the kindness o f your heart, do inform me how m y whole case stands. M y brother Quintus, a wonderful fellow to love me as he so ardently does, paints everything in rosy colours, fearing, I suppose, that I may otherwise give up altogether. Y o u r letters vary. Y o u don’t want me to despair nor yet to hope unwisely. I beg you, let me know everything you can make out.

41

64 (m. 19)

T EXT 64 (m. 19)

Scr. Thessalonicae x v i K al. Oct. an. 58 (§3) C IC E R O A T T I C O S A L .

1 Quoad eius modi mihi a vobis litterae adferebantur ut aliquid ex iis esset exspectandum, spe et cupiditate Thessalonicae retentus sum; postea quam omnis aedo huius anni confecta nobis videbatur, in Asiam ire nolui, quod et celebritas mihi odio est et, si fieret aliquid a novis magistradbus, abesse longe s nolebam, itaque in Epirum ad te statui me conferre, non quo mea interesset lo d natura qui lucem omnino fugerem , sed et ad salutem libentissime ex tuo portu proficiscar et, si ea praecisa erit, nusquam facilius hanc miserrimam vitam vel sustentabo vel, quod multo est melius, abiecero. (e ro ) cum paucis; 10 multitudinem dimittam. 2

M e tuae litterae numquam in tantam spem adduxerunt quantam aliorum; ac tamen mea spes etiam tenuior semper firit quam tuae litterae, sed tamen, quoniam coeptum est agi, quoquo modo coeptum est et quacumque de causa, non deseram neque optimi atque uniri fratris miseras ac luctuosas 5 preces nec Sesti ceterorumque promissa nec spem aerumnosissimae mulieris Terentiae nec miserrimae [mulieris] Tulliolae obsecrationem et fidelis litteras tuas, mihi Epirus aut iter ad salutem dabit aut quod scripsi supra.

3

Te oro et obsecro, T. Pomponi, si me omnibus amplissimis, carissimis iucundissimisque rebus perfidia hominum spoliatum, si me a meis consiliariis proditum et proiectum vides, si*3

Ep. 64] 1 , 1 quoad X: quod fl. litter(a)e a vobis A. 7-8 et ad X; ad EHR: et GAf: ut NV6. 8 saltem NS. 10 ero add. vulg. 2. 2 ac tamen Wcsenberg: att- CVL: actum N: et t- E: et tum R. 3 tamen quoniamCl: q- t- m: q- c. agi Schiitz: age E: ago CVRMm (coeptum.. .modo am. Nbd). 7 mulieris sect. Batliuolius. 42

TRANSLATION

64 (m. 19)

64 (h i . 19) Thessalonica, is September 58 C IC E R O T O A T T IC O S

1 As long as m y letters from you and m y other friends were such as to arouse some expectation o f result, hope and desire kept me at Thessalonica. W hen it appeared to me that all activity was over for the year, I did not feel like going to Asia because crowds are odious to me, and I did not want to be far away in case something might be done b y the new magistrates. So I have decided to betake m yself to your place in Epirus; not that the character o f the locality makes any difference to me seeing that I shun the light o f day altogether, but yours is the harbour from which I shall most gladly set out to my deliverance, or, i f that is past praying for, there is nowhere else where I can more easily support this miserable existence, or, what is much better, discard it. I shall have few companions, I shall dismiss the throng. 2

Your letters havenever made me so hopeful as other people’s, and yet m y hopes have always been even fainter than your letters. However, since a beginning has been made, no matter how or why, I shall not be found wanting. I owe that to my excellent and only brother’s piteous, mournful entreaties, and the promises o f Sesdus and the rest, and the hopes o f my unhappy wife, and the pleas o f m y poor little Tullia, and your loyal letters. Epirus w ill either set me on the road to safety or —what I said just now.

3

T. Pomponius, I beg and implore you: you see how the perfidy o f others has stripped me o f all that I enjoyed in such ample measure, all that I most valued and delighted in, how I have been betrayed and thrown to the wolves by my own 3 ,1 T. (Kte) 1Z : om. HMm. 43

TEXT

64 (ni. 19) 3

intellegis me coactum ut ipse me et meos perderem, ut m e tua misericordia iuves et Quintum fratrem, qui potest esse salvus, 5 sustentes, Terentiam liberosque meos tueare, me, si putas te istic visurum, exspectes, si minus, invisas si potes, m ihique ex agro tuo tantum adsignes quantum meo corpore occupari potest, et pueros ad me cum litteris quam prim um et quam saepissime mittas, data x v i Kal. Oct.

10

65 (m. 20)

Scr. Tltessalotticae Hi Non. Oct. an. 58 (§4) CICERO s. D. Q. C AECILIO Q. F. PO M PO N IA N O A T T IC O

1 Quod quidem ita esse et avunculum tuum functum esse officio vehementissime probo; gaudere me tum dicam si m ihi hoc verbo licebit uti. me m iserum ! quam omnia essent e x sententia, si nobis animus, si consilium, si fides eorum quibus credidimus, non defuisset! quae colligere nolo ne augeam s maerorem; sed tibi in mentem venire certo scio quae vita esset nostra, quae suavitas, quae dignitas, ad quae recuperanda, per fortunas incumbe, ut fads, diemque natalem reditus m ei cura ut in tuis aedibus amoenissimis agam tecum et cum meis, ego huic spd et exspectationi quae nobis proponitur m axim e tamen 10 volui praestolari apud te in Epiro, sed ita ad m e scribitur ut putem esse commodius nos eisdem in lods esse. 2

De domo et Curionis oratione, ut scribis ita est. in universa salute, si ea modo nobis restituetur, inerunt om n ia: e x quibus nihil malo quam domum, sed tibi nihil mando nom inarim, totum me tuo amori fideique commendo, quod te in tanta 3 ,4 prius ut EVRbds: si GNMm.

Ep. 65]

aCEBO SALVTEM DICIT DrurtUS (M4): CICERO ATTICO SALUTEM

GNJL

VL l Oltl.

Q.C(a)edlio GORAC: cecilio N : om. V. Q(u.) f. G C : Q.fr (acri) N (quim o) VRA. Pomponiano. . . sed (v. 6) om. GH. Pomponiano 0 (?)PMC: -oiano R : -o n io NVb.

44

TRANSLATION

64 (m. 19) 3

advisers. Y o u kn o w h ow I was made to w ork m y own and my family's ruin. P ity m e then and help me. Support my brother Quintus, w ho can still be saved, look after Terenda and my children, w ait fo r m e i f yo u think you are likely to see me in Italy, i f not, visit m e i f yo u can and assign me so much o f your land as w ill suffice to contain m y body. And send me boys with letters as soon and as often as you can. Dispatched 15 September. 65

(m. 20)

Thessalonica, 5 October 58 CICERO TO Q. CAECILIUS Q. F. POMPONIANUS ATTICUS 1 Well, I heartily approve that it is so and that your unde has done die proper thing. I shall say I am glad i f the time ever comes when I can use that w ord. A h m e ! H ow well content I should be in every w a y i f courage, judgement, and the good faith o f those I trusted had not failed m e ! I won’t make a catalogue, which w ould add to m y distress, but I am sure that the picture o f m y old life w ill come to your mind, its amenity, its dignity. T ry, I beg you, to recover all this, as you arc doing, and make it possible fo r me to edebrate the birthday o f my return in your delightful house w ith you and m y family. I did want to hold m yself in readiness for this proffered hope and expectation on yo u r property in Epirus for preference, but the letters I get suggest that it w ill be more convenient for me to stay where I am. 2

About m y house and Curio’s speech, it is just as you say. Everything w ill be induded in the general restoradon o f my status, i f only that comes about. I care as much about the house as anything. B u t I don’ t give yo u any specific charge, I throw myself en drdy on yo u r affecdon and loyalty. It is very good

1 , 6 venire in mcnccm A. certo CNAc: -tc HVR. 9 amoenissimis oin. Mm.

45

65 (ill. 20) 2

T EX T

hereditate ab oinni occupatione expedisti, valde m ihi gratum j est. quod tacultates tuas ad meam salutem polliceris, ut om n ibus rebus a te praeter ceteros iuver, id quantum sit praesidium video intcllegoquc tc multas partis meae salutis et suscipere et posse sustinere neque ut ita lacias rogandum esse. 3

Quod me vetas quicquam suspicari accidisse ad anim um tuum quod secus a me erga te commissum aut praeterm issum videretur, geram tibi morem et liberabor ista cura, tibi tamen eo plus debebo quo tua in me humanitas fuerit excelsior quam in tc mea. velim quid videas, quid intellegas, quid agatur ad 5 me scribas tuosque omnis ad nostram salutem adhortere. rogatio Sesti neque dignitatis satis habet nec cautionis, nam et nominatim ferri oportet et de bonis diligentius scribi, et id animadvertas velim, data m N on. Oct. Thessalonicae.

66 (m. 21) Scr. Thessalonicae v Kal. Nov. an. $8 CICERO ATTICO

SAL.

Triginta dies erant ipsi cum has dabam litteras per quos nullas a vobis acceperam, mihi autem erat in a n im o iam , ut antea ad tc scripsi, ire in Epirum et ibi omnem casum potissimum exspectare. tc oro ut si quid erit quod perspicias quam cum que in partem quam planissime ad mc scribas et meo nom ine, ut s scribis, litteras quibus putabis opus esse ut des. data v K al. Nov.

on1. him. 3, 2 a GRbms: id NVMJ. 1 , 8 tc

6 masque amneu CA: que omnis RM: qui o- G : omnisque NVins: qui omnis que bd. 8 ferri t: ferre fi. Ep .66] 3 casum P: causam fi. $ planissime VRMmC: plen- C .

46

TR AN SLATIO N

65

(ill.

20) 2

news that y o u have freed y o u r hands from business although you have so large an inheritance to think o f. I fully appreciate the value o f y o u r o ffer to pu t all yo u r resources at the service o f my restoration and y o u r assurance that yo u w ill give me priority in all m anner o f assistance. I kn o w that yo u are taking upon y o u rse lf a m ultiple share o f the burden, that yo u can support it, and that y o u do n o t have to be asked to do it. 3

As yo u tell m e n o t to im agin e that an y supposed offence or neglect on m y part has m ade an y impression upon yo u r mind, I

shall do as y o u w ish and dismiss that w o r ry from m y thoughts;

but none the less I shall feel all the m ore indebted to you for showing a m ore generous spirit tow ards m e than I have shown to you. I hope y o u w ill w rite and tell m e w hat yo u see and what you gather and w h at is g o in g on, and encourage all your friends to w o rk fo r m y restoration. Sestius’ bill is not satisfactory either fro m the standpoint o f dign ity o r from that o f security. T he la w should m ention m y nam e and be m ore carefully drafted w ith respect to m y property, and I should be grateful i f yo u w o u ld p a y attention to these points. Dispatched 5 O ctober, Thessalonica. 66

(m. 2 1)

Thessalonica, 28 October 58 CICBRO TO ATTICUS It is thirty w hole days fro m the tim e o f w riting since I heard anything from yo u . I am n o w thinking o f doing what I said earlier, going to Epirus, and m aking that the place where I shall await m y fate, w h atever it is to be. I beg you to write to me in the plainest possible terms o f anything that comes within your p u rview , w h atever w a y it tends, and to w n te in m y name, as yo u prom ise, to such persons as yo u think needful. Dispatched 28 O ctober. 47

TEXT

67 (m. 22)

67 (in. 22) S ct . partim Thessalonicae c. x v K a l. D ee., partial D yrrach i vi K al. Dec. an. 58 (§4) C IC E R O A T T IC O

SAL.

1 Etsi diligenter ad me Quintus frater et Piso qu ae essent acta scripserant, tamen vellem tua te occupatio non im ped isset q u o minus, ut consuesti, ad me quid ageretur et qu id in tellegeres perscriberes, me adhuc Plancius liberalitate sua retinet iam aliquotiens conatum ire in Epirum , spes h o m in i est iniecta n o n s eadem quae mihi, posse nos una decedere, q u am re m sibi magno honori sperat fore, sed iam , cum ad ven tare m ilites dicentur, laciendam nobis erit ut ab eo discedam us, q u o d c u m fidemus ad te statim mittemus ut sdas ubi sim us. 2

Lentulus suo in nos oSirio, quod et re et prom issis et litteris declarat, spem nobis non nullam adfert P o m p ei v o lu n tatis; saepe enim tu ad me scripsisti eum totum esse in illius potestate, de Metello scripsit ad me frater quantum speraret p ro fec tu m

3 esse per te.

mi Pomponi, pugna ut tecum et cu m m eis s

mihi liceat vivere, et scribe ad me om nia,

p re m o r lu ctu

cum desiderio omnium rerum quae m ihi m e cariores sem p er fuerunt, cura ut valeas.

4

Ego quod per Thessaliam si irem in E p iru m perdiu n ih il eram auditurus et quod [ct] mei studiosos habeo D y rrac h in o s ad eos perrexi, cum illa superiora Thessalonicae scripsissem , inde cum ad te me convertam, friciam ut sdas, tuque ad m e v e lim omnia quam diligentissime, cuicuimodi sunt, scribas, eg o iam aut s rem aut ne spem quidem exspecto, data v i K aL D e c . D y rra c h i. *3 Ep.*7] a, 2 affert E: arserit Mm. 4 de GNV: et de ORMm. 3. 2 luctu CNKA: cum 1- ER. 3 cum desiderio s: tum d- ER: d- cum NMm: d- CV.

qu(a)e ENVRbs :

qui GAUrn. mihi me VRA : mihi ECN. 4,2 mei Ms: et mei G. $ cuicuimodi -do Mim: cui modo Rb: quoquomodo C.s: quoiusmodi V.

48

TRANSLATION

$7 (in. 2z)

67 (in. 22) Dispatchedfrom Dyrrachium, 25 November 55 C IC E R O TO, ATTX.CUS

i

Though iny brother Quintus and Piso have given me details o f what has happened, I could have wished that pressure o f businc». had no,t prevented yo,u from sending your usual full accounts o f what is going on and what you make o f it. Piandus* generosity still keeps me where I am, though I have made several moyes. to ge,t away to Epirus. The good soul is possessed by the hope, which I do not share, that w e may be able to leave for home together, and thinks that will be a great feather in his cap. Bjut 1 .shall presen,tly have to part from him, as soon as news comes o f the soldiers arriving. "When I do, I shall send you word at once, so that you know m y whereabouts. 2. Lentulus’ friendly attitude, evinced in actions, promises, and - letters, makes me somewhat hopeful o f Pompey’s good will, as you have often told me that he is completely under Pompey's thumb, AS; ,to Metellus», m y .brother has written to me o f how 3 much he hopes you have been able to achieve there. Striven my dear fellow, to win me the right to live with you and my family* and write all ,to. me. I am .consumed,by grief together with regret for all those things that have always been dearer to me than life itself. Keep well, 4 -. After writing the above at Thessalonica I proceeded to Dyrrachium, because i f I had travelled to Epirus by way o f Thessaly I should have heard nothing for ,a very long time, and beca,use, the townspeople are warm friends o f mine, "When I leave there for your place I shall let you know, and do you please write everything to me, good and jbad,, in the fullest detaiL Results, not hopes* are what I expect now, results, or nothing. Dispatched 25 November, Dyrrachium. 4

49

sBcn

68 (m. 23)

TEXT

68 (m. 23)

Sct. Dynachi prid. Kal. Dec. an. 58 (§5 ) CICERO ATTICO SAL.

1 A. d. v KaL Dec. tris epistulas a te accepi, unam datam a. d. vm Kal. Nov., in qua me hortatis ut forti animo mensem bmnariiim exspectem, eaque quae ad spem putas pertinere, de Lentuli studio, de Metelli voluntate, de tota Pompei ratione perscribis, in altera epistula praeter consuetudinem tuam diem 5 non adseribis, sed satis significas tempus; lege enim ab octo tribunis pL promulgata scribis te a s htteras eo ipso die dedisse, id est a. d. on KaL Nov., et quid putes utilitatis eam promulgationem attulisse perscribis, in quo si iam nostra salus cum hac lege desperata erit, velim pro tuo in me amore hanc inanem 10 meam dihgendam miserabilem potius quam ineptam putes; sin est aliquid spei, des operam ut maiore diligentia posthac a nostris magistratibus defendamur. 2

Nam ea veterum tribunorum pL rogatio tria capita habuit; unum de reditu meo, scriptum incaute, nihil enim restituitur praeter dvitatem et ordinem; quod mihi pro meo casu satis est, sed quae cavenda fuerint et quo modo te non fugit, alterum caput est tralatidum, de impunitate: ‘ si quid contra alias leges 5 eius legis ergo factum sit’, tertium caput, mi Pomponi, quo consilio et a quo sit inculcatum vide. Sds enim Clodium sanxisse ut vix aut omnino non posset nec per senatum nec per populum infirmari sua lex. sed vides numquam esse observatas sanctiones earum legum quae abrogarentur, nam si id esset, nulla fere abrogari posset; neque E p . 68] 1 , r decembr. V: septembr. E G N R A. 8 putes s': potest f) C : post bds. 9 perscribis I : sc- A iam G N R : iam haec VM m : haec iam Mr. 10 amore H r: more G N L : m(o)erore V R . 2 , 1 tribunorum. . . contentus (4, 16) om. G H . 8 aut omnino E R A : aut ut o - N O P : aut animo V .

50

T R AN SL AT IO N

68

(m.

23)

68 (m. 23) Dyrrachium, 29 November 58 CICERO TO ATTICUS 1 On 26 N ovem ber I received three letters from you, one dispatched 25 October, in which you urge me to keep m y courage up and wait for Jan u ary; and yo u go through various items which you think have hopeful implications, Lentulus’ zeal, Metellus’ good w ill, Pom pey’s general policy. Y o u r second letter, contrary to you r custom, is undated, but you give sufficient indication as to when it was written, for you say you wrote on the very day that the eight Tribunes promulgated their law, Le. 29 October, and you explain the good you think the promulgation has done. I f by this time all hope o f my restoration has gone the same w ay as the bill, I wish you may care enough for me to find m y idle solicitude on the subject pitiable rather than foolish. I f however there is still hope, I trust you w ill use your endeavours so that in future the magistrates who are on m y side champion me with more circumspecdon. 2

That bill o f the old Tribunes had three clauses, the first concerning m y return. This was carelessly drafted, for it restores nothing except m y citizenship and rank. That is enough for me in m y present plight, but you must see what points ought to have been provided for and how. The second clause, on impunity, is common fo rm : 1 should there be any contra venrion o f other laws in consequence o f this law ’. As for the third clause—m y dear Pomponius, do ask yourself w hy it was put in and b y whom. Clodius, as you know, attached sanedons to his bill to make it almost or quite impossible for it to be invalidated either by the Senate or by the Assembly. But precedent shows you that such sanedons have never been observed in the case o f laws to be repealed. Otherwise it would be virtually impossible to repeal 51

4-2

68 (m. 23) 2

TEXT

enim ulla est quae non ipsa se saepiat difficultate abrogationis, sed cum lex abrogatur, illud ipsum abrogatur quo non eam

3 abrogari oporteat hoc cum et re vera ita sit et cum semper ita habitum observatumque sit, octo nostri tribuni pl. caput posuerunt hoc: ‘ si quid in hac rogatione sedptum est quod per leges plebisve scita * (hoc est, quod per legem Clodiam )' promulgare, abrogare, derogare, obrogare sine fraude sua non liceat, non s licuerit, quodve ei qui promulgavit, (abrogavit), derogavit, (obrogavit) ob eam rem poenae multaeve sit, £ . H. L . N . R .’

4

Atque hoc in illis tribunis pL non laedebat; lege enim collegi sui non tenebantur, quo maior est suspicio malitiae alicuius, cum id quod ad ipsos nihil pertinebat, erat autem contra me, scripserunt, ut novi tribuni pl., si essent timidiores, multo magis sibi eo capite utendum putarent, neque id a Clodio j praetermissum est. dixit enim in contione a. d. ni Non. N ov. hoc capite designatis tribunis pl. praescriptum esse quid liceret, tamen in lege nulla esse eius modi caput te non fallit; quod si opus esset, omnes in abrogando (uterentur), ut Ninnium aut ceteros fugerit, investiges velim, et quis attulerit, et qua re octo 10 tribuni pL ad senatum de me referre non dubitarint, sibi quod observandum illud caput non putabant, eidem in abrogando tam cauti fuerint ut id metuerent soluti cum essent quod ne iis

a, 13 abrogator (post ipsum) ZZfblX: -areturA. quo nonZf^: quo modo 0 . 3.1 quom et VR: et quod N: quod A. et cum (quom) I: om. A. 6 quodve ei Ant. Augustinus: quod vel Or. 6-7 abrogavit et obrogavit add. Pithoeus. E. H. L. N. R. Mamilius: ER INR C:ebrar velsim.ft. multaevev.1. ed.Hervagiana: -ae ut ftC. 4.1 atque etiamC. j putarent A: -et I. 6 in om. A. 7 prescription P: perse- NVA: sc- R. 8 tamen r. tam 0. 9 uterentur add. f. ut Malaespina: aut ft. Ninnium vulg. (de Ant. F Malaespinae vix credendum): nimiumft. n dubitarint Mm: -rent bds: -runt VR: dubitant N. sibi scripsi: sive vel line ft. 52

TRAN SLATION

68 (m. 23) 2

any law , fo r there is none but protects itself by putting difficulties in the w a y o f repeal. B u t when a law is repealed, the 3 provision against repeal is repealed at the same time. This being so, not only in fact but in traditional opinion and practice, our eight Tribunes put dow n the following clause: *Should there be anything in the terms o f this bill, whether in promulgation o f a new statute or in repeal or restriction or contravention o f an existing statute, which is or was forbidden by or punishable under the laws or the resolutions o f the plebs’ (which is to say under the le x Clodia) ‘ or which renders the person responsible for such prom ulgation or repeal or restriction or contravention liable to penalty or fine, nothing o f this is enacted by the present bill.’ 4

N o w those Tribunes had nothing o f the sort to fear, for they were not bound b y a law emanating from one o f their own body. T hat makes one all the more suspicious o f some malicious intention when one finds them including a provision which did not affect themselves but was concrary to m y interest, so that their successors, i f timorously disposed, would feel under a much stronger compulsion to adopt the clause. N or did that escape Clodius. A t a meeting on 3 N ovember he remarked that this clause laid dow n for the Tribunes-Designate how far they might go. A n d yet yo u must be aware that no law contains such a clause, though i f there were any need for it everyone would have used it in repealing statutes. I should be grateful if you w ould inquire h o w it was that Ninnius and the others failed to see this, and w ho brought the clause in, and why the eight Tribunes, w h o did not hesitate to make a motion on m y case in the Senate (because they did not regard themselves as bound b y that clause), pushed caution so far when it came to the repeal that they were afraid o f a sanction which did not 13 fuerint Bosius: -runt O (-rant N ).

53

68 (ui. 23) 4

TEXT

quidem qui lege tenentur est curandum, id caput sane nolim novos tribunos pL ferre, sed perferant modo quidlibet; uno 15 capite quo revocabor, modo res conficiatur, ero contentus, iam dudum pudet tam multa scribere; vereor enim ne re iam desperata legas, ut haec mea diligenda miserabilis dbi, aliis irridenda videatur, sed si est aliquid in spe, vide legem quam T. Fadio scripsit [T.] Visellius. ea mihi perplacet, nam Scsd 20 nostri, quam tu dbi probari scribis, mihi non placet. 5

Terna est epistula prid. Id. N o v. data, in qua exponis prudenter et diligenter quae sint quae rem distinere videantur, de Crasso, de Pompeio, de ceteris, qua re oro te ut, si qua spes erit posse studiis bonorum, auctoritate, muldtudine comparata rem confid, des operam ut uno impetu perfringatur, in eam rem 5 incumbas ceterosque excites, sin, ut ego perspicio cum tua coniectura tum edam mea, spei nihil est, oro obtestorque te ut Quintum fratrem ames, quem ego miserum misere perdidi, neve quid eum padare gravius consulere de se quam expediat sororis tuae filio, meum Ciceronem, cui nihil misello relinquo 10 praeter invidiam et ignominiam nominis mei, tueare quoad poteris, Terentiam, unam omnium aerumnosissimam, sustentes tuis officiis, ego in Epirum proficiscar cum primorum dierum nundos excepero, tu ad me velim proximis litteris ut se initia dederint perscribas, data prid. KaL Dec. 4,15 quidlibet A: quid iubet (-cut N ) O. 16 res con£damr s: reco- O. 20 T. dei i. S, 9 quid eum Em : quidem C N V L : aliquid q- R . 11 tueare Manutius: tuere O. 14 tu 6 : tua 2.

54

is

TRANSLATION

68 (in. 23) 4

apply to them and which even those statutorily subject to it are at liberty to ignore. I sincerely hope that the new Tribunes will not propose this clause. H owever, let them only put something through, never mind what. I shall be satisfied with a single clause recalling me, provided only the thing be done. Already I feel ashamed to be writing at such length, and I fear that by the time you read this the matter may already have been given up as a bad jo b . In that case m y solicitude will seem pitiable to you and ludicrous to others. B u t i f there is anything left to hope for, take a look at the law which Visellius drafted for T. Fadius. It seems admirable to me. Sestius’ draft, which you say you approve of, I don’ t like.

5

The third letter was dispatched on 12 November. In it you explain, knowledgeably and carefully, the factors which you think are holding matters back, covering Crassus, Pompey, and the rest. I f therefore any hope emerges o f carrying the business through b y the support o f the honest men, by influence, b y a crow d brought up for the purpose, I beg you to try for a break-through at a single push. Put your heart into the effort and rouse the others. B u t if, as I see to be the case on your forecast and m y ow n too, there is no hope, I beg and adjure you to care for m y poor brother Quintus, whom I have ruined, unlucky wretch that I am. Don’ t let him take any decision concerning him self which might be to che injury o f your nephew. Protect m y Marcus as far as you can. Poor little boy, I am leaving him nothing but my hated and dishonoured name. Support Terenda with your good offices: no wom an ever had so much to bear. I shall go to Epirus when I get news o f the first few days. Please write to me in your next letter how the opening moves go. Dispatched 29 November.

55

69 (m. 24)

TEXT

69 (in. 24) Scr. Dyrrachi iv Id. Dec. an. 58 (§2) C ICER O A T T IC O SAL.

1 Antea, cum ad me scripsissetis vestro consensu consulum provincias ornatas esse, etsi verebar quorsum id casurum esset, tamen sperabam vos aliquid aliquando vidisse prudentius; postea quam mihi et dictum est et scriptum vehementer consilium vestrum reprehendi, sum graviter commotus, quod illa 5 ipsa spes exigua quae erat videtur esse sublata, nam si tribuni pL nobis suscensent, quae potest spes esse? ac videntur iure suscensere, cum et expertes consili fuerint ei qui causam nostram susceperant et nostra concessione omnem vim sui iuris amiserint, praesertim cum ita dicant, se nostra causa voluisse suam 10 potestatem esse de consulibus ornandis, non ut eos impedirent sed ut ad nostram causam adiungerent; nunc, si consules a nobis alieniores esse velint, posse id Ubere facere; sin velint nostra causa, nihil posse se invitis, nam quod scribis, ni ita vobis placuisset, illos hoc idem per populum adsecuturos fuisse, 15 invitis tribunis pL fieri nullo modo potuit, ita vereor ne et studia tribunorum amiserimus et, si studia maneant, vinclum illud adiungendorum consulum amissum sit. 2 Accedit ahud non parvum incommodum quod gravis illa opinio, ut quidem ad nos perferebatur, senatum nihil decernere ante quam de nobis actum esset, amissa est, praesertim in ea E p .6 9 ] 1 .1 cum (quom) £ : quam A. 5 sum graviter GNAA: g- s- HVR. 6 nam .. .amiserimus (2, 13) oni. C H . 8 ei Orelli: et Q. 9 vestra P. 10 cum ita NPm: ea ica VRM: cum ea ita d: cum ea bs. 13 velint (alterum) Emesii : vellent Q. ni 6 : ne O. 14 se NA: cis VR.

56

TRANSLATION

69 (m. 24)

69 (in. 24) Dyrrachium, 10 December 58 C IC E R O TO A TTIC U S

I When you and m y other supporters wrote to me that the grants for the consular provinces had been authorized with your consent, I had m y misgivings about the consequences but I hoped that at some point or other you had seen further than I. Later I was told, both orally and in writing, that your tactics were coming in for strong cridcism. I was deeply disturbed, because it looks as i f even the faint ray o f hope that existed has been extinguished. For i f the Tribunes are annoyed with us, what hope can there be ? And apparently they have fair reason for annoyance, since those o f them who had undertaken to help our cause were not consulted and, through a concession on our part, have lost all the power o f their prerogative—more especially as they say it was for our sake that they wanted the Consuls’ grants to be under their control, notin order to make difficulties for them but to attach them to our cause. They point out that i f the Consuls should now choose to take an unfriendly attitude towards us they are free to do so; whereas, should they be well disposed, they can do nothing against their (the Tribunes’) wishes. A s for your argument that i f you had not agreed the Consuls would have carried their point through the Assembly, that would have been out o f the question i f the Tribunes had been in opposition. So I am afraid we may have lost the support o f the Tribunes and, supposing that remains, I fear the hold w e might have had over the Consuls has been let slip. 2 A further and not negligible disadvantage is that the firm impression (or so it was reported to me) that the Senate was not going to pass any decrees before my case had been dealt with has been let go by the board, and that for a purpose not 57

69 (ill. 24) 2

TEXT

causa quae non modo necessaria non fuit sed etiam inusitata ac nova (neque enim umquam arbitror ornatas esse provincias 5 designatorum), ut, cum in hoc illa constantia quae erat mea causa suscepta imminuta sit, nihil iam possit non decerni, iam iis ad quos relatum est amicis placuisse non mirum est; erat enim difficile reperire qui contra tanta commoda duorum consulum palam sententiam diceret, fuit omnino difficile non 10 obsequi vel amicissimo homini Lentulo vel Metello, qui simultatem humanissime deponeret, sed vereor ne hos tamen tenere potuerimus, tribunos pl. amiserimus, haec res quem ad modum ceciderit et tota res quo loco sit velim ad me scribas et ita ut instituisti, nam ista veritas, edam si iucunda non est, mihi tamen 15 grata est. data nn Id. Dec.

70 (in. 25) Ser. Dyrrachi c. med. m. Dec. an. 58 CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Post tuum datae discessum litterae mihi Roma adlatae sunt ex quibus penpicio nobis in hac calamitate tabescendum esse, neque enim (sed bonam in partem accipies) si ulla spes salutis nostrae subesset, tu pro tuo amore in me hoc tempore discessisses. sed ne ingrati aut ne omnia velle nobiscum una interire 5 videamur, haec omitto; illud abs te peto, des operam, id quod mihi ad&rmasti, ut te ante KaL Ian. ubicumque erimus sistas.*23 2 ,7 - 8 iam iis (his) I : iis A. 10 fuit N A : et f- V R . 13 amiserimus P : mis- O. E p . 70]

1 dane Watt: a m e O .

H: pros- GVRh: om. N. 3 accipies Nins: -peres GVM : -pe JL

2 perspicio

6 haec I : hoc A.

58

salutis

-d O.

TRANSLATION

69 (m .

24) 2

merely unnecessary but contrary to custom and precedent (I don't think provincial grants have ever been authorized for Designates). Thus there is nothing to stop any decree, now that the line determined in m y interest has been breached in this instance. As for those friends o f mine to whom the question was put, it is not surprising that they spoke in favour. It would have been difficult to find anyone prepared to raise his voice publicly against a proposal so much to the advantage o f the two Consuls. N o doubt it was difficult to refuse such a good friend as Lentulus, or Metellus either when he was so handsomely waiving his grudge against me. But I suspect that we could have held them all the same and that we have lost the Tribunes. I should be grateful i f you would tell me how this came about and how the whole matter stands, and do so in your present manner. This frankness o f yours may not make for pleasant reading, but I welcome it. 10 December.

70 (in. 25) Dyrrachium, c. mid-December 58 C IC B R O TO AT TIC U S

A letter from Rom e, dispatched after you left, has reached me from which I see that I must pine away in this miserable state. And indeed (you w on’t take this amiss), i f there were any lingering hope o f m y restoration, caring for me as you do you would not have left Rom e at this time. But I leave this aside, for fear o f appearing ungrateful or o f seeming to want everything to go to ruin along with myself. I only ask you to try, as you assured me you would, to present yourself wherever I am before the Kalends o f January.

59

71 (ui. 26)

T EX T

71 (m. 26) Scr. Dyrrachi, ut vid., med. m. Ian. an. y j C IC E R O A T T IC O S A L .

Litterae mihi a Quinto fratre cum senatus consulto quod de me est factum adlatae sunt, mihi in animo est legum lationem exspectare; et si obtrectabitur, utar auctoritate senatus et potius vita quam patria carebo. m, quaeso, festina ad nos venire.

72 (ra. 27) Scr. Dyrrachi, ut vid., in. m. Febr. an. 57 C IC E R O A T T IC O S A L .

Ex tuis litteris et ex re ipsa nos funditus perisse video, te oro ut quibus in rebus tui mei indigebunt nostris miseriis ne desis, ego te, ut scribis, cito videbo.

73 (iv. 1 ) Scr. Romae c. iv Id. Sept. an. 57 C IC E R O A T T IC O S A L .

I Cum primum Romam veni fuit(que) cui recte ad te litteras darem, nihil prius faciendum mihi putavi quam ut tibi absenti de reditu gratularer, cognoram enim, ut vere scribam, te in consiliis mihi dandis nec fortiorem nec prudentiorem quam me ipsum nec etiam propter meam in te observantiam nimium 5 in custodia salutis meae diligentem; eundemque te, qui primis*23 Ep. 71] 4 adi. infine epistulae vt CaL ianuar. V, data vi KaL lanuar. cura ut valeas OR. Ep. 72] 1 et cx VL: ex CNR. 2 mei Ps: mas 0 . indigebunt ms: indulg- C : indulgebant HNVRMbd. 3 post videbo add. vale H, plura non scribo, cura ut valeas I^R. Ep. 73] 1 fuitque cui s: fuit cui GNOP: fuit qui VMm: que R. 60

TRANSLATION

71 (h i . 26)

7 1 (ill. 26) Dyrrachium (?), mid-January 57 C IC E R O TO A T T IC U S

I

have received a letter from m y brother Quintus along with

the decree about m e passed in the Senate. I propose to wait for the laws to be put to the vote, and i f there is opposition I shall avail m yself o f the Senate’s authority and prefer loss o f life to that o f country. P ra y make haste to join me. 72 (m. 27) Dyrrachium (?), early February 37 C IC E R O TO A T T IC U S

From your letter and fro m the facts themselves I see that I am utterly finished. In matters where m y family needs your help I beg you not to fail us in our misery. According to your letter I shall see you soon.

73 (iv- 1 ) Rome, about 10 September 37 C IC E R O TO A T T IC U S

I

As soon as I arrived in R o m e and came by a suitable person to take a letter to yo u , I considered it m y first duty to congratulate you on m y return. I had found you, to be quite frank, neither bolder nor w iser than m yself as an adviser, nor, I may add, excessively sedulous in guarding me from harm in default o f observances on m y part to make you so. But I also found that, having in the early days shared m y error, or rather3 3 ut vere scribam GNP: ut resc- KR: te vere sc- (scibam M) Mm: ut bene sc- Z l. j propter.. .observandam CiZ1 (‘plane scriptum’): propter ita meam in te obs- Z*. 6l

73 (iv. i) I

TEXT

temporibus erroris nostri aut potius furoris particeps et falsi timoris socius fuisses, acerbissime discidium nostrum tulisse plurimumque operae, studi, diligentiae, laboris ad conficiendum 2 reditum meum contulisse, itaque hoc tibi vere adfirmo, in io maxima laetitia et exoptatissima gratulatione unum ad cumulandum gaudium conspectum aut potius complexum mihi tuum defuisse, quem semel nactus si umquam dimisero ac nisi etiam praetermissos fructus tuae suavitatis praeteriti tem- 5 poris omnis exegero, profecto hac restitutione fortunae me ipse non satis dignum iudicabo. 3 Nos adhuc in nostro statu quod difficillime recuperari posse arbitrati sumus, splendorem nostrum illum forensem et in senatu auctoritatem et apud viros bonos gratiam, magis quam opta(ra)mus consecuti sumus; in re autem familiari, quae quem ad modum fracta, dissipata, direpta sit non ignoras, valde s laboramus, tuarumque non tam facultatum, quas nostras esse iudico, quam consiliorum ad colligendas et constituendas reliquias nostras indigemus. 4 Nunc, etsi omnia aut scripta esse a tuis arbitror aut etiam nuntiis ac rumore perlata, tamen ea scribam brevi quae te puto potissimum ex meis litteris velle cognoscere. Prid. Non. Sext. Dyrrachio sum profectus, ipso illo die quo lex est lata de nobis. Brundisium veni Non. Sext. ibi mihi Tui- s hola mea fuit praesto natali suo ipso die, qui casu idem natalis erat et Brundisinae coloniae et tuae vicinae Salutis; quae res animadversa a multitudine summa Brundisinorum gratulatione*234 I, 7 potius H. Sleplumus: totius O. 8 timoris £: moris ZT,) (‘ liber unus manuscr. longe optimus') : rumoris O. discidium ZX: dissi- HM m . 2 ,4 quem semel. . . aestimabunt (7, 13) desunt In GH. si umquam Meutzner: e umq- R : tum q- M : numq- N V 6 . 5 fructus VPm s : flu- N O R (-tos) Mbd. tuae s: tuos tu(a)c O. 3 , 1 difficillime E N V R : - ilk m e O : -ile m e A . 2 forensem s: -sium O.

3 bonos viros t. 4 optaramus Mamilius: optamus O: -avimus P.

62

TRANSLATION

73

(iV. i) I

infatuation, and participated in m y false alarm, you felt our severance m ost k een ly, and devoted a vast amount o f time and zeal and patience and labou r to bringing about m y return. a And so I sincerely assure y o u that in the plenitude o f longed-for jo y and congratulation one thing has been wanting to make my cup flow o v e r : to see y o u , o r rather to hold you in m y arms. Once I w in that happiness, i f ev er I let it go and i f I do not also claim all the arrears o f y o u r delightfu l com pany that are owing to me, I shall really consider m y se lf hardly w orthy o f this restitution o f m y fortunes.

3

O f m y gen eral position it can so far be said that I have attained w h at I th ou gh t w o u ld be m ost difficult to recover, namely m y public prestige, m y standing in the Senate, and m y influence am o n g the honest m en , in larger measure than I had dreamed possible. B u t m y private affairs are in a very poor way—yo u are aw are h o w m y p ro p erty has been crippled and dissipated and p illaged — and I stand in need not so much o f your resources, w h ic h I cou n t as m y o w n , as o f yo u r advice in

4

pulling together w h a t is left and pu tting it on a sound footing. I shall n o w g iv e y o u a b r ie f account o f such matters as I think y o u w ill p articu larly lik e to learn fro m m y pen, though I expect yo u h a v e alread y been in fo rm ed o f everything in letters fro m y o u r o w n peo p le o r fo r that matter b y report and general rum ou r. I

left D y rra c h iu m o n 4 A u g u st, the v e ry day on which the

law for m y recall w a s p u t to the v o te . I landed at Brundisium on the N o nes o f A u g u st. M y little T u llia w as there to welcome me. It w as her b irth d a y an d also, as it happened, the foundation day o f the c o lo n y o f B ru n d isiu m and o f the temple o f your neighbour d ie G o d d ess o f W e a l, a coincidence w hich attracted4 4, 3 scribam ENO: ime- VRA. 8 a om. A. 8-9 gratulatione.. .est C : om. fi. 63

73 (iv. i) 4

5

6

TEXT

celebrata est. a. d. fvif Id. Sext. cognovi, cum Brundisi cssem, litteris Quinti fratris mirifico studio omnium aetatum atque IO ordinum, incredibili concursu Italiae, legem comitiis centuriatis esse perlatam, inde a Brundisinis honestissime ornatus iter ita feci ut undique ad me cum gratulatione legati convenerint. Ad urbem ita veni ut nemo ullius ordinis homo nomenclatori notus fuerit qui mihi obviam non venerit, praeter eos inimicos quibus id ipsum, se inimicos esse, non liceret aut dissimulare aut negare, cum venissem ad portam Capenam, gradus templorum ab infima plebe compleri erant, a qua 5 plausu maximo cum esset mihi gratulatio significata, similis et frequentia (et) plausus me usque ad Capitolium celebravit in foroque et in ipso Capitolio miranda multitudo fuit, postridie in senatu, qui fuit dies Non. Sept., senatui gratias egimus. Eo biduo, cum esset annonae summa caritas et homines ad theatrum primo, deinde ad senatum concurrissent, impulsu Clodi mea opera frumenti inopiam esse clamarent, cum per eos dies senatus de annona haberetur et ad eius procurationem sermone non solum plebis verum etiam bonorum Pompeius 5 vocaretur idque ipse cuperet multitudoque a me nominarim ut id decernerem postularet, feci et accurate sententiam dixi, cum abessent consulares, quod tuto se negarent posse sententiam dicere, praeter Messallam et Afranium, factum est senatus consultum in meam sententiam ut cum Pompeio ageretur ut io eam rem susciperet, lexque ferretur, quo senatus consulto 4, 9 ante diem (ante etiam C) Vms: ante dies N RM bd.

Md: sexdL b: t R : om. N.

v i (sext.) Vms: sex

cum.. .essemZZ: om. A.

12 honestissime f : -mis 0 . 13 fecimus Mm.

5, i ullius ms : il- Q. 6 similis et NKA: -li E R . 1 et s: om. CL 6, $ plebi X. 7 fe d et P S : feriet 0 . 9

Afranium Brutius (M 4), ui vid.: aeranium vel sim. 0 . factum bs: -us Q.

64

TRANSLATION

73 (iV.

l)

4

popular notice and was jo yfu lly celebrated by the townsfolk. On n August (?), while at Brundisium, I learned by letter from Quintus that the law had been carried in the Assembly o f Centuries amid remarkable demonstrations o f enthusiasm by all ranks and ages and with an extraordinary concourse o f country voters. Thence I set out, after receiving the most flattering marks o f regard from the townspeople, and as I travelled along I was joined b y congratulatory deputations from all quarters. 5 So I arrived at the outskirts o f Rom e. N o t a man whose name was known to m y nomenclator, no matter what his rank, but came out to meet me, except for enemies who could neither conceal nor deny the fact that they were such. When I reached the Porta Capena I found the steps o f the temples thronged by the common people, who welcomed me with vociferous applause. Like numbers and applause followed me to the Capitol. In the Forum and on the Capitol itself the crowd was spectacular. In the Senate on the following day, the Nones o f September, I made a speech o f thanks to the House. 6 Two days later I spoke again. The price o f grain had risen very high, and a crowd flocked first to the theatre and then to the Senate, clamouring at Clodius’ instigation that the shortage was my doing. The Senate met during those days to consider the grain situation, and there was a general demand, not only from the populace but from the honest men too, that Pompey be asked to take charge o f supplies. He himself was eager for the commission, and the crowd called on me by name to propose it. I did so in a full-dress speech. In the absence o f all the Consulars except Messalla and Afranius, because, as they alleged, it was not safe for them to speak, the Senate passed a decree as proposed by me, to the effect that Pompey should be asked to undertake the matter and appropriate legislation be introduced. The decree was recited immediately, and the s

65

SB C 11

73

(iv. i) 6

TEXT

recitato continuo, (cum multitudo) more hoc insulso et novo plausum meo nomine recitando dedisset, habui contionem, (eam) omnes magistratus praesentes praeter unum praetorem et duos tribunos pL dederunt.

7

15

Postridie senatus frequens et omnes consulares, nihil Pompeio postulanti negarunt, ille legatos quindecim cum postularet, me principem nominavit et ad omnia me alterum se fore dixit, legem consules conscripserunt qua Pompeio per quinquennium omnis potestas rei frumentariae toto orbe terrarum daretur; s alteram Messius, qui omnis pecuniae dat potestatem et adiungit classem et exercitum et maius imperium in provinciis quam sit eorum qui eas obtineant, illa nostra lex consularis nunc modesta videtur, haec Messi non ferenda. Pompeius illam velle se dicit, familiares hanc, consulares duce Favonio fremunt, nos tacemus, 10 et eo magis quod de domo nostra nihil adhuc pontifices responderant. qui si sustulerint religionem, aream praeclaram habemus, superfrdem consules ex senatus consulto aestimabunt; sin aliter, demolientur, suo nomine locabunt, rem totam aestimabunt.

8

Ita sunt res nostrae, ‘ ut in secundis fluxae, ut in adversis bonae’, in re familiari valde sumus, ut sds, perturbati, praeterea sunt quaedam domestica quae litteris non committo. Quintum fratrem insigni pietate, virtute, fide praeditum sic amo ut debeo, te exspecto et oro ut matures venire eoque s animo venias ut me tuo consilio egere non sinas, alterius vitae quoddam initium ordimur, iam quidam qui nos absentis

6,12 continuo aim C.

cum multitudo addidi (cum populus {): om. etiam C. insulso AC: in suito N: inconsulto R: in consilio V. I] plausum meo O: -um co N: -u meo RA. 14 eam addidi (quam Wtimberg). 7, 3 ad EVR: om. NA. 6 adiungit c: -tudt Q, n responderunt F. habebimus 6. 12 aream bds: arram m: aera i M : (m)etam NVR. 13 ex 6: cs N: sex VRM. nn.. .aestimabunt NORA: om. V.

66

TRANSLATION

73

(iV. i) 6

people applauded after the silly new -fangled fashion w hen m y name was read out. I then addressed them at the invitation o f all magistrates present except fo r one Praetor and tw o Tribunes. 7

The following day there was a large attendance in the House, including all the Consulars. Pom pey was given everything he asked. In asking for fifteen Lieutenant-Com m issioners he named me first, and said that I should be his alter ego fo r all purposes. The Consuls drafted a la w g ivin g P o m p ey control over grain supplies throughout the w o rld fo r a period o f fiv e yean. Messius proposed an alternative bill w hich gives him control over all moneys and in addition a fleet, an arm y, and authority in the provinces superior to that o f their governors. Our consular law now looks quite m odest; M essius’ is felt to be intolerable. According to him self P o m p ey favours the former, according to his friends the latter. T h e Consulars are seething, Favonius at their head. I hold m y tongue, a course to which 1am the more inclined because the Pontiffs have no t yet given any answer about m y house. I f they lift the religious sanction,

1 have

a splendid site and the Consuls, under sena-

torial decree, will estimate the value o f the building. I f not, they will pull down the temple, let out a contract in their o w n name, and make an estimate for the w hole. 8 So stand my affairs: ‘ “ Unsettled” , when our luck is in ; W hen out, w e call it “ fa ir” .’ My financial position, as yo u k n o w , is in v e ry far fro m g o od order. Moreover, there are certain private matters w h ich I don’t trust to a letter. M y brother is a paragon o f affection, courage and loyalty, and I love him as I ought. I am lo o k in g forward to seeing you and beg yo u to make haste; and w hen you do come, come prepared to give me the benefit o f yo u r advice. It is a sort o f second life I am beginning. A lready, n o w 67

3 -3

73 K i) 8

TBXT

defenderunt incipiunt praesentibus occulte irasd, aperte invidere. vehementer te requirimus.

74 (iv. a)

Ser. Romae in. m. Oct. an. 37 (C IC E R O A T T IC O

S A L .)

1 Si forte rarius tibi a me quam a ceteris litterae redduntur, peto a te ut id non modo neglegentiae meae sed ne occupationi quidem tribuas; quae etsi summa est, tamen nulla esse potest tanta ut inrerrumpat iter amoris nostri et offici mei. nam ut veni Romam, iterum nunc sum certior factus esse cui darem 5 litteras; itaque has alteras dedi. Prioribus tibi declaravi adventus noster qualis fuisset et quis esset status atque omnes res nostrae quem ad modum essent, 2 ‘ ut in secundis fluxae, ut in adversis bonae’ , post illas datas

litteras secuta est summa contentio de domo, diximus apud pontifices prid. KaL Oct. acta res est accurate a nobis, et si umquam in dicendo fuimus aliquid, aut edam si numquam alias fuimus, tum profecto dolor et (rei) magnitudo vim quan- j dam nobis dicendi dedit, itaque orario iuventuri nostrae deberi non potest; quam tibi, etiam si non desideras, tamen mittam dto. 3

Cum pontifices decressent ita, ‘ si neque populi iussu neque plebis scitu is qui se dedicasse diceret nominarim ei rei praefectus esset neque populi iussu aut plebis scitu id facere iussus E p - 74l novam tp.ftdl Brutius (M4) ; continuant coii. I , 7 declaravi N A : -rat H: -ta G : -rabitur VR. a, 4 numquam i : um- O . $ dolor et rei Guliclmius: dolor et G N A : -ris et OR: -ru V. 6 itaque.. .inquam (j, 12)om.GH. iuventuri. ..deberi Kicformftiubent uri (ric etiamZ* 13)*.. .debere vel sim. O. 3, I decressent 1: -scent O. populi iussu 2 plebis scitu is C Z * : plebiscirius

-li vis (-luus, -lus) O.

vel sim. O. 68

ei

et O .

TRANSLATION

73

(rv. i) 8

that I am here, secret resentment and open jealousy are setting in among some o f those who championed me when I was away. I need you badly.

74 (iv. 2) Rome, beginning o f October 57 C IC E R O TO A T T IC U S

1 I f so be that you hear from me less often than from others, let me ask you not to put it down to pressure o f business, let alone negligence. True, I am extremely busy, but no amount o f business can interfere with the course o f our affection and the attention I owe you. The fact is, this is the second time since my return to Rom e that I have heard o f anyone to carry a letter; so this is m y second letter. In the first I gave you an account o f the manner o f m y arrival, m y present posidon, and the whole state o f m y affairs: ‘ “ Unsettled” , when our luck is in; W hen out, w e call it “ fair” .’ 2 After I sent that letter there followed a tremendous struggle over m y house. I addressed the Pontiffs on 29 September. I dealt faithfully with m y theme, and i f ever I amounted to anything as a speaker, or even i f I never did at any other time, I think I can say that on that occasion intensity o f feeling and the importance o f the issue lent me a certain force o f eloquence. So our younger generation cannot be kept waiting for the speech. I shall send it to you shordy, even i f you are not anxious to have i t ! 3

The Pontiffs having found that ‘ that portion o f the site might be restored to me without sacrilege, providing the person claiming to have consecrated it was not commissioned by name thereto by an order o f the people or resolution o f the ] populi iussu aut V: -luus sua ut vel sim. NRA.

69

74 K 2) 3

TEXT

esset, videri posse sine religione cam partem areae mihi restitui\ mihi facta statini est gratulatio (nemo enim d ubita(ba)t 5 quin domus nobis esset adiudicata), cum subito ille in contionem escendit quam Appius ei dedit, nuntiat [iam] populo pontifices secundum se decrevisse, me autem v i conari in possessionem venire; hortatur ut se et Appium sequantur et suam Libertatem ut defendant,

hic cum edam illi infim i 10

parum admirarentur partim irriderent hominis amentiam (ego statueram illuc non accedere nisi cum consules ex senatus consulto porticum Catuli restituendam locassent), K al. O ct.

4 habetur senatus frequens, adhibentur omnes pontifices qui erant senatores, a quibus Marcellinus, qui erat cupidissimus mei, sententiam primus rogatus quaesivit quid essent in decernendo secuti, tum M. Lucullus de omnium collegarum sententia respondit religionis iudiccs pontifices fuisse, legis (es)se 5 senatum; se et collegas suos de religione statuisse, in senatu de lege statuturos cum senatu, itaque suo quisque horum loco sententiam rogatus multa secundum causam nostram disputavit. cum ad Clodium ventum est, cupiit diem consumere, neque ei finis est factus; sed tamen, cum horas tris fere dixisset, 10 odio et strepitu senatus coactus est aliquando perorare, cum fieret senatus consultum in sententiam Marcelli ni, omnibus praeter unum adsentientibus, Serranus (intercessit, de) intercessione statim ambo consules referre coeperunt, cum sententiae gravissimae dicerentur, senatui placere mihi dom um 1534

3, 4 eam s: iam O.

arcae mihi

ara em i (a n e m i) M m : arce e m i s :

aeraemi R : aeream V : arce N : spat. bd. 5 dubitabat Corradas: -tat Q. 7 escendit A f: asc- N B : desc- V R . nuntiat (habuit Z b). 9 possessionem Vbds: -ne N R M m . 10 ut om. N . infimi infirmi O C . 4, 2 qui erat otru L 4 tum M . ru lg.: cum (quom) me O (cum M . b).

70

-an t O .

ia m seclusi

TRANSLATION

74 (fV. 2) 3

plebs, neither ordered so to act by an order o f the people or resolution o f the plebs’ , I was at once congratulated on the result, for nobody doubted that the house had been adjudged to me. Suddenly Clodius got up to address a meeting at Appius’ invitation. He announced to the people that the Pontiffs had found in his favour, but that I was attempting to get possession by force, and urged them to follow Appius and. himself and defend their Liberty. Even those groundlings were astonished, some o f them, while others laughed at his folly— I had decided not to go near die place until the Consuls by decree o f the Senate had contracted for the rebuilding o f Catulus’ portico. On the Kalends o f October there was a meeting o f the Senate, 4 well attended. All the Pontiffs who were Senators were called in. Marcellinus, who was very strongly on m y side, as the first called upon, asked them to give reasons for their decree. M . Lucullus, speaking for all his colleagues, then replied that the Pontiffs had been judges o f the religious issue, but the Senate was judge o f the law. His colleagues and himself had given their verdict on the former; on the latter they would decide in the Senate, as Senators. Accordingly all o f them, as called upon in their turn, spoke at length in favour o f m y case. W hen Clodius’ tum came he set himself to talk out the sitting and there was no putting a stop to him. However, after holding forth for something like three hours, he was finally forced to wind up by noisy interruptions from the exasperated House. A decree in accordance with Marcellinus’ proposal, unanimous apart from one dissentient, was in process o f passage when Serranus interposed his veto. Both Consuls immediately set about referring the veto to the Senate. Some very powerful speeches were delivered to the effect that it was the Senate’s S legis esse Seyjfert: legisse VR: legis NA. 7 statuturos %: statuos NOA : -ues VR: stat. C. 13 intercessit, dc add. Victorius.

71

cum.. .suo C : om. O.

74

(rv- 2) 4

TEXT

restitui, porticum Catuli locari, auctoritatem ordinis ab omnibus magistratibus defendi, si quae vis esset ficta, senatum existimaturum eius opera factam esse qui senatus consulto intercessisset, Serranus pertimuit et Comidnus ad suam veterem fabulam rediit; abiecta toga se ad generi pedes abierit, ille noctem sibi 20 postulavit, non concedebant; reminiscebantur enim Kal. lan. vix tamen ei de mea voluntate concessum est.

5

Postridie senatus consultum factum est id quod ad te misi, deinde consules porticum Catuli restituendam locarunt; illam porticum redemptores statim sunt demoliti libentissimis omnibus, nobis superficiem aedium consules de consili sententia aestimarunt HS vicies, cetera valde illiberaliter: Tusculanam s villam quingentis milibus, Formianum H S ducentis quinquaginta milibus, quae aestimatio non modo vehementer ab optimo quoque sed etiam a plebe reprehenditur, dices ‘ quid igitur causae fuit?’ dicunt illi quidem pudorem meum, quod neque negarim neque vehementius postularim, sed non est id; 10 nam hoc quidem etiam profuisset, verum iidem, mi T. Pomponi, iidem, inquam, illi, quos ne tu quidem ignoras, qui mihi pinnas inciderant, nolunt easdem renascL sed, ut spero, iam renascuntur, tu modo ad nos veni; quod vereor ne tardius interventu Varronis rui nostrique facias.

6

Quoniam acta quae sint habes, de reliqua nostra cogitatione cognosce, ego me a Pompeio legari ita sum passus ut nulla re impedirer, quod nisi vellem mihi esset integrum uc, si comitia 4,16 locati i : -re NA: iocarc VR. 18 factam scripsi: -tum fi. 22 ei scripsi: tibi fiX: sibi S. 5, 1 senatus consultum m: -us consulto 0 : s. c. bis. S vicies jX: vicis vel sim. fi. illiberaliter vulg.: in te Iib—fi. II mi VP: mei NORA. 6, j ut Hofmann: aut fi.

72

15

TRANSLATION

74

(iv. 2) 4

desire that m y house should be restored, a contract for Catulus’ portico put in hand, and the authority o f the House defended b y all magistrates; further, that in case o f any violence the person vetoing the decree w ould be held responsible by the Senate. Serranus took fright, and Comicinus repeated his old charade— flinging o ff his toga and throwing himself on his knees before his son-in-law. Serranus asked for a night’s grace, but the House, remembering the Kalends o f January, was unwilling to allow it. H ow ever, with much ado and with m y good w ill, the point was conceded him . 5

O n the follow ing day the decree which I send you herewith was passed. The Consuls then signed a contract for the restoration o f Catulus’ portico, and the contractors immediately demolished the other portico much to everybody’s satisfaction. The Consuls w ith their assessors valued m y house, that is the building, at H S 2,000,000 and the other properties at very ungenerous

figures— the Tusculan villa

at 500,000,

the

Formian at H S 250,000. The valuation is sharply criticized not only by better-class people but b y the populace as well. Y o u m ay wonder w h y this happened. They say m y modesty was the reason, in that I neither refused compensation nor pressed m y claim with vigour. B u t it isn’ t that. That would have been in m y favour rather than otherwise. N o, m y dear T . Pomponius, those same gentry (you don’ t need me to tell you their names) who form erly clipped m y wings don’ t want to see them grow back to their old size. H ow ever, I hope they are grow ing already. O nly do come back and jo in me. I am afraid you may do so less prom pdy than yo u w ould have done, now that your (and m y) friend V arro’s visit has intervened. 6

Since you n o w k now what has taken place, let me tell you o f m y plans for the future. I have let Pom pey nominate me one o f his Lieutenant-Commissioners, but on the understanding that m y hands are left quite free. I f I did not want to leave it 73

74 (iv. a)

6

TEXT

censorum proxim i consules haberent, petere possem, vo tivam legationem sumpsissem prope omnium fanorum , lu co ru m ; sic j enim nostrae rationes utilitatis meae postulabant, sed vo lu i meam potestatem esse v d petendi v d incunte aestate exeundi, et interca me esse in oculis civium de me optim e m eritorum non alienum putavi. 7

A c forensium quidem rerum haec nostra consilia sunt, domesticarum autem valde impedita, domus aedificatur, sds quo sumptu, qua molestia, reficitur Formianum, quod ego nec relinquere possum nec videre. Tusculanum proscripsi, {etsi) suburbano non facile careo. amicorum benignitas exhausta est s in ea re quae nihil habuit praeter dedecus; quod sensisti tu absens, (tui) praesentes, quorum studiis ego et copiis, si esset per meos defensores lidtum , facile essem omnia consecutus; quo in genere nunc vehementer laboratur, cetera quae me sollicitant uvomtedrrepa sunt, amamur a fratre et a filia, (te ) >o exspectamus. 75

K

3)

Ser. Romae viii Kal. Dec. au. 57 (§5) C IC E K O

A T T IC O

SA L.

I Avere te certo sdo cum scire quid hic agatur tum ea a me scire, non quo certiora sint ea quae in oculis omnium geruntur si a 6, 4 possem s' -em f i (-mt N ) : posse Z 1*1.

$ 6 9 7, 3 4

sumpsissem C : -isse NRA: suppressisse utilitatis H : -tes f i Z '. aliarum Gs: -noram HNVRAC. reficitur Manuiius: -datur fiX. etsi aid. Kayser.

V.

lucorum

Bosius:

lo c- f i .

3 q o o om. Sim . 7 cui praesentes

Tjmll-Puntr: praesentes GVRh: -esu es H: -ens praesentes

N. 9 nunc P : hunr R : Hinr C K A : hic N . 10 te add. Manutiut. 1 1 ex(s)pctxamus

GRMbd: -ur HNVPiiu.

74

TR ANSLATIO N

74

(rv- 2) 6

open to m y se lf to stand fo r the Censorship i f next year’s Consuls hold an election to that office, I should have taken a vo tiv e com m ission to practically ‘ every temple and sacred w o o d ’ . T hat is w h at our calculations o f m y interest required. B u t I w anted to g ive m y se lf the option o f either standing or leaving at the beginning o f next sum mer, and in the m eanwhile I thought it w o u ld not be a bad idea to show m y se lf to m y fellow -countrym en, to w h om I o w e so much. 7

Such are m y plans as to public affairs. As to m y private life, they are in a terrible tangle. M y house is being built, yo u k n o w at w h at expense and trouble. M y Form ian villa is being reconstructed, and I cannot bear to let it go nor yet to look at it. I have put up the Tusculan property for sale, though I can’ t easily do w ithout a place near R om e. T h e generosity o f m y friends w as exhausted in a matter w hich yielded nothing bur disrepute, as yo u saw in absence and yo u r people saw on the spot.

R elyin g on their lo yalty and resources, i f o n ly m y

defenders had permitted it, I should have had am ple fo r ev ery purpose; whereas n o w I am gready embarrassed in this respect. M y other anxiedes are m ore sub rosa. I have the affection o f m y brother and daughter. I look forw ard to seeing you .

75 (iv- 3) Rome, 23 November 57 CICERO TO ATTICUS I I am sure yo u are dyin g to k n o w w hat’s afoot here, and also to k n o w it from me— not that news o f what goes on in full public view is any m ore reliable from m y pen than w hen it

Ep- 75] I. I av ere.. .nuntiantur (1/. 3) om. CH. avere te El~bs: avete NR: avere OMdnt. certo NOA: -te VR: om. E. agatur 0 (?)RA: agitur NV. ea O: mea PZ1. 2 suit Vms: sunt ENORXlbil.

75

75 (rv. 3) i

TEXT

me scribuntur quam cum ab aliis aut scribuntur tibi aut nuntiantur, sed velim perspicias ex meis litteris quo animo ea feram quae geruntur et qui sit hoc tempore aut mentis meae sensus aut omnino vitae status. 2 Annatis hominibus a. i m Non. Nov. expulsi sunt fabri de area nostra, disturbata porticus Catuli, quae ex senatus consulto consulum locatione reficiebatur et ad tectum paene pervenerat, Quinti fratris domus primo fracta coniectu lapidum ex area nostra, deinde inflammata iussu Clodi inspectante urbe coniectis ignibus, magna querela et gemitu non dicam bonorum, qui nesdo an nulli sint, sed plane hominum omnium, ille ve(l ante) demens ruere, post hunc vero furorem nihil nisi caedem inimicorum cogitare, vicatim ambire, servis aperte spem Ubertatis ostendere, etenim antea, cum iudicium nolebat, habebat ille quidem difficilem manifestamque causam, sed tamen causam; poterat infitiari, poterat in aUos derivare, poterat edam ahquid iure factum defendere: post has ruinas, incendia, rapinas desertus a suis vix iam fDecimumf dissignatorem, vix Gellium retinet, servorum consiliis utitur; videt, si o mnis quos vult palam occiderit, nihilo suam causam difficiliorem quam adhuc sit in iudido futuram. 3 Itaque a. d. m Id. Nov. cum Sacra via descenderem, insecutus est me cum suis, clamor, lapides, fustes, gladii; et haec improvisa omnia, discessi in vesdbulum Tetri Damionis. qui

1, 3 scribuntur Wesenberg: -bantur Q. scribuntur V: -bantur E N O R A . 4 sed veiim E V R : velim (incipiente ep.) G : sed ut v - N : sed ut verum A . 2, 7 nulli Lambinus: ulli Q. ille .. .futuram (v. 17) ont. G H . 7-8 vel ante demens scripsi (demens iam Pius): vehemens Q. 8 ruere etiam C Z lX 2. vero om. A. nisi c(a)edem I s : ric cdem vel sim. A. ia potent (post causam) E R : id p- N VA. 13 et poterat aliquid etiam VR. 14 dissignatorem scripsi: desi- Cl.

76

s

5

10

1s

75 (iV. 3)

TRANSLATIO N

I

comes to you from the letters or reports o f others, but I should like you to sec from a letter o f m y own how I react to developments, and m y attitude o f mind and general state o f being at the present time. 2

On 3 N ovem ber an armed gang drove the workmen from m y site, threw down Catulus’ portico which was in process o f restoration by consular contract under a senatorial decree and had nearly reached the ro o f stage, smashed up m y brother’s house by throwing stones from m y site, and then set it on fire. This was b y Clodius’ orders, with all Rome looking on as the firebrands were thrown, amid loud protest and lamentation— I won’ t say from honest men, for I doubt whether they exist, but from all and sundry. Clodius was

r u n n in g

riot even before,

but after this frenzy he thinks o f nothing but massacring his enemies, and goes from street to street openly offering the slaves their freedom. Earlier on, when he would not stand trial, he had a difficult, obviously bad case, but still a case. H e could have denied the charges or blamed others or even have defended this or that action as legitimate. B u t after this o rgy o f wrecking, arson, and loot, his followers have left him. It is all he can do to keep Decius (?) the undertaker or Gellius, and he takes slaves for his advisers. He sees that i f he slaughters everybody he chooses in broad daylight, his case, when it comes to court, w on’ t be a jo t worse than it is already. 3

Accordingly, on 1 1 Novem ber as I was going dow n the Via Sacra, he came after me with his men. Uproar ! Stones flying, cudgels and swords in evidence. And all like a bolt from the b lu e ! I retired into Tettius Dam io’s forecourt, and m y *3

16 oedderit ERbs: -rint OMJm: -runt NV. 3 , a et

out. A .

3 discessimus A. vestibulum Tettii Victorius: -lo NVRMm: -lo EC (Tetti.. .futura (4, 3) om.CH). 77

M. terii

vtl sim.

75 (iv. 3 ) 3

TBXT

erant mecum facile operas aditu prohibuerunt, ipse oeddi potuit; sed ego diaeta curare indpio, chirurgiae taedet, ille s omnium vodbus cum se non ad iudidum sed ad supplidum praesens trudi videret, omnis Catilinas Acidinos postea reddidit, nam Milonis domum, eam quae (est in) Cermalo, prid. Id. N o v . expugnare et incendere ita conatus est ut palam hora quinta. cum scutis homines eductis gladiis, alios cum accensis facibus 10 eduxerit, ipse domum P. Sullae pro castris sibi ad eam im pugnationem sumpserat, tum ex Anniana Milonis domo Q . Flaccus eduxit viros acris; oeddit homines ex omni latrocinio Clodiano notissimos, ipsum cupivit, sed ille f e x interiorem aedium Sulla seinf. senatus postridie Id. domi Clodius, egre-

15

gius Marcellinus, omnes acres. Metellus calumnia dicendi tempus exemit adiuvante Appio, edam hercule familiari tuo, de cuius constantia vitae tuae verissimae litterae. Sesdus furere, ille postea, si comida sua non fierent, urbi minari. (M ilo ) proposita Marccllini sententia, quam ille de scripto ita dixerat ut totam nostram causam areae, incendiorum, periculi mei iudirio complecteretur eaque omnia comitiis anteferret, proscripsit se per omnis dies comitialis de caelo servaturum.

4 condones turbulentae Metelli, temerariae Appi, furiosissimae Publi; haec tamen summa, nisi Milo in campo obnundasset, comida futura. A. d. xn KaL Dec. Milo ante mediam noctem cum manu34 3, 5 diaeta (sic etiam s) curare Cobct: dia et accurari Q (dia om. N V , spat. rei.). 7 trudi videri Q (praesens v - om. VP). Acidinos vu lg.: sac- Q. 8 eam . . . Cermalo Tumebus: meamque ceramio O. 10 eductis ded- Q. 13 acris r . agris 14 notissimos -m o O. interiorem R A : -re N V P . 13 sc om. V. senatus OrelU: -tu O : -tum c. 17 Appio M corr.: op(p)io O. 18 vitae tuae X : virtute A. 19 minari 6 : mirari O . M ilo add. Wescnberg (post proscripsit iam K lo tz). 23 se per super O C . 4, 2 mil(l)o in (-o!) N R : miloni VPA. campo X : -pum A .

78

20

T R AN SLAT IO N

75 (iv.

3)

3

companions had no difficulty in keeping out the rowdies. Clodius him self could have been killed, but 1 am becoming a dietician, I’m sick o f surgery. W hen he found that everyone was calling fo r him to be bundled o ff to trial or rather to summary execution, his subsequent behaviour was such as made every Catiline look like an Acidinus. O n 12 N ovem ber he tried to storm and burn M ilo’s house in the Cermalus, bringing out fellows with drawn swords and shields and others with lighted firebrands, all in full view at eleven o’ clock in the morning. He him self had made P. Sulla’s house his assault base. Then out came Q . Flaccus w ith some stout warriors from M ilo ’s other house, the Anniana, and killed o ff the most notorious bandits o f the whole Clodian gang. He had every wish to kill their principal, but he had gone to earth in the recesses (?) o f Sulla’s house. Senate on the 14th. Clodius at home. Marcellinus first-rate, and the rest backed him up vigorously. B u t Metellus talked out the time with a filibuster, abetted b y Appius and also, I must add, by that friend o f yours, about whose consistency o f conduct you w rite most truly. Sestius was beside himself. Clodius later threatened reprisals against the city i f his elections were not held. M ilo on his side posted up Marcellinus’ proposal, which the latter had read out from script, calling for a trial to cover m y w hole case— the site, the fires, and m y ow n narrow escape, all to take place before the elections. H e also put up an announcement that he w ould

4 watch the skies on all coinitial days.

Public speeches followed,

a seditious one b y Metellus, a reckless one by Appius, a quite frantic one b y Publius. W hat it all came to was that, unless M ilo declared contrary auspices in the Cam pus Martius, the elections w ou ld be held. O n 19 N o vem ber M ilo went to the Cam pus before 4

4 ante mediara noctem HNVRbdsC: media nocte Mm: om. G. 4-5 manu magna NVRMni\: magna manu C. 79

75

K 3) 4

TEX T

magna in cam pum venit. C lod iu s, cum h aberet fu g itiv o r u m 5 delectas copias, in cam pum ire non est ausus. M ilo p erm an sit ad meridiem m irifica h o m in u m laetitia, sum m a c u m g lo ria , contentio fratrum trium turpis, fracta vis, con tem ptu s fu ro r. Metellus tamen postulat ut sibi postero die in fo ro o b n u n tie tu r; nihil esse quod in cam pum nocte v en ire tu r; se h o ra p rim a in 10 comitio fore, itaque a. d. x i K al. [Ian.] in c o m itiu m M ilo de nocte venit. M etellus cum prim a luce fu rtim in c a m p u m itineribus fp r o p e f deviis currebat; adsequitur in te r lucos hominem M ilo, obnuntiat, ille se recipit m ag n o et tu rp i Q . Flacci convicio, a. d. x K a l. nundinae, con tio b id u o n u lla. is

5

A . d. vnn KaL haec ego scribebam hora noctis no n a. M ilo campum i am tenebat. M arcellus candidatus ita stertebat u t e g o vicinus audirem. C lo d i vestibulum v acu u m sane m ih i n u n tiabatur: pauci pannosi sine lanterna, m eo consilio o m n ia illi fie ri querebantur, ignari quantum in illo h eroe esset an im i, qu an tu m s etiam consili. miranda virtus est. n o v a quaedam d iv in a m itto , sed haec summa est: com itia fore no n arbitror, re u m P u b liu m , nisi ante occisus erit, fore a M ilon e pu to, si se in tu rba ei iam obtulerit occisum iri ab ipso M ilon e v id e o , no n d u b itat facere, prae se fert; casum illu m nostrum n o n extim escit, n u m q u a m 10 enim cuiusquam invid i et perfidi consilio est u s(u r)u s nec inerti nobili(tati) crediturus. 4, 6 delectas deie- O. 56 4 * 8 contemptus 6 : -en tus CIZ1.3 11 xn Aim. lan. dei. Conadui. I ] adsequitur.. .crediturus (5, 12) om. GH. 14 recipit NVP: recepit ORA. 5 ,1 vnaRA:xnnNV:vmOA scribebam 0 6 : scribam NRM(?): scripsi V. 3 nuntiabatur N: -bantur [ rRA. 4 pauci pannosi sF: -cis -si VRAidm: -ds -sis Nb. sine lanterna s: sine alantecna(m) vel sim. VRA: mea lanternam IV. m eo consilio Aiaiiutius: eo consdo O (-ntio R). 5 heroe f : hero O.

6 mitto i : mittite Q. 8 se in turba d Klotz, Baitero duce: se uti turb(a)e iam NVCZ (sed urbae Z * ): sentitur hanc (ac P) iam R : -tur ve(b)iam A 11 usurus Klotz: usus Q.

80

u t it

TR AN SLATION

75 (iV. 3) 4

midnigh t with a large follow ing. Though Clodius had a picked force o f runaway slaves at his back, he did not dare go to the Campus. M ilo stayed till noon, to the public’ s enormous glee and his ow n great reclame. The campaign o f the three brethren became a fiasco. T h ey found their violence outmatched and their fu ry treated w ith contempt. However, Metellus asked M ilo to declare the auspices to him next day in the Forum. N o need, he said, to go at night to the Campus. He him self would be in the Com idum at daybreak. So, on the 20th, in came M ilo to the C om idum while it was still dark. As dawn broke, there was Metellus scurrying along the byw ays to the Campus. M ilo caught him up between the W oods and made his declaration, on w hich Metellus turned tail, to the accompaniment o f a deal o f coarse jeering from Q . Flaccus. The 21st was marketday, and for a couple o f days there was no assembly. 5

O n the night o f the 22nd I am writing this between tw o and three o’clock. M ilo is already in position on the Campus. M y neighbour Marcellus (the candidate) is snoring loud enough for me to hear him. I am told that Clodius’ forecourt is pretty well deserted— a handful o f ragamuffins without a lantern. Clodius’ party complain that it’ s all been m y plan. Litde do they know our heroic M ilo, what a resourceful as w ell as gallant fellow he is. His spirit is amazing. I pass over certain recent brilliancies, but the sum and substance is as follow s: I don’t believe there w ill be any elections. I think Publius w ill be brought to trial by M ilo, unless he is killed first. I f he now puts him self in M ilo’s w ay in a rough-and-tumble I don’t doubt that M ilo w ill dispatch him w ith his ow n hands. He has no qualms about doing so, and makes no bones about it. H e is not scared o f what happened to me, for he is never going to follow anybody’s envious and treacherous advice or put his trust in a sluggish nobility. 12 nobilitati scripsi: nobili O.

6

8l

SBC n

75 (iv. 3) 6 6

TEXT

N o s anim o dum taxat vigem u s, ed am m ag is q u a m c u m florebam us; re fam iliari com m inuti sum us.

Q u in ti fratris

tamen liberalitati pro facultatibus nostris, n e o m n in o exh au stu s essem, illo recusante subsidiis am ico ru m respon dem u s,

q u id

consili de om ni nostro statu capiam us te absente n escim u s, s qua re adpropera. 76 (iv. 4)

Scr. Romae iii Kal. Febr. an. 56 CICERO ATTICO SAL.

Periucundus m ihi Cincius fuit a. d. m K a l. F eb r. ante lu c e m ; dixit enim m ihi te esse in Italia seseque ad te pueros m ittere, quos sine meis litteris ire nolui, non q u o haberem q u o d tibi, praesertim iam prope praesenti, scriberem , sed ut h o c ip su m significarem, m ihi tuum adventum suavissim um exspecta cissi- 5 mumque esse, qua re ad vola ad nos eo an im o ut nos am es, te amari scias, cetera coram agem us, haec p roperantes scripsim us, quo die venies, utique cum tuis apud m e sis.

77 (iv. 7) Scr. in Arpinati c. Id. Apr. an. 56 CICERO ATTICO SAL.

I N ihil euKocipdTEpov epistula tua, quae m e sollicitum d e Q u in to nostro, puero optimo, valde levavit, ven erat horis duabus ante Chaerippus, mera monstra nuntiarat. D e A pollonio quod scribis, qui illi di irati, h o m in i G ra eco qui conturbat atque idem putat sibi licere q u o d equitibus 5*3 6 , 1 quam ( : quod N : om. V R h . 3 liber aliu d ( : -atis f i . 6 in fine ep. cura ut valeas add. V R E p . 761 J expect- P : spect- f i . E p . 77l 1 . » verba nihil euKcnpdrEpov huic ep. tribuit Z l, 83 (rv. 6 ) f i . 3 mera monstra R : -am -am C N O A (de cod. V vide Vol. i , p . j8 ). $ conturbat atque idem Bosius: -baret quidem f i .

82

TRANSLATION 6

75 (nr.

3) 6

M y heart is high, higher even than in m y palm y days, but m y purse is lo w . N one the less, with the help o f m y friends and against his opposition, la m repaying m y brotherYgenerosity, so far as m y resources allow, so as not to be left entirely penniless. W ith yo u aw ay I don't know what line to take as to m y position in general. So m ake haste. 76 (iv. 4) Rome, 28 January 56 C IC E R O T O A T T IC U S

C indus is a very welcom e arrival (before daybreak, 28 January), for he tells me that yo u are in Italy and that he is sending yo u boys. I didn’t want them to go without a letter from me, not that I have anything to w rite to yo u about, espedally as yo u are almost here, but just to tell yo u that I am m ore than delighted to hear o f your return and have been impatiently looking forward to it. So hurry to jo in me, confident in m y affection as in your ow n. I write in haste. T he day you get here, don’ t fail to stay w ith me and bring yo u r folks.

77 (iv. 7) Arpinum, c. 13 April 36 C IC E R O T O A T T I C U S

I

N othing could have been more