Letters to Atticus/2.2

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Translated by Evelyn Shuckburgh

67385Letters to Atticus — 2.2 (XXVII)Marcus Tullius Cicero

To Atticus on his way to Rome

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Tusculum, December 60 BC

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Take care of my dear nephew Cicero, I beg of you. I seem to share his illness. I am engaged on the "Constitution of Pellene," and, by heaven, have piled up a huge heap of Dicaearchus at my feet.[1] What a great man! You may learn much more from him than from Procilius. His "Constitution of Corinth" and "Constitution of Athens" I have, I think, at Rome. Upon my word, you will say, if you read these, "What a remarkable man!" Herodes, if he had any sense, would have read him rather than write a single letter himself.[2] He has attacked me by letter; with you I see he has come to close quarters. I would have joined a conspiracy rather than resisted one, if I had thought that I should have to listen to him as my reward. As to Lollius, you must be mad. As to the wine, I think you are right.[3] But look here! Don't you see that the Kalends are approaching, and no Antonius?[4] That the jury is being empanelled? For so they send me word. That Nigidius[5] threatens in public meeting that he will personally cite any juror who does not appear? However, I should be glad if you would write me word whether you have heard anything about the return of Antonius; and since you don't mean to come here, dine with me in any case on the 29th. Mind you do this, and take care of your health.

Footnotes

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  1. The roll being unwound as he read and piled on the ground. Dicaearchus of Messene, a contemporary of Aristotle, wrote on "Constitutions" among other things. Procilius seems also to have written on polities.
  2. Herodes, a teacher at Athens, afterwards tutor to young Cicero. He seems to have written on Cicero's consulship.
  3. These remarks refer to something in Atticus's letter.
  4. Gaius Antonius, about to be prosecuted for maiestas on his return from Macedonia.
  5. P. Nigidius Figulus, a tribune (which dates the letter after the 10th of December). The tribunes had no right of summons (vocatio), they must personally enforce their commands.