17 July 58 BCE: From Cicero (at Thessalonica) to Atticus (in Rome)

Cicero tries to pass off his own politically inconvenient speech as a forgery

Cicero greets Atticus.

You are careful about what you argue can be hoped for (from the Senate in particular), and at the same time you write that the section of the bill that prohibits anything being said in the Senate has been published.¹ And so there is silence.

Then you accuse me of ruining myself, when nobody has ever been ruined the way I have been—as you well know. You hold out hope for after the elections, but what use is that when the Tribune of the Plebs will not change, and my enemy will be consul-designate?²

Moreover, you have really given me a shock with the news about that speech going around.³ Do anything you can to treat this wound, as you say! Sure, I did write it—some time ago, when I was angry because he⁴ had written something about me first. But I concealed it well enough that I never thought it would get out. How it leaked, I don’t know. But because I have never once exchanged even a single heated word with him, and because I feel it is written with less care than my other works, I think it can be passed off as someone else’s writing.⁵ Please take care of this, if you think my situation can be remedied. But if it is clearly beyond saving, I don’t care as much.

I am still languishing in the same place, speaking to nobody, thinking nothing. Although I had meant for you to join me, as you write, I have given up on that and understand that in Rome you can help me, whereas over here you cannot lighten my burden even through conversation.

I cannot write any more, nor is there anything to write about; instead I wait for more from you.

Sent July 17th, from Thessalonica.

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Latin text of Cic. Att. 3.12 | Glossary | Where is Cicero?

1. An ammendment to the law exiling Cicero that prohibited discussion in the Senate about recalling Cicero from exile.

2. Atticus thought Cicero could have hope that the next year’s consuls would be less hostile towards him. But Clodius would still be Tribune of the Plebs until December, and Cicero’s enemy Metellus Nepos was aiming to be (and was) elected Consul.

3. Cicero’s speech ‘Against Clodius and Curio’, which was based on an argument Cicero had had with Clodius and Gaius Scribonius Curio the Elder in the Senate in the aftermath of Clodius’ trial for sacrilege, in 61 BCE. The speech survives in fragmentary form. This leak was incredibly awkward for Cicero, as Curio was helping Cicero by attempting to have him recalled from exile.

4. Curio, who supported Clodius in the aftermath of the sacrilege incident.

5. ‘Atticus, please tell them my account was hacked and that I didn’t post that.’