8 July 44 BCE: To Atticus (at Rome) from Cicero (at Puteoli)

Cicero is angry about... July

I reached Puteoli on the 7th of Quintilis.¹ I write this the day after, on my way to meet Brutus at Nesis. But on the day I arrived, Eros brought me your letter while I was having dinner. Really? ‘Nones of July’?² By Hercules, may the gods damn those men. But one can be angry about that all day. What could bring more shame to Brutus than ‘July’?³ Nothing that I’ve seen. I return therefore to my [...].

But please, what’s this I hear about the land-grabbers at Buthrotum being cut to pieces? And why was Plancus in such a rush—that’s what I heard—travelling day and night? I would really like to know what is happening. 

I am glad that my journey is approved of; I must see to it that my staying away is approved of as well. It’s no wonder that the Dymaeans, ejected from their land, are making the sea unsafe. It seems there may be some protection on making the voyage alongside Brutus, but I suppose his ships are very small. But I shall know soon, and write to you tomorrow.

About Ventidius, I think it’s a baseless rumour. About Sextus, it’s regarded as certain. If it’s true, we shall have to endure slavery, without civil war. What then? Should we set our hopes on Pansa on January 1st?⁴ Complete nonsense. That lot think only of drinking and sleeping.

About the 210,000, very good. My son’s accounts should be sorted out; for Ovius has just arrived. He has much to say that I am glad of, including reports, not bad at all, that 80,000 sesterces is more than enough, entirely sufficient, but that Xeno is giving it to him very sparingly and stingily. However much more your bill of exchange was than the rent from the apartment blocks can be charged to the year that had the extra expense of the journey. This year, from April 1st, should be kept to 80,000 sesterces; for the apartment blocks now provide that much. We must see to something for him when he is back in Rome; for I do not think that woman can be tolerated as a mother-in-law.⁵ I said no to Pindarus about my villa at Cumae.

Now here is why I have sent you a letter-carrier. Young Quintus promises me that he will be a Cato.⁶ Both the father and the son have pleaded with me to act as guarantor with you, but with the understanding that you will believe it when you have had proof of it yourself. I shall write him whatever letter he thinks he needs. Don’t let it influence you. I am writing you this so that you don’t think I have been influenced. May the gods grant that he does what he has promised! Everyone would be glad. But for my part—I say nothing further. He is leaving here on the 9th. For he says that he has an assignment of debt on the Ides, and that he is hard-pressed. My letter will guide you in how to respond.

I shall write with more when I have seen Brutus and am sending back Eros. I accept my dear Attica’s apology, and I love her very much; I hope she and Pilia are well.

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Read Ad Atticum 16.1 in Latin here | Check the glossary here

1. Quintilis was the name of the month now called July. This information will become irrelevant by the next footnote.

2. One of the honours granted to Caesar was that Quintilis, the month of his birth, should be renamed Julius, i.e. July. Since this happened before Caesar’s death, Cicero may be objecting to an official use of the new name, or to it becoming the accepted name of the month. The Nones of July was July 7th.

3. i.e. ‘What could be more shameful to Brutus than the name of the month honouring the man that Brutus should be honoured for killing?’

4. January 1st 43 BCE would be when Pansa took office as consul.

5. Cicero seems to want to make financial arrangements for his son to avoid him from marrying an otherwise unknown rich woman with a disagreeable mother.

6. Cicero jokes that Quintus Jr. has progressed from being an imitator of Cato’s virtue to a Cato himself.