Mid August 44 BCE: From Cicero the Younger (in Athens) to Tiro

Cicero’s son seems to have amassed an extensive entourage of philosophers

I waited eagerly for your letter-carriers every day—at last, they came 46 days after they left you. I had really wished hard for their arrival. For although I took the greatest joy in my kindest, dearest father’s letter, your really delightful letter added the final touches to my joy. And so I am not sorry that I’ve been the one to pause our letter-writing, but rather I am happy; for I get so much enjoyment out of your kindness, because my own letters have been silent. For this reason I am very glad that you have not hesitated to accept my excuse. 

I have no doubt, my dear, sweet Tiro, that the rumours you hear about me are acceptable and as you would wish, and I shall do my best and try to make sure that your growing opinion of me is doubled more and more by the day.¹ So you can feel loyal and confident in doing what you promised, and trumpeting my good reputation about. The errors of my youth are so painful and torturous to me that not only does my mind shudder at my actions, but my ears also shudder at the mention of them.² I know for certain that you have shared in my anxiety and pain, and I’m not surprised—you wanted everything to go well for my sake, as well as for your own, since I have always wanted you to share in any advantage I get. And so because of the pain I caused you then, I shall do my best to double your joy now.

Please understand that I am very close with Cratippus, not as a student, but as a son. While I do listen to him gladly, I also really love how sweet he is as a person. I am with him all day, and often for part of the night; for I beg him to have dinner with me as often as possible. Now that this familiarity has been introduced, he often sneaks in on us while we are unaware at dinner and, setting aside his philosopher’s severity, he is really kind and jokes with us. So you must make sure that you see him—this man who is so delightful, so excellent—as soon as possible.

What can I say about Bruttius, whom I never allow to leave my side? He lives a strict and frugal life, and is also a really delightful companion; for joking isn’t separated from philology and daily philosophical discussions. I have rented him a place near me, and, as much as I can with my narrow means, I support his frugal lifestyle. As well, I have started declamation in Greek with Cassius, but I want to practise in Latin with Bruttius. I spend time with friends and associates that Cratippus brought with him from Mytilene—scholarly men he really approves of. Epicrates is also with me a lot, a leading man among the Athenians, and Leonides, and others like them. So that’s what I’ve been up to!

About what you wrote to me about Gorgias, he was certainly useful for daily declamation, but I have put following my father’s orders above all else; he had written explicitly to say I should send him away at once.³ I didn’t want to tergiversate, in case me making too much of a big deal over it caused him to be at all suspicious.⁴ And then it also occurred to me that it would cause trouble for me to judge my father’s judgement. Still, I am very thankful for your kindness and advice.

I accept your excuse of having too little time; I know how busy you usually are. I am really glad that you have bought the estate, and I hope that it all turns out happily! Don’t be surprised that I am congratulating you at this point in the letter, for it was at about the same point in yours that you let me know that you had bought it. You are a land-owner now! You must give up your urban manners; you have become a gentleman of the Roman countryside. I’m imagining your really delighted face as if it’s in front of me now: I seem to see you buying things for the countryside, speaking to your estate manager, and saving away the seeds from dessert in your pockets. But about the money, I am as upset as you are that I was not there to help you out. But don’t doubt that I’ll support you, my Tiro, if only fortune supports me, especially since I know that farm was bought to be shared with us.

About what I asked you to do, thank you for taking care of it. But please, send me a secretary as soon as possible, and preferably a Greek. I waste a lot of effort in writing out lecture notes.

Please take care of your health above all, so that we can pursue our literary studies together. I commend Anterus to you.

Goodbye!

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Read Ad Familiares 16.21 in Latin here | Check the glossary here

1. Shackleton Bailey says this is ‘a phrase of which Cicero senior would hardly have approved.’

2. Cicero Jr. is at most 21 when he says he regrets the ‘errors of [his] youth.’

3. Plutarch writes: ‘There are letters from Cicero to Herodes, and others to his son, in which he urges them to study philosophy with Cratippus.​ But Gorgias the rhetorician he censured for leading the young man into pleasures and drinking parties, and banished him from his son's society.​ This is almost the only one of his Greek letters (there is also a second, addressed to Pelops of Byzantium) which was written in a spirit of anger; and Gorgias he properly rebukes, if, as he was thought to be, he was worthless and intemperate’. (trans. Bernadotte Perrin.)

4. From Lewis and Short: tergiversor is ‘a favorite word of Cicero; otherwise rare’.