Letters to Atticus Passage 4

Scr. in itinere inter Vibonem et Brundisium post ep. 5 Id. Apr. a. 696 (58) . CICERO ATTICO salutem 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 quingenta milia liceret esse, illuc pervenire non liceret. statim iter Brundisium 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 invitamur benigne, sed quod superest timemus. me , mi Pomponi, valde paenitet vivere; qua in re apud me tu plurimum valuisti. sed haec coram. fac modo ut venias.

Written on the journey between Vibo and Brundisium, after Letter 5, on 13 April 696 (58). Cicero sends greetings to Atticus.

I would rather you attributed my sudden departure from Vibo, where I had asked you to meet me, to my misery than to inconstancy. For the bill concerning my ruin was brought to me. The amendment we had heard had been made to it was such that I was permitted to remain more than five hundred miles away, but was not permitted to reach that place. I immediately turned my journey toward Brundisium before the day appointed for the bill, so that Sicca, with whom I was staying, should not also be ruined, and because I was not permitted to be at Melita. Now hurry and catch up with me, if only I am received there. So far I am being kindly invited, but I fear what remains. My dear Pomponius, I bitterly regret being alive, and in that matter you have had the greatest influence with me. But we shall speak of this face to face. Only make sure that you come.

Écrite en voyage entre Vibo et Brundisium, après la lettre 5, aux ides d’avril de l’an 696 (58). Cicéron salue Atticus.

Je voudrais que tu attribues à mon malheur plutôt qu’à mon inconstance mon départ soudain de Vibo, d’où je te faisais appeler. On m’a en effet apporté la proposition de loi concernant ma perte. La correction qu’on nous disait y avoir été apportée était de telle nature qu’il m’était permis de me tenir au-delà de cinq cent mille pas, mais non de parvenir jusqu’à l’endroit où tu es. Je me suis aussitôt dirigé vers Brundisium avant le jour du vote de la proposition, pour ne pas causer aussi la perte de Sicca, chez qui je me trouvais, et parce qu’il ne m’était pas permis de séjourner à Malte. Maintenant, hâte-toi de nous rejoindre, si seulement nous sommes accueillis. Jusqu’ici, on nous invite avec bienveillance, mais nous redoutons la suite. Mon cher Pomponius, je regrette profondément de vivre, et sur ce point ton influence sur moi a été très grande. Mais nous parlerons de cela de vive voix. Fais seulement en sorte de venir.