Lettres à Atticus Passage 1

Dionysius cum ad me praeter opinionem meam venisset, locutus sum cum eo liberalissime; tempora exposui, rogavi ut diceret quid haberet in animo; me nihil ab ipso invito contendere. respondit se quod in nummis haberet nescire quo loci esset; alios non solvere, aliorum diem nondum esse. dixit etiam alia quaedam de servulis suis qua re nobiscum esse non posset. morem gessi; dimisi a me ut magistrum Ciceronum non libenter, ut hominem ingratum non invitus. volui te scire et quid ego de eius facto iudicarem.

When Dionysius came to me contrary to my expectation, I spoke to him with the utmost consideration. I explained the circumstances and asked him to tell me what he intended, saying that I would press nothing upon him against his will. He answered that he did not know where the money he possessed was; some people were not paying him, while other debts were not yet due. He also said certain other things about his little slaves, explaining why he could not stay with us. I indulged him. I dismissed him as the young Ciceros' teacher reluctantly, but as an ungrateful man without reluctance. I wanted you to know this and also my judgment of his conduct.

Dionysius étant venu chez moi contre mon attente, je lui ai parlé avec la plus grande courtoisie. Je lui ai exposé les circonstances et demandé de me dire quelles étaient ses intentions, ajoutant que je n’exigerais rien malgré lui. Il répondit qu’il ignorait où se trouvait l’argent qu’il possédait en espèces, que certains débiteurs ne payaient pas et que le terme des autres n’était pas encore échu. Il ajouta certaines choses au sujet de ses petits esclaves, qui l’empêchaient de rester avec nous. Je lui ai complu. C’est à regret que je l’ai congédié comme maître des jeunes Cicéron, mais sans regret comme homme ingrat. Je voulais que tu saches aussi quel jugement je porte sur sa conduite.