Ì«×ÓүС˵Íø > Ó¢Óïµç×ÓÊé > letters of cicero >

µÚ1½Ú

letters of cicero-µÚ1½Ú

С˵£º letters of cicero ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡





Letters¡¡of¡¡Cicero

by¡¡Marcus¡¡Tullius¡¡Cicero

Translated¡¡by¡¡E¡£¡¡S¡£¡¡Shuckburgh




THE¡¡letters¡¡of¡¡Cicero¡¡are¡¡of¡¡a¡¡very¡¡varied¡¡character¡£¡¡They¡¡range¡¡from¡¡the¡¡most¡¡informal¡¡communications¡¡with¡¡members¡¡of¡¡his¡¡family¡¡to¡¡serious¡¡and¡¡elaborate¡¡compositions¡¡which¡¡are¡¡practically¡¡treatises¡¡in¡¡epistolary¡¡form¡£¡¡A¡¡very¡¡large¡¡proportion¡¡of¡¡them¡¡were¡¡obviously¡¡written¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mood¡¡of¡¡the¡¡moment£»¡¡with¡¡no¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡the¡¡possibility¡¡of¡¡publication£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡these¡¡the¡¡style¡¡is¡¡comparatively¡¡relaxed¡¡and¡¡colloquial¡£¡¡Others£»¡¡addressed¡¡to¡¡public¡¡characters£»¡¡are¡¡practically¡¡of¡¡the¡¡same¡¡nature¡¡as¡¡his¡¡speeches£»¡¡discussions¡¡of¡¡political¡¡questions¡¡intended¡¡to¡¡influence¡¡public¡¡opinion£»¡¡and¡¡performing¡¡a¡¡function¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Roman¡¡life¡¡of¡¡the¡¡time¡¡closely¡¡analogous¡¡to¡¡that¡¡fulfilled¡¡at¡¡the¡¡present¡¡day¡¡by¡¡articles¡¡is¡¡the¡¡great¡¡reviews£»¡¡or¡¡editorials¡¡in¡¡prominent¡¡journals¡£

In¡¡the¡¡case¡¡of¡¡both¡¡of¡¡these¡¡two¡¡main¡¡groups¡¡the¡¡interest¡¡is¡¡twofold£º¡¡personal¡¡and¡¡historical£»¡¡though¡¡it¡¡is¡¡naturally¡¡in¡¡the¡¡private¡¡letters¡¡that¡¡we¡¡find¡¡most¡¡light¡¡thrown¡¡on¡¡the¡¡character¡¡of¡¡the¡¡writer¡£¡¡In¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡the¡¡spontaneity¡¡of¡¡these¡¡epistles¡¡there¡¡exists¡¡a¡¡great¡¡difference¡¡of¡¡opinion¡¡among¡¡scholars¡¡as¡¡to¡¡the¡¡personality¡¡revealed¡¡by¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡both¡¡in¡¡the¡¡extent¡¡of¡¡the¡¡divergence¡¡of¡¡view¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡heat¡¡of¡¡the¡¡controversy¡¡we¡¡are¡¡reminded¡¡of¡¡modern¡¡discussions¡¡of¡¡the¡¡characters¡¡of¡¡men¡¡such¡¡as¡¡Gladstone¡¡or¡¡Roosevelt¡£¡¡It¡¡has¡¡been¡¡fairly¡¡said¡¡that¡¡there¡¡is¡¡on¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡more¡¡chance¡¡of¡¡justice¡¡to¡¡Cicero¡¡from¡¡the¡¡man¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world¡¡who¡¡understands¡¡how¡¡the¡¡stress¡¡and¡¡change¡¡of¡¡politics¡¡lead¡¡a¡¡statesman¡¡into¡¡apparently¡¡inconsistent¡¡utterances¡¡than¡¡from¡¡the¡¡professional¡¡scholar¡¡who¡¡subjects¡¡these¡¡utterances¡¡to¡¡the¡¡severest¡¡logica1¡¡scrutiny£»¡¡without¡¡the¡¡illumination¡¡of¡¡practical¡¡experience¡£

Many¡¡sides¡¡of¡¡Cicero's¡¡life¡¡other¡¡than¡¡the¡¡political¡¡are¡¡reflected¡¡in¡¡the¡¡letters¡£¡¡From¡¡them¡¡we¡¡can¡¡gather¡¡a¡¡picture¡¡of¡¡how¡¡an¡¡ambitious¡¡Roman¡¡gentleman¡¡of¡¡some¡¡inherited¡¡wealth¡¡took¡¡to¡¡the¡¡legal¡¡profession¡¡as¡¡the¡¡regular¡¡means¡¡of¡¡becoming¡¡a¡¡public¡¡figure£»¡¡of¡¡how¡¡his¡¡fortune¡¡might¡¡be¡¡increased¡¡by¡¡fees£»¡¡by¡¡legacies¡¡from¡¡friends£»¡¡clients£»¡¡and¡¡even¡¡complete¡¡strangers¡¡who¡¡thus¡¡sought¡¡to¡¡confer¡¡distinction¡¡on¡¡themselves£»¡¡of¡¡how¡¡the¡¡governor¡¡of¡¡a¡¡province¡¡could¡¡become¡¡rich¡¡in¡¡a¡¡year£»¡¡of¡¡how¡¡the¡¡sons¡¡of¡¡Roman¡¡men¡¡of¡¡wealth¡¡gave¡¡trouble¡¡to¡¡their¡¡tutors£»¡¡were¡¡sent¡¡to¡¡Athens£»¡¡as¡¡to¡¡a¡¡university¡¡in¡¡our¡¡day£»¡¡and¡¡found¡¡an¡¡allowance¡¡of¡¡over¡¡4£»000¡¡a¡¡year¡¡insufficient¡¡for¡¡their¡¡extravagances¡£¡¡Again£»¡¡we¡¡see¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡orator¡¡of¡¡Rome¡¡divorce¡¡his¡¡wife¡¡after¡¡thirty¡¡years£»¡¡apparently¡¡because¡¡she¡¡had¡¡been¡¡indiscreet¡¡or¡¡unscrupulous¡¡in¡¡money¡¡matters£»¡¡and¡¡marry¡¡at¡¡the¡¡age¡¡of¡¡sixty¡­three¡¡his¡¡own¡¡ward£»¡¡a¡¡young¡¡girl¡¡whose¡¡fortune¡¡he¡¡admitted¡¡was¡¡the¡¡main¡¡attraction¡£¡¡The¡¡coldness¡¡of¡¡temper¡¡suggested¡¡by¡¡these¡¡transactions¡¡is¡¡contradicted¡¡in¡¡turn¡¡by¡¡Cicero's¡¡romantic¡¡affection¡¡for¡¡his¡¡daughter¡¡Tullia£»¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡is¡¡never¡¡tired¡¡of¡¡praising¡¡for¡¡her¡¡cleverness¡¡and¡¡charm£»¡¡and¡¡whose¡¡death¡¡almost¡¡broke¡¡his¡¡heart¡£

Most¡¡of¡¡Cicero's¡¡letters¡¡were¡¡written¡¡in¡¡ink¡¡on¡¡paper¡¡or¡¡parchment¡¡with¡¡a¡¡reed¡¡pen£»¡¡a¡¡few¡¡on¡¡tablets¡¡of¡¡wood¡¡or¡¡ivory¡¡covered¡¡with¡¡wax£»¡¡the¡¡marks¡¡being¡¡cut¡¡with¡¡a¡¡stylus¡£¡¡The¡¡earlier¡¡letters¡¡he¡¡wrote¡¡with¡¡his¡¡own¡¡hand£»¡¡the¡¡later¡¡were£»¡¡except¡¡in¡¡rare¡¡cases£»¡¡dictated¡¡to¡¡a¡¡secretary¡£¡¡There¡¡was£»¡¡of¡¡course£»¡¡no¡¡postal¡¡service£»¡¡so¡¡the¡¡epistles¡¡were¡¡carried¡¡by¡¡private¡¡messengers¡¡or¡¡by¡¡the¡¡couriers¡¡who¡¡were¡¡constantly¡¡traveling¡¡between¡¡the¡¡provincial¡¡officials¡¡and¡¡the¡¡capital¡£

Apart¡¡from¡¡the¡¡letters¡¡to¡¡Atticus£»¡¡the¡¡collection£»¡¡arrangement£»¡¡and¡¡publication¡¡of¡¡Cicero's¡¡correspondence¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡have¡¡been¡¡due¡¡to¡¡Tiro£»¡¡the¡¡learned¡¡freedman¡¡who¡¡served¡¡him¡¡as¡¡secretary£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡whom¡¡some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡letters¡¡are¡¡addressed¡£¡¡Titus¡¡Pormponius¡¡Atticus£»¡¡who¡¡edited¡¡the¡¡large¡¡collection¡¡of¡¡the¡¡letters¡¡written¡¡to¡¡himself£»¡¡was¡¡a¡¡cultivated¡¡Roman¡¡who¡¡lived¡¡more¡¡than¡¡twenty¡¡years¡¡in¡¡Athens¡¡for¡¡purposes¡¡of¡¡study¡£¡¡His¡¡zeal¡¡for¡¡cultivation¡¡was¡¡combined¡¡with¡¡the¡¡successful¡¡pursuit¡¡of¡¡wealth£»¡¡and¡¡though¡¡Cicero¡¡relied¡¡on¡¡him¡¡for¡¡aid¡¡and¡¡advice¡¡in¡¡public¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡private¡¡matters£»¡¡their¡¡friendship¡¡did¡¡not¡¡prevent¡¡Atticus¡¡from¡¡being¡¡on¡¡good¡¡terms¡¡with¡¡men¡¡of¡¡the¡¡opposite¡¡party¡£

Generous£»¡¡amiable£»¡¡and¡¡cultured£»¡¡Atticus¡¡was¡¡not¡¡remarkable¡¡for¡¡the¡¡intensity¡¡of¡¡his¡¡devotion¡¡either¡¡to¡¡principles¡¡or¡¡persons¡£¡¡¡¨That¡¡he¡¡was¡¡the¡¡lifelong¡¡friend¡¡of¡¡Cicero£»¡¨¡¡says¡¡Professor¡¡Tyrrell£»¡¡¡¨is¡¡the¡¡best¡¡title¡¡which¡¡Atticus¡¡has¡¡to¡¡remembrance¡£¡¡As¡¡a¡¡man¡¡he¡¡was¡¡kindly£»¡¡careful£»¡¡and¡¡shrewd£»¡¡but¡¡nothing¡¡more£º¡¡there¡¡was¡¡never¡¡anything¡¡grand¡¡or¡¡noble¡¡in¡¡his¡¡character¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡the¡¡quintessence¡¡of¡¡prudent¡¡mediocrity¡£¡¨

The¡¡period¡¡covered¡¡by¡¡the¡¡letters¡¡of¡¡Cicero¡¡is¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡most¡¡interesting¡¡and¡¡momentous¡¡in¡¡the¡¡history¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world£»¡¡and¡¡these¡¡letters¡¡afford¡¡a¡¡picture¡¡of¡¡the¡¡chief¡¡personages¡¡and¡¡most¡¡important¡¡events¡¡of¡¡that¡¡age¡¡from¡¡the¡¡pen¡¡of¡¡a¡¡man¡¡who¡¡was¡¡not¡¡only¡¡himself¡¡in¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡the¡¡conflict£»¡¡but¡¡who¡¡was¡¡a¡¡consummate¡¡literary¡¡artist¡£

LETTERS

MARCUS¡¡TULLIUS¡¡CICERO

I

To¡¡ATTICUS¡¡£¨AT¡¡ATHENS£©

ROME£»¡¡JULY

THE¡¡state¡¡of¡¡things¡¡in¡¡regard¡¡to¡¡my¡¡candidature£»¡¡in¡¡which¡¡I¡¡know¡¡that¡¡you¡¡are¡¡supremely¡¡interested£»¡¡is¡¡this£»¡¡as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡can¡¡be¡¡as¡¡yet¡¡conjectured¡£¡¡The¡¡only¡¡person¡¡actually¡¡canvassing¡¡is¡¡P¡£¡¡Sulpicius¡¡Galba¡£¡¡He¡¡meets¡¡with¡¡a¡¡good¡¡old¡­fashioned¡¡refusal¡¡without¡¡reserve¡¡or¡¡disguise¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡general¡¡opinion¡¡this¡¡premature¡¡canvass¡¡of¡¡his¡¡is¡¡not¡¡unfavourable¡¡to¡¡my¡¡interests£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡voters¡¡generally¡¡give¡¡as¡¡a¡¡reason¡¡for¡¡their¡¡refusal¡¡that¡¡they¡¡are¡¡under¡¡obligations¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡So¡¡I¡¡hope¡¡my¡¡prospects¡¡are¡¡to¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡degree¡¡improved¡¡by¡¡the¡¡report¡¡getting¡¡about¡¡that¡¡my¡¡friends¡¡are¡¡found¡¡to¡¡be¡¡numerous¡£¡¡My¡¡intention¡¡was¡¡to¡¡begin¡¡my¡¡own¡¡canvass¡¡just¡¡at¡¡the¡¡very¡¡time¡¡that¡¡Cincius¡¡tells¡¡me¡¡that¡¡your¡¡servant¡¡starts¡¡with¡¡this¡¡letter£»¡¡namely£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡campus¡¡at¡¡the¡¡time¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tribunician¡¡elections¡¡on¡¡the¡¡17th¡¡of¡¡July¡£¡¡My¡¡fellow¡¡candidates£»¡¡to¡¡mention¡¡only¡¡those¡¡who¡¡seem¡¡certain£»¡¡are¡¡Galba¡¡and¡¡Antonius¡¡and¡¡Q¡£¡¡Cornificius¡£¡¡At¡¡this¡¡I¡¡imagine¡¡you¡¡smiling¡¡or¡¡sighing¡£¡¡Well£»¡¡to¡¡make¡¡you¡¡positively¡¡smite¡¡your¡¡forehead£»¡¡there¡¡are¡¡people¡¡who¡¡actually¡¡think¡¡that¡¡Caesonius¡¡will¡¡stand¡£¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡think¡¡Aquilius¡¡will£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡openly¡¡disclaims¡¡it¡¡and¡¡has¡¡alleged¡¡as¡¡an¡¡excuse¡¡his¡¡health¡¡and¡¡his¡¡leading¡¡position¡¡at¡¡the¡¡bar¡£¡¡Catiline¡¡will¡¡certainly¡¡be¡¡a¡¡candidate£»¡¡if¡¡you¡¡can¡¡imagine¡¡a¡¡jury¡¡finding¡¡that¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡does¡¡not¡¡shine¡¡at¡¡noon¡£¡¡As¡¡for¡¡Aufidius¡¡and¡¡Palicanus£»¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡think¡¡you¡¡will¡¡expect¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡from¡¡me¡¡about¡¡them¡£¡¡Of¡¡the¡¡candidates¡¡for¡¡this¡¡year's¡¡election¡¡Caesar¡¡is¡¡considered¡¡certain¡£¡¡Thermus¡¡is¡¡looked¡¡upon¡¡as¡¡the¡¡rival¡¡of¡¡Silanus¡£¡¡These¡¡latter¡¡are¡¡so¡¡weak¡¡both¡¡in¡¡friends¡¡and¡¡reputation¡¡that¡¡it¡¡seems¡¡pas¡¡impossible¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡in¡¡Curius¡¡over¡¡their¡¡heads¡£¡¡But¡¡no¡¡one¡¡else¡¡thinks¡¡so¡£¡¡What¡¡seems¡¡most¡¡to¡¡my¡¡interests¡¡is¡¡that¡¡Thermus¡¡should¡¡get¡¡in¡¡with¡¡Caesar¡£¡¡For¡¡there¡¡is¡¡none¡¡of¡¡those¡¡at¡¡present¡¡canvassing¡¡who£»¡¡if¡¡left¡¡over¡¡to¡¡my¡¡year£»¡¡seems¡¡likely¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡stronger¡¡candidate£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡he¡¡is¡¡commissioner¡¡of¡¡the¡¡via¡¡Flaininia£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡that¡¡has¡¡been¡¡finished£»¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡greatly¡¡relieved¡¡to¡¡have¡¡seen¡¡him¡¡elected¡¡consul¡¡this¡¡election¡£¡¡Such¡¡in¡¡outline¡¡is¡¡the¡¡position¡¡of¡¡affairs¡¡in¡¡regard¡¡to¡¡candidates¡¡up¡¡to¡¡date¡£¡¡For¡¡myself¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡take¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡pains¡¡to¡¡carry¡¡out¡¡all¡¡the¡¡duties¡¡of¡¡a¡¡candidate£»¡¡and¡¡perhaps£»¡¡as¡¡Gaul¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡have¡¡a¡¡considerable¡¡voting¡¡power£»¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡business¡¡at¡¡Rome¡¡has¡¡come¡¡to¡¡a¡¡standstill¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡obtain¡¡a¡¡libera¡¡legatio¡¡and¡¡make¡¡an¡¡excursion¡¡in¡¡the¡¡course¡¡of¡¡September¡¡to¡¡visit¡¡Piso£»¡¡but¡¡so¡¡as¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡back¡¡later¡¡than¡¡January¡£¡¡When¡¡I¡¡have¡¡ascertained¡¡the¡¡feelings¡¡of¡¡the¡¡nobility¡¡I¡¡will¡¡write¡¡you¡¡word¡£¡¡Everything¡¡else¡¡I¡¡hope¡¡will¡¡go¡¡smoothly£»¡¡at¡¡any¡¡rate¡¡while¡¡my¡¡competitors¡¡are¡¡such¡¡as¡¡are¡¡now¡¡in¡¡town¡£¡¡You¡¡must¡¡undertake¡¡to¡¡secure¡¡for¡¡me¡¡the¡¡entourage¡¡of¡¡our¡¡friend¡¡Pompey£»¡¡since¡¡you¡¡are¡¡nearer¡¡than¡¡I¡£¡¡Tell¡¡him¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡not¡¡be¡¡annoyed¡¡if¡¡he¡¡doesn't¡¡come¡¡to¡¡my¡¡election¡£¡¡So¡¡much¡¡for¡¡that¡¡business¡£¡¡But¡¡there¡¡is¡¡a¡¡matter¡¡for¡¡which¡¡I¡¡am¡¡very¡¡anxious¡¡that¡¡you¡¡should¡¡forgive¡¡me¡£¡¡Your¡¡uncle¡¡Caecilius¡¡having¡¡been¡¡defrauded¡¡of¡¡a¡¡large¡¡sum¡¡of¡¡money¡¡by¡¡P¡£¡¡Varius£»¡¡began¡¡an¡¡action¡¡against¡¡his¡¡cousin¡¡A¡£¡¡Caninius¡¡Satyrus¡¡for¡¡the¡¡property¡¡which¡¡£¨as¡¡he¡¡alleged£©¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡had¡¡received¡¡from¡¡Varius¡¡by¡¡a¡¡collusive¡¡sale¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡joined¡¡in¡¡this¡¡action¡¡by¡¡the¡¡other¡¡creditors£»¡¡among¡¡whom¡¡were¡¡Lucullus¡¡and¡¡P¡£¡¡Scipio£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡man¡¡whom¡¡they¡¡thought¡¡would¡¡be¡¡official¡¡receiver¡¡if¡¡the¡¡property¡¡was¡¡put¡¡up¡¡for¡¡sale£»¡¡Lucius¡¡Pontius£»¡¡though¡¡it¡¡is¡¡ridiculous¡¡to¡¡be¡¡talking¡¡about¡¡a¡¡receiver¡¡at¡¡this¡¡stage¡¡in¡¡the¡¡proceedings¡£¡¡Caecilius¡¡asked¡¡me¡¡to¡¡appear¡¡for¡¡him¡¡against¡¡Satyrus¡£¡¡Now£»¡¡scarcely¡¡a¡¡day¡¡passes¡¡that¡¡Satyrus¡¡does¡¡not¡¡call¡¡at¡¡my¡¡house¡£¡¡The¡¡chief¡¡object¡¡of¡¡his¡¡attentions¡¡is¡¡L¡£¡¡Domitius£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡am¡¡next¡¡in¡¡his¡¡regard¡£¡¡He¡¡has¡¡been¡¡of¡¡great¡¡service¡¡both¡¡to¡¡myself¡¡and¡¡to¡¡my¡¡brother¡¡Quintus¡¡in¡¡our¡¡elections¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡very¡¡much¡¡embarrassed¡¡by¡¡my¡¡intimacy¡¡with¡¡Satyrus¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡that¡¡with¡¡Domitius£»¡¡on¡¡whom¡¡the¡¡success¡¡of¡¡my¡¡election¡¡depends¡¡more¡¡than¡¡on¡¡anyone¡¡else¡£¡¡I¡¡pointed¡¡out¡¡these¡¡facts¡¡to¡¡Caecilius£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time¡¡I¡¡assured¡¡him¡¡that¡¡if¡¡the¡¡case¡¡had¡¡been¡¡one¡¡exclusively¡¡between¡¡himself¡¡and¡¡Satyrus£»¡¡I¡¡would¡¡have¡¡done¡¡what¡¡he¡¡wished¡£¡¡As¡¡the¡¡matter¡¡actually¡¡stood£»¡¡all¡¡the¡¡creditors¡¡being¡¡concernedand¡¡that¡¡two¡¡men¡¡of¡¡the¡¡highest¡¡rank£»¡¡who£»¡¡without¡¡the¡¡aid¡¡of¡¡anyone¡¡specially¡¡retained¡¡by¡¡Caecilius£»¡¡would¡¡have¡¡no¡¡difficulty¡¡in¡¡maintaining¡¡their¡¡common¡¡causeit¡¡was¡¡only¡¡fair¡¡that¡¡he¡¡should¡¡have¡¡consideration¡¡both¡¡for¡¡my¡¡private¡¡friends

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ