Marcus Tullius Cicero → Titus Pomponius Atticus

de Quinto fratre nuntii nobis tristes nec varii venerant ex ante diem (III) non. Iun. usque ad prid. Kal. Sept. eo autem die Livineius L. Reguli libertus ad me a Regulo missus venit. is omnino mentionem nullam factam esse nuntiavit sed fuisse tamen sermonem de C. Clodi filio isque mihi a Q. fratre litteras attulit. sed postridie Sesti pueri venerunt qui a te litteras attulerunt non tam exploratas a timore quam sermo Livinei fuerat. sane sum in meo infinito maerore sollicitus et eo magis quod Appi quaestio est. [2] cetera quae ad me eisdem litteris scribis de nostra spe, intellego esse languidiora quam alii ostendunt. ego autem quoniam non longe ab eo tempore absumus in quo res diiudicabitur, aut ad te conferam me aut etiam nunc circum haec loca commorabor. [3] scribit ad me frater omnia sua per te unum sustineri. quid te aut horter quod facis, aut agam gratias quod non exspectas? tantum velim fortuna det nobis potestatem ut incolumes amore nostro perfruamur. tuas litteras semper maxime exspecto; in quibus cave vereare ne aut diligentia tua mihi molesta aut veritas acerba sit. data pr. Nonas Sept.

All the news I have had about my brother Quintus from June the 3rd to the end of August has been bad news without exception. But on the last of August Livineius, who had been sent by his former master, L. Regulus, came to me. He assured me that no notice whatever had been given of a prosecution though there was some talk of C. Clodius’ son undertaking one: and he brought me letters from Quintus himself. But on the next day came some of Sestius’ men, with some letters of yours which are not so positive and alarming as Livineius’ conversation was. My own unending distress of course renders me anxious, all the more so, as Appius would preside at the trial. From the rest of your remarks in the same letter as to my own chances, I infer that our hopes are fainter than others make out. But since it will not be long now before the matter is settled, I will either remove to your house or still stay somewhere round here. My brother writes that you alone are his support. I need not urge you to efforts, which you make of your own accord, nor will I offer my thanks, since you do not expect them. I only hope fate may allow us to enjoy our affection in safety. I am always looking eagerly for your letters: and please don’t be afraid either of boring me with your minuteness or paining me by telling the truth. September 4.