Letter XV: ad Atticum 4.1

Rome, Sept., 57 B.C. Cicero landed at Brundisium Aug. 5, 57 B.C. , after an absence of 16 months (Plut. Cic. 33). He entered Rome Sept. 4, delivered the Oratio post Reditum in the senate Sept. 5, and directly afterwards addressed the people (cf. 5 of this letter); Sept. 7 he proposed a bill in the senate putting Pompey in charge of the corn commission, and after the adjournment of the senate advocated the bill before the people (6). It became a law Sept. 8 (7).

recte, with safety.

tibi absenti: Atticus was in Epirus.

cognoram enim: the reason for the congratulation, which is the main thought, is contained in the second infinitive clause, eundem te [gap in text] contulisse; the first infinitive clause, te [gap in text] diligentem, which is concessive, and therefore logically subordinate, is in a free way made codrdinate with the other.

nec fortiorem, etc.: inAtt. 3. I 5.4 also Cicero reproaches Atticus for a lack of wisdom and bravery: sedtu tantum lacrimas praebuisti dolori meo. Cf. tam timidi, Ep. XIII.1n.

nec nimium diligentem: this means in formal Latin, 'not too active,' but here it means, 'not very active,' without any idea of excess, or, as we say, 'none too active.' This use of nimium, nimio, and nimis is frequent in colloquial Latin. Cf. homo nimium lepidus, 'a very charming man' (not 'too charming a man'), Plaut. Mil. 998; locos nimium mirabilis, 'exceedingly strange places,' Trin. 93'; illud non nimium probo, 'I don't particularly approve of it,' Cic. Fam. 12.30.7. Cf. also Intr. 90.

erroris nostri: in assuming that the first bill of Clodius, which did not mention Cicero by name, was directed against him, and in confessing thereby its applicability to him. Cf. Ep. X., introd. note.

plurimum operae, etc.: during Cicero's exile Atticus not only made the best use of his wide acquaintance with politicians of all factions to secure Cicero's recall (cf., e.g., Metello, Ep. XIV. 2 B), but also aided Cicero's family, which was in financial straits (Ep. XIII.).