In this lesson, we read a fourth letter written by Cicero to his wife Terentia. As we read, let us consider what this epistle reveals about the relationships between husbands and wives, and between Cicero and Terentia in particular. To complete the objectives of this lesson, complete the following tasks:
- Read over the entire lesson for familiarity.
- Complete translation exercises to master the translation of each line.
- Study all lesson vocabulary for mastery.
- Complete the lesson assessment.
Lesson
M.T.C. Terentiae S.P.D.
Si vales, bene est: valeo. Nos neque de Caesaris adventu, neque de literis, quas Philotimus habere dicitur, quicquam adhuc certi habemus. Si quid erit certi, faciam te statim certiorem. Valetudinem tuam fac ut cures,
Vale.
III. Id Sextilis.
Exposition
The following notes are provided to guide you through the translation of this reading. If you have any questions, please post them on the course Student Forum.
M.T.C. Terentiae S.P.D.
The salutation of this epistle is exactly the same as the last:
- Marcus Tullius Cicero : the name of Cicero in the nominative case; the author of the epistle
- Terentiae: the dative case of Terentia, the name of Cicero’s wife; the recipient of the epistle
- S.P.D. = salutem plurimam dicit.: Health much says.
Si vales, bene est: valeo.
Cicero has used some form of this expression in each epistle thus far. Here he does not use the personal pronoun ego before the verb valeo. This common expression means, “If you are well, it is well. I am well.”
Nos neque de Caesaris adventu, neque de literis,
- nos: pronoun, plural, nominative: “We”
- neque…neque: conjunctions, neither…nor
- de: preposition: “concerning”
- Caesaris: substantive noun, masculine, singular, genitive: “of Caesar”
- adventu: substantive noun, masculine, singular, ablative: “the advent”
- literis: substantive noun, feminine, plural, ablative: “letters”
…quas Philotimus habere dicitur,
- quas: relative pronoun, feminine, plural, accusative: “which”
- Philotimus: substantive noun, masculine, singular, nominative: “Philotimus”
- habere: verb, present, active, infinitive: “to have”
- dicitur: verb, present, passive, indicative: “is said”
…quicquam adhuc certi habemus.
- quicquam: pronoun, neuter, singular, accusative, “anything”
- adhuc: adverb, “to this point”
- certi: adjective noun, masculine, singular, genitive, “of certain”
- habemus: verb, present, active, indicative, 1st, plural, “we have”
Note: adhuc literally means “to this point”, but can be turned into English as “until now”, “thus far”, etc.
Si quid erit certi,
- si: conjunction: “if”
- quid: pronoun, neuter, singular, nominative: “anything”
- erit: verb, future, active, indicative, 3rd person, singular: “shall be”
- certi: adjective noun, masculine, singular, genitive: “of certain”
faciam te statim certiorem.
- faciam: verb, future, active, indicative, 1st person, singular: “I will make”
- te: pronoun, feminine, singular, accusative: “you”
- statim: adverb: “immediately”
- certiorem: comp. adjective noun, feminine, singular, accusative: “more certain”
Valetudinem tuam fac ut cures, Vale.
- valetudinem: substantive noun, feminine, singular, accusative: “health”
- tuam: pronoun, feminine, singular, accusative: “your”
- fac: verb, present, active, imperative, singular, 2nd person: “do”
- ut: conjunction: “so that”, expressing the purpose of the action
- cures: verb, present, active, subjunctive, singular, 2nd person: “you may take care of”
- Vale: verb, present, active, imperative, singular, 2nd person: “be well” or “fare well”
III. Id Sextilis.
- III: adjective noun, masculine, singular, ablative, “on the third” [day before]
- Id = Idus: substantive noun, feminine, singular, ablative: “the Ides”
- Sextilis: substantive noun, masculine, singular, genitive: “of August”
Translation
Marcus Tullius Cicero to Terentia much health says.
If you are well, it is well: I am well. We neither concerning of Caesar [the] advent, nor concerning [his] letters, which Philotimus to have is said, anything to this point of certain [we] have. If anything shall be of certain I shall make you immediately certain. Health your do so that you may take care of.
Farewell.
[Given] on the third day before the Ides of August.
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