Marcus Tullius Cicero→Unknown|c. -58 AD|Cicero|AI-assisted
Although nothing was more desirable to me than that first you yourself, and then all others, should recognize how deeply grateful I am toward you, nevertheless I am afflicted with the greatest sorrow that such times have followed upon your departure that you should test the loyalty and goodwill of both myself and others toward you in your absence. That you see and perceive the same faithfulness in men regarding your dignity as I experienced regarding my own safety, I have understood from your letter.
Just when we were striving with the utmost counsel, zeal, labor, and influence on behalf of the royal cause, suddenly Cato's wicked promulgation arose, which obstructed our efforts and drew men's minds from a lesser concern to the greatest fear. Yet nevertheless, in such a disturbance of affairs, although everything is to be feared, we fear nothing more than treachery; and against Cato indeed, however the matter stands, we shall certainly resist.
Concerning the Alexandrian affair and the royal cause, I can only promise this: that I shall give ample satisfaction to you in your absence and to your people who are present. But I fear that the royal cause may either be snatched from us or abandoned, and which of these two I should less wish, I cannot easily judge. But if necessity compels, there is a certain third course, which displeased neither Quintus Selicius nor myself: that we should neither suffer the king to lie neglected nor allow the matter, against our opposition, to be entrusted to the man to whom it is thought to have been nearly entrusted already.
Everything will be handled by us with diligence, so that we neither fail to contend if anything can be obtained, nor appear to have been rebuffed if we do not obtain something. It belongs to your wisdom and greatness of spirit to consider that all your distinction and dignity rest upon your virtue, your achievements, and your authority. If the treachery of certain men has stripped away something from those gifts which fortune has bestowed upon you, that will prove a greater harm to them than to you.
No opportunity is let pass by me for acting and deliberating on your behalf. I employ Quintus Selicius in all matters, for I judge no one among your people to be more prudent, more faithful, or more devoted to you.
Va. Scr. Romae a.d. III. Non. Februar. a.u.c. 698. M. CICERO S. D. P. LENTULO PROCOS.
Tametsi mihi nihil fuit optatius, quam ut primum abs te ipso, delude a ceteris omnibus quam gratissimus erga te esse cognoscerer, tamen afficior summo dolore eiusmodi tempora post tuam profectionem consecuta esse, ut et meam et ceterorum erga te fidem et benevolentiam absens experirere: te videre et sentire eandem fidem esse hominum in tua dignitate, quam ego in mea salute sum expertus, ex tuis litteris intellexi. Nos cum maxime consilio studio, labore gratia de causa regia niteremur, subito exorta est nefaria Catonis promulgatio, quae nostra studia impediret et animos a minore cura ad summum timorem traduceret; sed tamen, in eius modi perturbatione rerum quamquam omnia sunt metuenda, nihil magis quam perfidiam timemus, et Catoni quidem, quoquo modo se res habet, profecto resistemus. De Alexandrina re causaque regia tantum habeo polliceri, me tibi absenti tuisque praesentibus cumulate satisfacturum, sed vereor, ne aut eripiatur causa regia nobis aut deseratur, quorum utrum minus velim, non facile possum existimare; sed, si res coget, est quiddam tertium, quod nec Q. Selicio nec mihi displicebat, ut neque iacere regem pateremur nec nobis repugnantibus ad eum deferri, ad quem prope iam delatum existimatur. A nobis agentur omnia diligenter, ut neque, si quid obtineri poterit, non contendamus nec, si quid non obtinuerimus, repulsi esse videamur: tuae sapientiae magnitudinisque animi est omnem amplitudinem et dignitatem tuam in virtute atque in rebus gestis tuis atque in tua gravitate positam existimare; si quid ex its rebus, quas tibi fortuna largita est, nonnullorum hominum perfidia detraxerit, id maiori illis fraudi quam tibi futurum. A me nullum tempus praetermittitur de tuis rebus et agendi et cogitandi; utor ad omnia Q. Selicio, neque enim prudentiorem quemquam ex tuis neque fide maiore esse iudico neque amantiorem tui.
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Although nothing was more desirable to me than that first you yourself, and then all others, should recognize how deeply grateful I am toward you, nevertheless I am afflicted with the greatest sorrow that such times have followed upon your departure that you should test the loyalty and goodwill of both myself and others toward you in your absence. That you see and perceive the same faithfulness in men regarding your dignity as I experienced regarding my own safety, I have understood from your letter.
Just when we were striving with the utmost counsel, zeal, labor, and influence on behalf of the royal cause, suddenly Cato's wicked promulgation arose, which obstructed our efforts and drew men's minds from a lesser concern to the greatest fear. Yet nevertheless, in such a disturbance of affairs, although everything is to be feared, we fear nothing more than treachery; and against Cato indeed, however the matter stands, we shall certainly resist.
Concerning the Alexandrian affair and the royal cause, I can only promise this: that I shall give ample satisfaction to you in your absence and to your people who are present. But I fear that the royal cause may either be snatched from us or abandoned, and which of these two I should less wish, I cannot easily judge. But if necessity compels, there is a certain third course, which displeased neither Quintus Selicius nor myself: that we should neither suffer the king to lie neglected nor allow the matter, against our opposition, to be entrusted to the man to whom it is thought to have been nearly entrusted already.
Everything will be handled by us with diligence, so that we neither fail to contend if anything can be obtained, nor appear to have been rebuffed if we do not obtain something. It belongs to your wisdom and greatness of spirit to consider that all your distinction and dignity rest upon your virtue, your achievements, and your authority. If the treachery of certain men has stripped away something from those gifts which fortune has bestowed upon you, that will prove a greater harm to them than to you.
No opportunity is let pass by me for acting and deliberating on your behalf. I employ Quintus Selicius in all matters, for I judge no one among your people to be more prudent, more faithful, or more devoted to you.
Latin / Greek Original
Va. Scr. Romae a.d. III. Non. Februar. a.u.c. 698. M. CICERO S. D. P. LENTULO PROCOS.
Tametsi mihi nihil fuit optatius, quam ut primum abs te ipso, delude a ceteris omnibus quam gratissimus erga te esse cognoscerer, tamen afficior summo dolore eiusmodi tempora post tuam profectionem consecuta esse, ut et meam et ceterorum erga te fidem et benevolentiam absens experirere: te videre et sentire eandem fidem esse hominum in tua dignitate, quam ego in mea salute sum expertus, ex tuis litteris intellexi. Nos cum maxime consilio studio, labore gratia de causa regia niteremur, subito exorta est nefaria Catonis promulgatio, quae nostra studia impediret et animos a minore cura ad summum timorem traduceret; sed tamen, in eius modi perturbatione rerum quamquam omnia sunt metuenda, nihil magis quam perfidiam timemus, et Catoni quidem, quoquo modo se res habet, profecto resistemus. De Alexandrina re causaque regia tantum habeo polliceri, me tibi absenti tuisque praesentibus cumulate satisfacturum, sed vereor, ne aut eripiatur causa regia nobis aut deseratur, quorum utrum minus velim, non facile possum existimare; sed, si res coget, est quiddam tertium, quod nec Q. Selicio nec mihi displicebat, ut neque iacere regem pateremur nec nobis repugnantibus ad eum deferri, ad quem prope iam delatum existimatur. A nobis agentur omnia diligenter, ut neque, si quid obtineri poterit, non contendamus nec, si quid non obtinuerimus, repulsi esse videamur: tuae sapientiae magnitudinisque animi est omnem amplitudinem et dignitatem tuam in virtute atque in rebus gestis tuis atque in tua gravitate positam existimare; si quid ex its rebus, quas tibi fortuna largita est, nonnullorum hominum perfidia detraxerit, id maiori illis fraudi quam tibi futurum. A me nullum tempus praetermittitur de tuis rebus et agendi et cogitandi; utor ad omnia Q. Selicio, neque enim prudentiorem quemquam ex tuis neque fide maiore esse iudico neque amantiorem tui.