Marcus Tullius Cicero→Unknown|c. -58 AD|Cicero|AI-assisted
You will learn what is happening from Pollio, who was not only present at all the affairs but presided over them. In the great distress that I feel over your situation, what consoles me most, naturally, is the hope — for I strongly suspect it will come to pass — that the wickedness of these men will be broken both by the counsels of your friends and by the passage of time itself, which weakens the designs of both your enemies and your betrayers. In second place, I am easily consoled by the recollection of my own times, whose image I see reflected in your affairs. For although your dignity is being violated in a lesser matter than mine was afflicted, still the resemblance is so great that I hope you will forgive me if I did not fear those things which even you yourself never thought should be feared. But show yourself to be the man I have known since your earliest youth — from tender fingernails, as the Greeks say. The injustice of men will, believe me, illuminate your greatness. From me, expect every highest devotion and service toward you: I will not disappoint your expectation.
VI. Scr. Romae mense Februario a.u.c. 698. M. CICERO S. D. P. LENTULO PROCOS.
Quae gerantur, accipies ex Pollione, qui omnibus negotiis non interfuit solum, sed praefuit. Me in summo dolore, quem [in] tuis rebus capio, maxime scilicet consolatur spes, quod valde suspicor fore, ut infringatur hominum improbitas et consiliis tuorum amicorum et ipsa die, quae debilitat cogitationes et inimicorum et proditorum tuorum; facile secundo loco me consolatur recordatio meorum temporum, quorum imaginem video in rebus tuis, nam, etsi minore in re violatur tua dignitas, quam mea afflicta est, tamen est tanta similitudo, ut sperem te mihi ignoscere, si ea non timuerim, quae ne tu quidem umquam timenda duxisti. Sed praesta te eum, qui mihi a teneris, ut Graeci dicunt, unguiculis es cognitus: illustrabit, mihi crede, tuam amplitudinem hominum iniuria. A me omnia summa in te studia officiaque exspecta: non fallam opinionem tuam.
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You will learn what is happening from Pollio, who was not only present at all the affairs but presided over them. In the great distress that I feel over your situation, what consoles me most, naturally, is the hope — for I strongly suspect it will come to pass — that the wickedness of these men will be broken both by the counsels of your friends and by the passage of time itself, which weakens the designs of both your enemies and your betrayers. In second place, I am easily consoled by the recollection of my own times, whose image I see reflected in your affairs. For although your dignity is being violated in a lesser matter than mine was afflicted, still the resemblance is so great that I hope you will forgive me if I did not fear those things which even you yourself never thought should be feared. But show yourself to be the man I have known since your earliest youth — from tender fingernails, as the Greeks say. The injustice of men will, believe me, illuminate your greatness. From me, expect every highest devotion and service toward you: I will not disappoint your expectation.
Latin / Greek Original
VI. Scr. Romae mense Februario a.u.c. 698. M. CICERO S. D. P. LENTULO PROCOS.
Quae gerantur, accipies ex Pollione, qui omnibus negotiis non interfuit solum, sed praefuit. Me in summo dolore, quem [in] tuis rebus capio, maxime scilicet consolatur spes, quod valde suspicor fore, ut infringatur hominum improbitas et consiliis tuorum amicorum et ipsa die, quae debilitat cogitationes et inimicorum et proditorum tuorum; facile secundo loco me consolatur recordatio meorum temporum, quorum imaginem video in rebus tuis, nam, etsi minore in re violatur tua dignitas, quam mea afflicta est, tamen est tanta similitudo, ut sperem te mihi ignoscere, si ea non timuerim, quae ne tu quidem umquam timenda duxisti. Sed praesta te eum, qui mihi a teneris, ut Graeci dicunt, unguiculis es cognitus: illustrabit, mihi crede, tuam amplitudinem hominum iniuria. A me omnia summa in te studia officiaque exspecta: non fallam opinionem tuam.