Marcus Tullius Cicero→Unknown|c. -50 AD|Cicero|Human translated
I NEVER thought that I could possibly be at a loss for words, but I certainly am so in writing a letter of commendation for M. Lsenius. I will, therefore, state the case to you in a few words, yet enough to shew you my feelings. Both I and my dearest brother have a value for M. Laenius which passes belief. This arises, indeed, from his very numerous services to us, but also from his extreme honesty and the eminent correctness of his conduct. It is with the greatest reluctance that I am parting with him, as well on account of our close intimacy and the charm of his society, as because I am glad to have the advantage of his candid and sound advice. But I am afraid that you will be thinking that the words, for which I said that I was at a loss, are already more than enough. I commend him to you with all the warmth you perceive that I am bound to feel for one of whom I use such language as the above : and I ask you earnestly and repeatedly to facilitate his business in your province, and ^ The mysteries of the Bona Dea were held on the 1st of May (Ovid, F. V. 147) ; if there was an intercalary month, the ist of May would be twenty-three days later. Why did Cicero care to know this ? Perhaps that he might not risk doing anything important — especially of a military nature — on a day that was nefastus. Thus Scipio delayed crossing the Hellespont for many days in the war with Antiochus, because it was the time of the festival of Mars, when the sacred shields were carried in pro- cession (Polyb. xxi. 13; Livy, xxxvii. 33). Now that Cicero was an augur, he might feel doubly bound to respect such scruples. FXiii,63; AVI, I TO ATTICUS 1 33 to give him personally any information you think you fairly can. You will find him most reasonable and gentlemanlike. Therefore I beg you to send him back to me as soon as possible, disembarrassed and free, with his business accom- plished as far as it lies in your hands. You will very greatly oblige me and my brother by so doing.
LXIII. Scr. Laodiceae mense Februario a.u.c. 704. M. CICERO S. D. P. SILIO PROPR.
Non putavi fieri posse, ut mihi verba deessent, sed tamen in M. Laenio commendando deerunt; itaque rem tibi exponam paucis verbis, sed tamen, ut plane perspicere possis voluntatem meam. Incredibile est, quanti faciamus et ego et frater meus, qui mihi carissimus est, M. Laenium: id fit quum plurimis eius officiis, tum summa probitate et singulari modestia. Eum ego a me invitissimus dimisi quum propter familiaritatem et consuetudinis suavitatem, tum quod consilio eius fideli ac bono libenter utebar. Sed vereor, ne iam superesse mihi verba putes, quae dixeram defutura: commendo tibi hominem sic, ut intelligis me eum, de quo ea supra scripserim, debere commendare, a teque vehementer etiam atque etiam peto, ut, quod habet in tua provincia negotii, expedias, quod tibi videbitur rectum esse, ipse dicas. Hominem facillimum liberalissimumque cognosces; itaque te rogo, ut eum solutum, liberum, confectis eius negotiis per te, quam primum ad me remittas: id mihi fratrique meo gratissimum feceris.
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I NEVER thought that I could possibly be at a loss for words, but I certainly am so in writing a letter of commendation for M. Lsenius. I will, therefore, state the case to you in a few words, yet enough to shew you my feelings. Both I and my dearest brother have a value for M. Laenius which passes belief. This arises, indeed, from his very numerous services to us, but also from his extreme honesty and the eminent correctness of his conduct. It is with the greatest reluctance that I am parting with him, as well on account of our close intimacy and the charm of his society, as because I am glad to have the advantage of his candid and sound advice. But I am afraid that you will be thinking that the words, for which I said that I was at a loss, are already more than enough. I commend him to you with all the warmth you perceive that I am bound to feel for one of whom I use such language as the above : and I ask you earnestly and repeatedly to facilitate his business in your province, and ^ The mysteries of the Bona Dea were held on the 1st of May (Ovid, F. V. 147) ; if there was an intercalary month, the ist of May would be twenty-three days later. Why did Cicero care to know this ? Perhaps that he might not risk doing anything important — especially of a military nature — on a day that was nefastus. Thus Scipio delayed crossing the Hellespont for many days in the war with Antiochus, because it was the time of the festival of Mars, when the sacred shields were carried in pro- cession (Polyb. xxi. 13; Livy, xxxvii. 33). Now that Cicero was an augur, he might feel doubly bound to respect such scruples. FXiii,63; AVI, I TO ATTICUS 1 33 to give him personally any information you think you fairly can. You will find him most reasonable and gentlemanlike. Therefore I beg you to send him back to me as soon as possible, disembarrassed and free, with his business accom- plished as far as it lies in your hands. You will very greatly oblige me and my brother by so doing.
Latin / Greek Original
LXIII. Scr. Laodiceae mense Februario a.u.c. 704. M. CICERO S. D. P. SILIO PROPR.
Non putavi fieri posse, ut mihi verba deessent, sed tamen in M. Laenio commendando deerunt; itaque rem tibi exponam paucis verbis, sed tamen, ut plane perspicere possis voluntatem meam. Incredibile est, quanti faciamus et ego et frater meus, qui mihi carissimus est, M. Laenium: id fit quum plurimis eius officiis, tum summa probitate et singulari modestia. Eum ego a me invitissimus dimisi quum propter familiaritatem et consuetudinis suavitatem, tum quod consilio eius fideli ac bono libenter utebar. Sed vereor, ne iam superesse mihi verba putes, quae dixeram defutura: commendo tibi hominem sic, ut intelligis me eum, de quo ea supra scripserim, debere commendare, a teque vehementer etiam atque etiam peto, ut, quod habet in tua provincia negotii, expedias, quod tibi videbitur rectum esse, ipse dicas. Hominem facillimum liberalissimumque cognosces; itaque te rogo, ut eum solutum, liberum, confectis eius negotiis per te, quam primum ad me remittas: id mihi fratrique meo gratissimum feceris.