Marcus Tullius Cicero→Quintus Cornificius|c. 43 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Africa|Human translated
Gaius Anicius, my friend, a man distinguished in every respect, has been appointed legate with a free commission to Africa on account of his business affairs. I would have you assist him in every matter and see to it that he conducts his business as conveniently as possible. Above all I commend to you his dignity, which is most dear to him, and I ask of you what I myself used to do in my province without being asked: to provide lictors to all senators. I had received the same practice and had learned that it was regularly done by the most distinguished men. Do this then, my dear Cornificius, and look after his dignity and his property in all other matters, if you love me. It will be most welcome to me. Take care of your health.
DCXCV (Fam. XII, 21) TO QUINTUS CORNIFICIUS (IN AFRICA) ROME: MY friend Gaius Anicius , a man possessed of every sort of accomplishment, has on urgent private affairs received a free legation to go to Africa. I should be glad if you would render him every kind of assistance and would take pains to enable him to settle his business as satisfactorily as possible. Especially — what is most valuable in his eyes — I request you to have an eye to his dignity. And I ask that of you, because I myself when in a province was accustomed without being asked to be careful to assign lictors to all senators. That is a compliment which I had myself received, and I knew that it was habitually done by the most distinguished men. Therefore, my dear Cornificius , pray do this, and in all other respects, if you love me, consult for his dignity and his property. You will exceedingly oblige me by doing so. Take pains to keep well.
XXI. Scr. mense incerto a.u.c. 710. CICERO CORNIFICIO SAL.
C. Anicius, familiaris meus, vir omnibus rebus ornatus, negotiorum suorum causa legatus est in Africam legatione libera: eum velim rebus omnibus adiuves operamque des, ut quam commodissime sua negotia conficiat, in primisque, quod ei carissimum est, dignitatem eius tibi commendo, idque a te peto, quod ipse in provincia facere sum solitus non rogatus, ut omnibus senatoribus lictores darem; quod idem acceperam et id cognoveram a summis viris factitatum. Hoc igitur, mi Cornifici, facies ceterisque rebus omnibus eius dignitati reique, si me amas, consules: erit id mihi gratissimum. Da operam, ut valeas.
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Gaius Anicius, my friend, a man distinguished in every respect, has been appointed legate with a free commission to Africa on account of his business affairs. I would have you assist him in every matter and see to it that he conducts his business as conveniently as possible. Above all I commend to you his dignity, which is most dear to him, and I ask of you what I myself used to do in my province without being asked: to provide lictors to all senators. I had received the same practice and had learned that it was regularly done by the most distinguished men. Do this then, my dear Cornificius, and look after his dignity and his property in all other matters, if you love me. It will be most welcome to me. Take care of your health.
Human translation - ToposText / Shuckburgh
Latin / Greek Original
XXI. Scr. mense incerto a.u.c. 710. CICERO CORNIFICIO SAL.
C. Anicius, familiaris meus, vir omnibus rebus ornatus, negotiorum suorum causa legatus est in Africam legatione libera: eum velim rebus omnibus adiuves operamque des, ut quam commodissime sua negotia conficiat, in primisque, quod ei carissimum est, dignitatem eius tibi commendo, idque a te peto, quod ipse in provincia facere sum solitus non rogatus, ut omnibus senatoribus lictores darem; quod idem acceperam et id cognoveram a summis viris factitatum. Hoc igitur, mi Cornifici, facies ceterisque rebus omnibus eius dignitati reique, si me amas, consules: erit id mihi gratissimum. Da operam, ut valeas.