Marcus Tullius Cicero→Marcus Junius Brutus|c. 50 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome|Human translated
I am on the most intimate terms with Lucius Titius Strabo, a Roman knight of the highest honor and distinction. Every bond of the closest connection exists between us. A senator, Publius Cornelius, owes him money in your province, and the case has been referred by Volcatius, who administers justice in Rome, to Gaul. I ask you more carefully than if the matter were my own -- for it is more honorable to take pains about a friend's money than about one's own -- to take care that the business is settled, to take it up yourself, to bring it to a conclusion, and to see to it, as far as seems fair and right to you, that the freedman of Strabo, who has been sent for this purpose, may settle the business on the most favorable terms and collect the money. This will be most welcome to me, and you yourself will come to know Lucius Titius as a man most worthy of your friendship. I earnestly ask you again and again to make this a concern of yours, as everything is that you know I wish.
CDLIII (Fam. XIII, 14) TO M. IUNIUS BRUTUS (IN CISALPINE GAUL) ROME (?) I am very intimate with L. Titius Strabo , one of the most honourable and accomplished of the Roman knights. Services of every sort which belong to the closest intimacy have been interchanged between myself and him. P. Cornelius in your province owes him a sum of money. That case has been referred by Volcatius , the praetor urbanus, for trial in Gaul. I beg you more earnestly than if it were business of mine — in proportion as it is more honourable to take trouble about one's friends' money than one's Own — to see to the matter being concluded. Take it in hand personally, settle it, and do your best — so far as it shall appear to you to be fair and right — that Strabo 's freedman, who has been sent to represent him, may bring the matter to a conclusion on the most favourable terms possible and get at the money. You will thus be doing me a very great favour, and at the same time will yourself have reason to know that L. Titius is in the highest degree worthy of your friendship. That you may bestow attention upon this, as you usually do on everything which you know me to wish, I warmly and repeatedly entreat you. 177
XIV. Scr. Romae a.u.c. 708. CICERO BRUTO SAL.
L. Titio Strabone, equite Romano in primis honesto et ornato, familiarissime utor; omnia mihi cum eo intercedunt iura summae necessitudinis: huic in tua provincia pecuniam debet P. Cornelius; ea res a Volcatio, qui Romae ius dicit, reiecta in Galliam est. Peto a te hoc diligentius, quam si mea res esset, quo est honestius de amicorum pecunia laborare quam de sua, ut negotium conficiendum cures, ipse suscipias, transigas operamque des, quoad tibi aequum et rectum videbitur, ut quam commodissima condicione libertus Strabonis, qui eius rei causa missus est, negotium conficiat ad nummosque perveniat. Id et mihi gratissimum erit et tu ipse L. Titium cognosces amicitia tua dignissimum. Quod ut tibi curae sit, ut omnia solent esse, quae me velle scis, te vehementer etiam atque etiam rogo.
◆
I am on the most intimate terms with Lucius Titius Strabo, a Roman knight of the highest honor and distinction. Every bond of the closest connection exists between us. A senator, Publius Cornelius, owes him money in your province, and the case has been referred by Volcatius, who administers justice in Rome, to Gaul. I ask you more carefully than if the matter were my own -- for it is more honorable to take pains about a friend's money than about one's own -- to take care that the business is settled, to take it up yourself, to bring it to a conclusion, and to see to it, as far as seems fair and right to you, that the freedman of Strabo, who has been sent for this purpose, may settle the business on the most favorable terms and collect the money. This will be most welcome to me, and you yourself will come to know Lucius Titius as a man most worthy of your friendship. I earnestly ask you again and again to make this a concern of yours, as everything is that you know I wish.
Human translation - ToposText / Shuckburgh
Latin / Greek Original
XIV. Scr. Romae a.u.c. 708. CICERO BRUTO SAL.
L. Titio Strabone, equite Romano in primis honesto et ornato, familiarissime utor; omnia mihi cum eo intercedunt iura summae necessitudinis: huic in tua provincia pecuniam debet P. Cornelius; ea res a Volcatio, qui Romae ius dicit, reiecta in Galliam est. Peto a te hoc diligentius, quam si mea res esset, quo est honestius de amicorum pecunia laborare quam de sua, ut negotium conficiendum cures, ipse suscipias, transigas operamque des, quoad tibi aequum et rectum videbitur, ut quam commodissima condicione libertus Strabonis, qui eius rei causa missus est, negotium conficiat ad nummosque perveniat. Id et mihi gratissimum erit et tu ipse L. Titium cognosces amicitia tua dignissimum. Quod ut tibi curae sit, ut omnia solent esse, quae me velle scis, te vehementer etiam atque etiam rogo.