Marcus Tullius Cicero→Marcus Tullius Tiro|c. 47 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Patrae|AI-assisted
Your letter moved me in different directions. The first page greatly upset me; the second gave me a little relief. So for now I have no doubt that, until you are completely well, you should not trust yourself either to a voyage or to the road. I will see you soon enough if I see you fully restored.
You write that the doctor has a good reputation, and I hear the same, but I certainly do not approve of his treatment. You should not have been given broth when your stomach was weak. Still, I have written carefully both to him and to Lyso.
To Curius, a most delightful man of the highest kindness and courtesy, I have written at length. Among other things, I asked him, if you thought it best, to move you to his own house. I am afraid our Lyso may be rather careless: first, because he is Greek, and second, because after receiving a letter from me he sent me no reply. But you praise him, so you will decide what should be done.
This one thing I ask of you, my dear Tiro: spare no expense on anything your health requires. I have written to Curius to give you whatever you say is needed. I think something should be given to the doctor himself, to make him more attentive.
Your services to me are beyond counting - at home, in the courts, at Rome, in the province, in private business, in public affairs, in my studies, and in my writing. You will surpass them all if, as I hope, I see you strong.
I think that, if you are truly well, you will have a perfectly pleasant passage with the quaestor Mescinius. He is not uncivilized, and he seemed to me to be fond of you. But once you have taken the utmost care for your health, then, my dear Tiro, think about the voyage. I do not want you rushing in anything now. I care about nothing except your safety.
Be assured, my dear Tiro, that no one loves me who does not also love you. Your health matters most directly to you and me, but it is a concern to many. Until now, because you wanted never to be absent when I needed you, you have never been able to regain your strength. Now nothing prevents you. Put everything else aside; serve your body. I will judge how much you value me by how much care you give your health.
Goodbye, my dear Tiro; goodbye, goodbye, and be well. Lepta and everyone else send greetings. Goodbye.
CCLXXXVII (Fam. XVI, 4) TO TIRO (AT PATRAE) LEUCAS, 7 NOVEMBER: WARMEST greeting from Tullius , his son, brother, and nephew to Tiro . Your letter gave me varied emotions. I was much agitated by the first page, a little cheered by the second. So I am now quite clear that, until you are entirely recovered, you should not risk a journey either by sea or land. I shall see you quite soon enough, if I see you thoroughly restored to health. Yes, what you say in your letter about the doctor being well thought of; I am also told about him. Yet I am far from satisfied with his treatment. For you ought not to have had soup given you when suffering from weak digestion. However, I have written to him with great earnestness, as also to Lyso . To Curius , indeed, that most agreeable, attentive, and kindly of men, I have written at great length. Among other things I have asked him to transfer you from where you are to his own house, if you wished it. For I fear our friend Lyso is somewhat careless: first, because all Greeks are so, and secondly because, though he got a letter from me, he has sent me no answer. However, you speak well of him: you must therefore yourself decide what is best to be done. I do beg you, dear Tiro , not to spare expense in anything whatever necessary for your health. I have written to Curius to honour your draft to any amount: something, I think, ought to be paid to the doctor himself to make him more zealous. Your services to me are past counting — at home, in the forum, at Rome , in my province: in private and public business, in my literary studies and compositions. But there is one service you can render me that will surpass them all-gratify my hopes by appearing before me well and strong! I think, if you are recovered, you will have a most charming voyage home with the quaestor Mescinius . He is not without culture, and is, I thought, attached to you. And while health should be your first and most careful consideration, consider also bow to secure a safe voyage, dear Tiro . I wouldn't have you hurry yourself now in any way whatever. I care for nothing but your safety. Be assured, dear Tiro , that no one loves me without loving you; and though it is you and I who are most directly concerned in your recovery, yet it is an object of anxiety to many. Up to this time, in your desire never to leave me in the lurch, you have never had the opportunity of getting strong. Now there is nothing to hinder you: throw everything aside, be a slave to your body. I shall consider the amount of attention you pay to your health the measure of your regard for me. Good-bye, dear Tiro , good-bye good-bye, and good health to you! Lepta and all the rest send their kind regards. Good-bye! Leucas , 7 November.
IV. Scr. Leucade VII. Idus Nov. a.u.c. 704. TULLIUS TIRONI SUO SAL. PLUR. DIC. ET CICERO ET Q. FRATER ET Q. F.
Varie sum affectus tuis litteris: valde priore pagina perturbatus, paullum altera recreatus: quare nunc quidem non dubito, quin, quoad plane valeas, te neque navigationi neque viae committas: satis te mature videro, si plane confirmatum videro. De medico et tu bene existimari scribis et ego sic audio; sed plane curationes eius non probo; ius enim dandum tibi non fuit, quum xaxostÒmaxow esses; sed tamen et ad illum scripsi accurate et ad Lysonem. Ad Curium vero, suavissimum hominem et summi officii summaeque humanitatis, multa scripsi, in iis etiam, ut, si tibi videretur, te ad se traferret; Lyso enim noster vereor ne negligentior sit: primum, quia omnes Graeci; deinde quod, quum a me litteras accepisset, mihi nullas remisit; sed eum tu laudas: tu igitur, quid faciendum sit, iudicabis. Illud, mi Tiro, te rogo, sumptu ne parcas ulla in re, quod ad valetudinem opus sit: scripsi ad Curium, quod dixisses, daret; medico ipsi puto aliquid dandum esse, quo sit studiosior. Innumerabilia tua sunt in me officia, domestica forensia, urbanan provincialia, in re privata in publica, in studiis in litteris nostris: omnia viceris, si, ut spero, te validum videro. Ego puto te bellissime, si recte erit, cum quaestore Mescinio decursurum: non inhumanus est teque, ut mihi visus est, diligit. [Et,] quum valetudini tuae diligentissime consulueris, tum, mi Tiro, consulito navigationi: nulla in re iam te festinare volo; nihil laboro nisi ut salvus sis. Sic habeto, mi Tiro, neminem esse, qui me amet, quin idem te amet: quum tua et mea maxime interest te valere, tum multis est curae. Adhuc, dum mihi nullo loco deesse vis, numquam te confirmare potuisti: nunc te nihil impedit; omnia depone, corpori servi. Quantam diligentiam in valetudinem tuam contuleris, tanti me fieri a te iudicabo. Vale, mi Tiro, vale, vale et salve. Lepta tibi salutem dicit et omnes. Vale. VII Id. Nov. Leucade.
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Your letter moved me in different directions. The first page greatly upset me; the second gave me a little relief. So for now I have no doubt that, until you are completely well, you should not trust yourself either to a voyage or to the road. I will see you soon enough if I see you fully restored.
You write that the doctor has a good reputation, and I hear the same, but I certainly do not approve of his treatment. You should not have been given broth when your stomach was weak. Still, I have written carefully both to him and to Lyso.
To Curius, a most delightful man of the highest kindness and courtesy, I have written at length. Among other things, I asked him, if you thought it best, to move you to his own house. I am afraid our Lyso may be rather careless: first, because he is Greek, and second, because after receiving a letter from me he sent me no reply. But you praise him, so you will decide what should be done.
This one thing I ask of you, my dear Tiro: spare no expense on anything your health requires. I have written to Curius to give you whatever you say is needed. I think something should be given to the doctor himself, to make him more attentive.
Your services to me are beyond counting - at home, in the courts, at Rome, in the province, in private business, in public affairs, in my studies, and in my writing. You will surpass them all if, as I hope, I see you strong.
I think that, if you are truly well, you will have a perfectly pleasant passage with the quaestor Mescinius. He is not uncivilized, and he seemed to me to be fond of you. But once you have taken the utmost care for your health, then, my dear Tiro, think about the voyage. I do not want you rushing in anything now. I care about nothing except your safety.
Be assured, my dear Tiro, that no one loves me who does not also love you. Your health matters most directly to you and me, but it is a concern to many. Until now, because you wanted never to be absent when I needed you, you have never been able to regain your strength. Now nothing prevents you. Put everything else aside; serve your body. I will judge how much you value me by how much care you give your health.
Goodbye, my dear Tiro; goodbye, goodbye, and be well. Lepta and everyone else send greetings. Goodbye.
AI-assisted translation - This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek below for scholarly use.
Latin / Greek Original
IV. Scr. Leucade VII. Idus Nov. a.u.c. 704. TULLIUS TIRONI SUO SAL. PLUR. DIC. ET CICERO ET Q. FRATER ET Q. F.
Varie sum affectus tuis litteris: valde priore pagina perturbatus, paullum altera recreatus: quare nunc quidem non dubito, quin, quoad plane valeas, te neque navigationi neque viae committas: satis te mature videro, si plane confirmatum videro. De medico et tu bene existimari scribis et ego sic audio; sed plane curationes eius non probo; ius enim dandum tibi non fuit, quum xaxostÒmaxow esses; sed tamen et ad illum scripsi accurate et ad Lysonem. Ad Curium vero, suavissimum hominem et summi officii summaeque humanitatis, multa scripsi, in iis etiam, ut, si tibi videretur, te ad se traferret; Lyso enim noster vereor ne negligentior sit: primum, quia omnes Graeci; deinde quod, quum a me litteras accepisset, mihi nullas remisit; sed eum tu laudas: tu igitur, quid faciendum sit, iudicabis. Illud, mi Tiro, te rogo, sumptu ne parcas ulla in re, quod ad valetudinem opus sit: scripsi ad Curium, quod dixisses, daret; medico ipsi puto aliquid dandum esse, quo sit studiosior. Innumerabilia tua sunt in me officia, domestica forensia, urbanan provincialia, in re privata in publica, in studiis in litteris nostris: omnia viceris, si, ut spero, te validum videro. Ego puto te bellissime, si recte erit, cum quaestore Mescinio decursurum: non inhumanus est teque, ut mihi visus est, diligit. [Et,] quum valetudini tuae diligentissime consulueris, tum, mi Tiro, consulito navigationi: nulla in re iam te festinare volo; nihil laboro nisi ut salvus sis. Sic habeto, mi Tiro, neminem esse, qui me amet, quin idem te amet: quum tua et mea maxime interest te valere, tum multis est curae. Adhuc, dum mihi nullo loco deesse vis, numquam te confirmare potuisti: nunc te nihil impedit; omnia depone, corpori servi. Quantam diligentiam in valetudinem tuam contuleris, tanti me fieri a te iudicabo. Vale, mi Tiro, vale, vale et salve. Lepta tibi salutem dicit et omnes. Vale. VII Id. Nov. Leucade.