Quintus Tullius Cicero→Marcus Tullius Tiro|c. 47 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Patrae|AI-assisted
Your health is a great anxiety to us. Those who come from you report that the illness is not dangerous, though it may last longer than we would like; but even that comfort carries a heavy worry if the person whose usefulness and charm we miss so much is to be away from us for a long time.
Even though my whole mind longs to see you, I earnestly ask you not to commit yourself to so long a voyage and a winter road unless you are truly strong, and not to sail unless the conditions are certain. Even inside houses and towns, a weak body can barely avoid the cold; how much harder is it at sea and on the road to escape bad weather? "Cold is the deadliest enemy to tender skin," says Euripides. I do not know how much weight you give him; I regard each of his verses as testimony under oath.
If you love me, see to it that you are well, and come to us as soon as possible strong and healthy. Love us, and goodbye. Quintus's son sends greetings.
CCCXIII (Fam. XVI, 8) Q. CICERO TO TIRO (AT PATRAE) (CAMPANIA, JANUARY) I am very anxious about your health, for though those who come from you announce that your complaint is not dangerous though lingering, yet, consoling as that is, it involves the great anxiety of a prolonged absence from us of one whose usefulness and charm I appreciate by their loss. Yet though I long with my whole heart to see you, I still earnestly beg you not to trust yourself to so long a voyage and a winter journey, unless you are quite strong, and not to set sail at all without careful consideration. Even in houses and towns it is difficult to avoid cold when one is unwell, to say nothing of escaping the inclemency of the weather at sea and on the road. “Cold to the tender skin is deadliest foe,” says Euripides . I don't know what you think of him as an authority. I look upon his verses as so many solemn affidavits. If you love me, make sure of your recovery, and come to us well and strong as soon as possible. Love us all, and good-bye. The son of Quintus sends his regards.
VIII. Scr. in Campania exeunte mense Ianuario a.u.c. 705. Q. CICERO TIRONI S. D.
Magnae nobis est sollicitudini valetudo tua; nam, tametsi, qui veniunt, éx¤nduna m°n, xronitera d¢ nuntiant, tamen in magna consolatione ingens inest sollicitudo, si diutius a nobis afuturus est is, cuius usum et suavitatem desiderando sentimus. Ac tamen, quamquam videre te tota cogitatione cupio, tamen te penitus rogo, ne te tam longae navigationi et viae per hiemem nisi bene firmum committas neve naviges nisi explorate. Vix in ipsis tectis et oppidis frigus infirma valetudine vitatur, nedum in mari et via sit facile abesse ab iniuria temporis. cËxow d¢ lept³ xrvtÐ polemitaton cËxow d¢ lept³ xrvtÐ polemitaton, inquit Euripides: cui tu quantum credas, nescio; ego certe singulos eius versus singula testimonia puto. Effice, si me diligis, ut valeas et ut ad nos firmus ac valens quam primum venias. Ama nos et vale. Q. f. tibi salutem dicit.
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Your health is a great anxiety to us. Those who come from you report that the illness is not dangerous, though it may last longer than we would like; but even that comfort carries a heavy worry if the person whose usefulness and charm we miss so much is to be away from us for a long time.
Even though my whole mind longs to see you, I earnestly ask you not to commit yourself to so long a voyage and a winter road unless you are truly strong, and not to sail unless the conditions are certain. Even inside houses and towns, a weak body can barely avoid the cold; how much harder is it at sea and on the road to escape bad weather? "Cold is the deadliest enemy to tender skin," says Euripides. I do not know how much weight you give him; I regard each of his verses as testimony under oath.
If you love me, see to it that you are well, and come to us as soon as possible strong and healthy. Love us, and goodbye. Quintus's son sends greetings.
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
VIII. Scr. in Campania exeunte mense Ianuario a.u.c. 705. Q. CICERO TIRONI S. D.
Magnae nobis est sollicitudini valetudo tua; nam, tametsi, qui veniunt, éx¤nduna m°n, xronitera d¢ nuntiant, tamen in magna consolatione ingens inest sollicitudo, si diutius a nobis afuturus est is, cuius usum et suavitatem desiderando sentimus. Ac tamen, quamquam videre te tota cogitatione cupio, tamen te penitus rogo, ne te tam longae navigationi et viae per hiemem nisi bene firmum committas neve naviges nisi explorate. Vix in ipsis tectis et oppidis frigus infirma valetudine vitatur, nedum in mari et via sit facile abesse ab iniuria temporis. cËxow d¢ lept³ xrvtÐ polemitaton cËxow d¢ lept³ xrvtÐ polemitaton, inquit Euripides: cui tu quantum credas, nescio; ego certe singulos eius versus singula testimonia puto. Effice, si me diligis, ut valeas et ut ad nos firmus ac valens quam primum venias. Ama nos et vale. Q. f. tibi salutem dicit.