Letter 7.5

See how thoroughly I have convinced myself that you are a second self to me, not only in matters that concern me personally but also in matters that concern my friends. I had meant to take Gaius Trebatius with me wherever I went, so that I could bring him home as highly honored as all my zeal and influence could make him. But after Pompey's stay proved longer than I expected, and after a certain hesitation of mine - one you know about - seemed either to block my departure or at least delay it, see what I took upon myself. I began to want Trebatius to expect from you what he had hoped for from me. By Hercules, I promised him your goodwill no less generously than I used to promise my own. Then an extraordinary chance intervened, almost as if to witness my opinion of you or guarantee your kindness. I was speaking at my house with our Balbus, in some detail, about this very Trebatius, when a letter from you was handed to me. At the end you wrote: "The man you recommend to me I will either make king of Gaul or hand over to Lepta. If you like, send me someone else for me to advance." Balbus and I both threw up our hands. The timing was so perfect that it seemed not accidental but divine. So I send Trebatius to you, and I send him because I first decided on my own to do so and then because you invited me. My dear Caesar, I would like you to embrace him with all your kindness, concentrating on this one man everything you can be brought, for my sake, to bestow on my friends. About the man himself I make this guarantee - not in that old phrase of mine, which you rightly joked about when I wrote to you on Milo's behalf, but in the Roman manner, as sensible men speak: there is no more upright man, no better man, no more modest friend. In addition, in civil law he leads his whole profession by his remarkable memory and deep knowledge. For him I ask neither a tribuneship nor a prefecture nor any specific title of favor. I ask for your goodwill and generosity. I do not prevent you, if you wish, from adorning him with even those little badges of distinction. In short, I hand the whole man over to you, "from hand to hand," as people say, into that hand of yours so distinguished both for victory and for good faith. Let me be a little tiresome; with you one almost cannot be, though I see that you will allow it. Take care of your health, and love me as you do love me.

CXXXIII (Fam. VII, 5) TO CAESAR (IN GAUL) ROME (FEBRUARY) Cicero greets Caesar , Imperator. Observe how far I have convinced myself that you are my second self, not only in matters which concern me personally, but even in those which concern my friends. It had been my intention to take Gaius Trebatius with me for whatever destination I should be leaving town, in order to bring him home again honoured as much as my zeal and favour could make him. But when Pompey remained at home longer than I expected, and a certain hesitation on my part (with which you are not unacquainted) appeared to hinder, or at any rate to retard, my departure, I presumed upon what I will now explain to you. I begin to wish that Trebatius should look to you for what he had hoped from me, and, in fact, I have been no more sparing of my promises of goodwill on your part than I had been wont to be of my own. Moreover, an extraordinary coincidence has occurred which seems to support my opinion and to guarantee your kindness. For just as I was speaking to our friend Balbus about this very Trebatius at my house, with more than usual earnestness, a letter from you was handed to me, at the end of which you say: “ Miscinius Rufus , whom you recommend to me, I will make king of Gaul, or, if you choose, put him under the care of Lepta. Send me some one else to promote.” I and Balbus both lifted our hands in surprise: it came so exactly in the nick of time, that it appeared to be less the result of mere chance than something providential. I therefore send you Trebatius , and on two grounds, first that it was my spontaneous idea to send him, and secondly because you have invited me to do so. I would beg you, dear Caesar , to receive him with such a display of kindness as to concentrate on his single person all that you can be possibly induced to bestow for my sake upon my friends. As for him I guarantee — not in the sense of that hackneyed expression of mine, at which, when I used it in writing to you about Milo , you very properly jested, but in good Roman language such as sober men use — that no honester, better, or more modest man exists. Added to this, he is at the top of his profession as a jurisconsult, possesses an unequaled memory, and the most profound learning. For such a man I ask neither a tribuneship, prefecture, nor any definite office, I ask only your goodwill and liberality: and yet I do not wish to prevent your complimenting him, if it so please you, with even these marks of distinction. In fact, I transfer him entirely from my hand, so to speak, to yours, which is as sure a pledge of good faith as of victory. Excuse my being somewhat importunate, though with a man like you there can hardly be any pretext for it — however, I feel that it will be allowed to pass. Be careful of your health and continue to love me as ever.

V. Scr. Romae mense Martio a.u.c. 700. CICERO CAESARI IMP. S. D. Vide, quam mihi persuaserim te me esse alterum non modo in iis rebus, quae ad me ipsum, sed etiam in iis, quae ad meos pertinent: C. Trebatium cogitaram, quocumque exirem, mecum ducere, ut eum meis omnibus studiis, beneficiis quam ornatissimum domum reducerem; sed, posteaquam et Pompeii commoratio diuturnior erat, quam putaram, et mea quaedam tibi non ignota dubitatio aut impedire profectionem meam videbatur aut certe tardare, vide, quid mihi sumpserim: coepi velle ea Trebatium exspectare a te, quae sperasset a me, neque mehercule minus ei prolixe de tua voluntate promisi, quam eram solitus de mea polliceri. Casus vero mirificus quidam intervenit quasi vel testis opinionis meae vel sponsor humanitatis tuae: nam, cum de hoc ipso Trebatio cum Balbo nostro loquerer accuratius domi meae, litterae mihi dantur a te, quibus in extremis scriptum erat: "M. itfiuium, (this word in the text is corrupt: has been conjectured as "Titinium" or "Rufum" —Webmaster) quem mihi commendas, vel regem Galliae faciam, vel hunc Leptae delegabo; si vis, tu ad me alium mitte, quem ornem." Sustulimus manus et ego et Balbus: tanta fuit opportunitas, ut illud nescio quid non fortuitum, sed divinum videretur. Mitto igitur ad te Trebatium atque ita mitto, ut initio mea sponte, post autem invitatu tuo mittendum duxerim. Hunc, mi Caesar, sic velim omni tua comitate complectare, ut omnia, quae per me possis adduci ut in meos conferre velis, in unum hunc conferas; de quo tibi homine hoc spondeo, non illo vetere verbo meo, quod, cum ad te de Milone scripsissem, iure lusisti, sed more Romano, quomodo homine non inepti loquuntur, probiorem hominem, meliorem virum, pudentiorem amicum esse neminem; accedit etiam, quod familiam ducit in iure civili singulari memoria, summa scientia. Huic ego neque tribunatum neque praefecturam neque ullius beneficii certum nomen peto, benevolentiam tuam et liberalitatem peto, neque impedio, quo minus, si tibi ita placuerit, etiam hisce eum ornes gloriolae insignibus; totum denique hominem tibi ita trado, "de manu," ut aiunt, "in manum" tuam istam et victoria et fide praestantem; simus enim putidiusculi; quam per te vix licet; verum, ut video, licebit. Cura, ut valeas, et me, ut amas, ama.