Marcus Cornelius Fronto→Marcus Aurelius|c. 147 AD|Marcus Cornelius Fronto|From Rome (career hub)|To Rome (career hub)|AI-assisted
My lord, I am rather late in answering you, because I was rather late in opening your note: I was on my way to the forum to plead. I am feeling better, though the little sore is still rather deep. Farewell, sweetest lord. Give my greetings to the Lady. Marcus Lucilius, a tribune of the people, forced a free man and Roman citizen into prison with his own hand, against the opinion of his colleagues, though they had ordered the man released. For this he was marked by the censors. First divide the case; then try your hand on both sides, as prosecutor and as defender. Farewell, my lord, light of all your people. Give my greetings to the Lady your mother.
145–147 A.D. To my Lord. My answer to you, my Lord, has been somewhat delayed, for I delayed to open your letter, as I was on my way to the forum to plead. I feel better, but the little sore is deeper. Farewell, my sweetest of Lords. Greet my Lady. M. Lucilius, a tribune of the people, against the decision of his colleagues and with his own hand cast into prison by force a Roman citizen, though they ordered his discharge. For that action he was "marked" by the Censors. First divide the case, then try your hand on either side both as accuser and defender. Farewell, my Lord, the light of all your friends. Greet your lady mother.
ad M. Caesarem 5.42 [76 Hout; 1.214 Haines]
Domino meo.
1 Tardius tibi, domino, rescribo; tardius enim libellum tuum aperui, quoniam ad agendum ad forum ibam. Ego commodius me habeo, tamen ulcusculum adhuc altius est. Vale, domine dulcissime. Dominam saluta.
2 M. Lucilius tribunus plebis hominem liberum, civem Romanum, cum collegae mitti juberent, adversus eorum sententiam ipsius vi in carcerem compegit. Ob eam rem a censoribus notatur. Divide primum causam, εἶτα εἰς Ἑκάτερα τὰ μέρη ἐπιχείρησον καὶ κατηγορῶν καὶ ἀπολογούμενος. Vale, domine, lux omnium tuorum. Matrem dominam saluta.
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My lord, I am rather late in answering you, because I was rather late in opening your note: I was on my way to the forum to plead. I am feeling better, though the little sore is still rather deep. Farewell, sweetest lord. Give my greetings to the Lady. Marcus Lucilius, a tribune of the people, forced a free man and Roman citizen into prison with his own hand, against the opinion of his colleagues, though they had ordered the man released. For this he was marked by the censors. First divide the case; then try your hand on both sides, as prosecutor and as defender. Farewell, my lord, light of all your people. Give my greetings to the Lady your mother.
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
ad M. Caesarem 5.42 [76 Hout; 1.214 Haines] Domino meo. 1 Tardius tibi, domino, rescribo; tardius enim libellum tuum aperui, quoniam ad agendum ad forum ibam. Ego commodius me habeo, tamen ulcusculum adhuc altius est. Vale, domine dulcissime. Dominam saluta. 2 M. Lucilius tribunus plebis hominem liberum, civem Romanum, cum collegae mitti juberent, adversus eorum sententiam ipsius vi in carcerem compegit. Ob eam rem a censoribus notatur. Divide primum causam, εἶτα εἰς Ἑκάτερα τὰ μέρη ἐπιχείρησον καὶ κατηγορῶν καὶ ἀπολογούμενος. Vale, domine, lux omnium tuorum. Matrem dominam saluta.