Marcus Cornelius Fronto→Unknown|c. 166 AD|Marcus Cornelius Fronto|From Rome (career hub)|AI-assisted
Fronto to Sardius Saturninus, greeting.
I could not console you over your most grievous misfortune while the blow was still fresh, for I myself, even up to this very time, have been struggling with a more dangerous illness; and indeed, just when I lay worn out with weakness, there came as a crowning weight to my sickness the news of the loss of our young man, whom an unjust fate has taken from you, the best of sons, and from me, the most delightful of companions. For this reason, although my health has now been recovered well enough, sorrow nonetheless clings to my heart, and it grows greater day by day through the grief of our Lupus, who in his misery longs for the best of brothers. Since you would have me console you in person and in speech, I feel how hard it is to console you when you are absent, by letter. Nor do I ask that you cease to grieve—for I would ask that in vain—but that more moderately
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to Sardius Saturninus, greeting. I have been unable to condole with you, while the wound was still fresh, in your most terrible affliction, being myself prostrated even up till now with a dangerous illness, at which very time, when I am worn out with the depression caused by many troubles, there has come the news of the loss of our young friend whom an unjust fate has torn away, from you the best of sons, from me the most delightful of housemates. Wherefore, though I am much better in health, yet sorrow cleaves to my heart and is intensified by the anguish of our Lupus, who feels dreadfully the loss of the best of brothers. Since it would not be easy to console you, even if you were present and talking with me, I feel how difficult it is to console you when absent by letter. And I do not ask you to cease grieving—for it would be useless to ask that—but to grieve with some moderation . . . .
ad amicos 1.22 [184 Hout; 2.242 Haines]
Fronto Sardio Saturnino salutem.
Gravissimum casum tuum recenti malo consolari nequivi, periculosiore valetudine ipse et in hoc usque tempus conflictatus, cum quidem mihi languore fesso cumulus aegritudinis venit nuntius amissi juvenis nostri, quem tibi optimum filium fors iniqua abstulit, mihi jucundissimum contubernalem. Quamobrem, quamquam recuperata sit commodo valetudo, tristitia tamen inhaeret animo meo magisque in dies augetur maerore Lupi nostri fratrem optimum misere desiderantis. Quom praesentem ac loquentem vis consolarer, sentio, quam difficile sit te absentem per litteras consolari. Nec postulo, ut maerere desinas (id enim frustra postulabo), sed ut moderatius
[duae paginae desunt]
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Fronto to Sardius Saturninus, greeting.
I could not console you over your most grievous misfortune while the blow was still fresh, for I myself, even up to this very time, have been struggling with a more dangerous illness; and indeed, just when I lay worn out with weakness, there came as a crowning weight to my sickness the news of the loss of our young man, whom an unjust fate has taken from you, the best of sons, and from me, the most delightful of companions. For this reason, although my health has now been recovered well enough, sorrow nonetheless clings to my heart, and it grows greater day by day through the grief of our Lupus, who in his misery longs for the best of brothers. Since you would have me console you in person and in speech, I feel how hard it is to console you when you are absent, by letter. Nor do I ask that you cease to grieve—for I would ask that in vain—but that more moderately
[two pages are missing]
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 amicos 1.22 [184 Hout; 2.242 Haines] Fronto Sardio Saturnino salutem. Gravissimum casum tuum recenti malo consolari nequivi, periculosiore valetudine ipse et in hoc usque tempus conflictatus, cum quidem mihi languore fesso cumulus aegritudinis venit nuntius amissi juvenis nostri, quem tibi optimum filium fors iniqua abstulit, mihi jucundissimum contubernalem. Quamobrem, quamquam recuperata sit commodo valetudo, tristitia tamen inhaeret animo meo magisque in dies augetur maerore Lupi nostri fratrem optimum misere desiderantis. Quom praesentem ac loquentem vis consolarer, sentio, quam difficile sit te absentem per litteras consolari. Nec postulo, ut maerere desinas (id enim frustra postulabo), sed ut moderatius [duae paginae desunt]