Letter 103.2

My dear Fronto, greetings. I know you have often said to me that you were looking for whatever would please me most. The time has come. Now you can increase my affection for you, if it can be increased. A hearing is approaching in which people seem ready not only to listen kindly to your speech, but also to watch maliciously for anger in it. I see no one else who dares advise you about this. Those who are less your friends prefer to watch you act with too little steadiness; those who are more your friends are afraid that, if they draw you away from pressing your own charge, they will seem too friendly to your opponent. Then again, if you have prepared some especially elegant phrase for the occasion, they cannot bear to rob you of delivering it by urging silence. So even if you think me a rash adviser, an overbold boy, or too well disposed toward your opponent, I will not for that reason be slower to urge what I think is right. But why did I say "advise"? This is a favor I ask of you, and ask very earnestly, promising that if I obtain it I shall be indebted to you in return. You will say, "What? If I am provoked, shall I not repay him with a similar thrust?" You will win greater praise if, even when provoked, you answer nothing. Still, if he attacks first, some pardon can be given to your reply; but I have asked him not to begin, and I think I have obtained it. I love each of you according to his merits. I know that he was educated in the house of my grandfather Publius Calvisius, and that I was educated under you. That is why I am deeply anxious that this hateful business be handled as honorably as possible. I hope you approve my advice; my good will, at least, you will approve. I would rather write with less wisdom than keep silence with less friendship. Farewell, my dearest and friendliest Fronto.

? 140–143 A.D. to his own Fronto greeting. It is a fact that you have often said to me, What can I do to give you the greatest pleasure? Now is the opportunity. If my love for you admits of any increase, you can increase it now. The trial approaches in which men, it seems, will not only give a generous ear to your eloquence, but turn a grudging eye upon your angry animosity. And I see no one else who can venture to advise you in this matter. For those who are less friendly to you prefer to see you acting inconsistently, while those who are truer friends are afraid of seeming too friendly to your opponent if they divert you from accusing him as you are entitled to do. Then again, if you have conned some especially choice phrase for the occasion, they cannot bear to rob you of its due delivery by an enforced silence. And so, even if you think me an ill-advised counsellor or a forward boy, or too partial to your opponent, I will not, for all that, shew any the more hesitation in pressing upon you what I think the best counsel. But why have I said counsel , whereas it is a favour I claim, urgently claim, from you and, if it is granted, promise to be bound to you in return? But you will say, What! if assailed, shall I not requite in like terms? Nay, you will win by this means greater glory for yourself if, even when assailed, you make no reply. Still, if he is the first to attack, it will be excusable in you to answer as you can; however, I have begged of him not to begin, and I think I have got my way. For I love both of you, each one for his own merits, and I do not forget that he was brought up in the house of my grandfather, P. Calvisius, and I educated under you. Wherefore I am most anxious that this very disagreeable business should be handled as honourably as possible. I trust my advice will commend itself to you, for my goodwill you must commend. At any rate, I would rather fail in judgment by writing than fail in friendship by keeping silence. Farewell, my Fronto, most beloved and most loving of friends.

ad M. Caesarem 3.2 [36 Hout; 1.58 Haines] Aurelius Caes. Frontoni suo salutem. 1 Saepe te mihi dixisse scio quaerere te, quid maxime facere gratum mihi. Id tempus nunc adest: Nunc amorem erga te meum augere potes - si augeri potest. Adpropinquat cognitio in qua homines non modo orationem tuam benigne audituri, sed indignationem maligne speactaturi videntur. Neque ullum video, qui te in hac re monere audeat. Nam qui minus aimici sunt, malunt te inspectare inconstantius agentem; qui autem magis amici sunt metuunt, ne adversario tuo amiciores esse videantur, si te ab accusatione ejus propria tua abducant. Tum autem, si quod tu in eam rem dictum elegantius meditatus es, per silentium dictionem auferre tibi non sustinent. Adeo sive tu me temerarium consultorem sive audacem puerulum sive adversario tuo benivolentiorem esse existimabis, non propterea quod rectius esse arbitrabor pedetemptius tibi consulam, sed quid dixi ‘consulam’, qui id a te postulo et magno opere postulo et me, si inpetro, obligari tibi repromitto. Et dices: “Quid? Si lacessitus fuero, non eum simili dicto remunerabo?” At ex eo tibi majorem laudem quaeris, si nec lacessitus quicquam responderis. Verum si prior fecerit, respondenti tibi utcumque poterit ignosci; ut autem non inciperet, postulavi ab eo et impetrasse me credo. Utrumque enim vestrum pro suis quemque meritis diligo et scio illum quidem in avi mei P. Calvisii domo eruditum, me autem apud te eruditum. Propterea maximam curam in animo meo habeo, uti quam honestissime negotium istud odiosissimum transigatur. 2 Opto, ut consilium conprobes, nam voluntatem conprobabis. Ego certe minus sapienter magis scripsero quam minus amice tacuero. Vale, mi Fronto carissime et amicissime.