Antoninus Pius→Marcus Cornelius Fronto|c. 143 AD|Marcus Cornelius Fronto|From Rome (career hub)|To Rome (career hub)|AI-assisted
To Marcus Fronto, from Antoninus Caesar.
How great [your goodwill] is, I think [...] me [...] by Hercules [...] that you, the finest of orators, are able to find something to say even on a subject so well-worn and so constantly handled by you. But it is plainly a great power indeed, when you can accomplish something supremely well, to wish to do it as well. Nothing is more forceful than those thoughts of yours, nothing more refined in its expression, yet without any loss of good sense. For I will not pass this over either, and so cheat you of your most just praise, even while I am afraid that I may be praising, presumptuously, the praises given to me. You have, then, acquitted yourself well, and with a most flawless piece of work, to which, setting the subject matter wholly aside, every honor is due. For the rest, it did not do much toward displaying your feelings toward me, for I knew well that you are the most generous advocate of all my deeds and words. Farewell, my Fronto, dearest to me.
That part of your speech which you devoted, most graciously, to honoring my Faustina seemed to me truer than it was eloquent. For the matter stands thus: I would rather, by Hercules, live with her on Gyara than in the Palatine without her. [Gyara was a barren Aegean island used as a place of exile.]
to Marcus Fronto. How great is your goodwill towards myself I have long known well enough, by Hercules, but what astonishes me . . . . best of orators, is that in such a hackneyed and thread-bare subject you can find anything to say that is new and worthy of your abilities. But no doubt the mere wish is an immense help towards what you can do so well. Nothing could be more effective than your thoughts, nothing more complimentary, yet without any sacrifice of good sense, than your expression of them. For I will not be guilty of defrauding you of your legitimate praise for fear of arrogantly praising the praise of myself. You have done your duty pleasingly and in unexceptionable fashion, for which, apart from all question of the subject, you deserve every credit. But as for shewing me your mind, it has not done much in that way, for I knew well enough that you always would put the most favourable construction on every word and act of mine. Farewell, my Fronto, my very dear friend. That part of your speech, which you most kindly devoted to honouring my Faustina, seemed to me as true as it was eloquent. For this is the plain fact: By heaven, I would sooner live with her in Gyara than in the palace without her.
ad Anton.Pium 2 [161 Hout; 1.126 Haines]
M. Frontoni Antoninus Caesar.
1 Quantas puto - - me tup - hercule - - - optimo in tam trita assidua tibi materia invenire et posse. Sed videlicet valde potens est, quod summe efficere possis, etiam velle. Nihil istis sensibus validus, nihil elocutione, salva sanitate tamen, civilius. Neque enim hoc omittam, ut te justissima laude fraudem, dum metuo ne insolenter laudes meas laudem. Bene igitur accepisti et rectissimo opere, cui plane seposita materia omnis honor debetur. Ceterum ad ostentandum mihi animum tuum non multum egit, nam esse te benignissimum omnium factorum et dictorum meorum conciliatorem bene noveram. Vale, mi Fronto carissime mihi.
2 Illa pars orationis tuae circa faustinae meae honorem gratissime adsumpta verior mihi quam disertior visa est. Nam ita se res habet: Mallem mehercule Gyaris cum illa quam sine illa in Palatio vivere.
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To Marcus Fronto, from Antoninus Caesar.
How great [your goodwill] is, I think [...] me [...] by Hercules [...] that you, the finest of orators, are able to find something to say even on a subject so well-worn and so constantly handled by you. But it is plainly a great power indeed, when you can accomplish something supremely well, to wish to do it as well. Nothing is more forceful than those thoughts of yours, nothing more refined in its expression, yet without any loss of good sense. For I will not pass this over either, and so cheat you of your most just praise, even while I am afraid that I may be praising, presumptuously, the praises given to me. You have, then, acquitted yourself well, and with a most flawless piece of work, to which, setting the subject matter wholly aside, every honor is due. For the rest, it did not do much toward displaying your feelings toward me, for I knew well that you are the most generous advocate of all my deeds and words. Farewell, my Fronto, dearest to me.
That part of your speech which you devoted, most graciously, to honoring my Faustina seemed to me truer than it was eloquent. For the matter stands thus: I would rather, by Hercules, live with her on Gyara than in the Palatine without her. [Gyara was a barren Aegean island used as a place of exile.]
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 Anton.Pium 2 [161 Hout; 1.126 Haines] M. Frontoni Antoninus Caesar. 1 Quantas puto - - me tup - hercule - - - optimo in tam trita assidua tibi materia invenire et posse. Sed videlicet valde potens est, quod summe efficere possis, etiam velle. Nihil istis sensibus validus, nihil elocutione, salva sanitate tamen, civilius. Neque enim hoc omittam, ut te justissima laude fraudem, dum metuo ne insolenter laudes meas laudem. Bene igitur accepisti et rectissimo opere, cui plane seposita materia omnis honor debetur. Ceterum ad ostentandum mihi animum tuum non multum egit, nam esse te benignissimum omnium factorum et dictorum meorum conciliatorem bene noveram. Vale, mi Fronto carissime mihi. 2 Illa pars orationis tuae circa faustinae meae honorem gratissime adsumpta verior mihi quam disertior visa est. Nam ita se res habet: Mallem mehercule Gyaris cum illa quam sine illa in Palatio vivere.