Marcus Tullius Cicero→Quintus Minucius Thermus|c. 50 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Asia|AI-assisted
When I spoke with you at Ephesus about the matter of Marcus Anneius, my legate, I thought I understood that you were already strongly inclined to do everything for his own sake. Even so, I value Marcus Anneius so highly that I think I must omit nothing that concerns his interests, and I believe you value me so highly that my recommendation will add great weight to your existing goodwill.
I had long been fond of Marcus Anneius and had shown what I thought of him by offering him a legation unasked, after refusing many men who had asked for one. But after he served with me in war and military administration, I came to know such courage, judgment, loyalty, and goodwill toward me in him that I value no one more highly.
You know that he has a dispute with the Sardians. We explained the case to you at Ephesus, though you will be able to examine it more easily and better in person. As for the rest, I hesitated for a long time over what exactly I should write to you. Your way of administering justice is clear and widely known, to your great credit, and in this case we need nothing except that you administer justice according to your usual practice.
Still, I know how great a praetor's authority is, especially one whose integrity, dignity, and fairness are acknowledged by everyone. So I ask you, in the name of our very close connection and the many equal and mutual services between us, to use your goodwill, authority, and zeal to make Marcus Anneius understand that you are his friend - something he does not doubt, for he has often spoken with me about it - and that this letter of mine has made you much more his friend.
In all your command and province there is nothing you can do that would please me more. And I do not think you doubt how well your zeal and kindness will be placed with him, a most grateful and excellent man.
CCXXXI (Fam. XIII, 55) TO Q. MINUCIUS THERMUS (IN ASIA) CILICIA Although, when I spoke to you at Ephesus of the business of my legate M. Anneius , I gathered that you were strongly inclined to do anything for his own sake, nevertheless, I value M. Anneius so highly, and think that you value me so highly, that I do not hesitate to allow my recommendation to be added as a finishing stroke to your existing willingness to serve him. For, though I have long been attached to M. Anneius — as I have practically shown by offering him a legation unasked, after having refused many who asked for it — yet, since he has been associated with me in war and the conduct of military affairs, I have come to know that his courage, good sense, honour, and loyalty to myself are so eminent, that I now value him as highly as anyone in the world. You know that he has a suit with the people of Sardis : I explained the merits of the case to you at Ephesus : but you will, nevertheless, inquire into it more easily and satisfactorily on the spot. As to the rest, by Hercules , I long hesitated what exactly to write to you. For your manner of deciding questions at law is justly celebrated, and known to your high credit. We, again, have no need of anything in this case, but that you should decide the question according to your usual principles. But yet, since I am fully aware how great the influence of a praetor is — especially a praetor whose character for honesty, firmness, and equity is acknowledged on all hands — I do ask of you, in the name of our very close intimacy and of the many mutual good services, which have benefited us both equally, by a display of cordiality, by an exercise Of influence, and by an exertion of zeal to convince M. Anneius , not only that you are his friend (this he does not doubt, for he has often remarked it to me), but that you have been made much more his friend by this letter of mine. Finally, I don't think you feel any hesitation as to how well you will be investing your kindness with a man of the most grateful disposition and most excellent principles.
LV. Scr. in Cilicia exeunte mense Decembri a.u.c. 703. CICERO THERMO PROPR. SAL.
Etsi mihi videor intellexisse, quum tecum Ephesi de re M. Anneii, legati mei, locutus sum, te ipsius causa vehementer omnia velle, tamen et M. Anneium tanti facio, ut mihi nihil putem praetermittendum, quod illius intersit, et me a te tanti fieri puto, ut non dubitem, quin ad tuam voluntatem magnus cumulus accedat commendationis meae; nam, quum iam diu diligerem M. Anneium deque eo sic existimarem, ut res declarat, qui ultro ei detulerim legationem, quum multis petentibus denegassem, tum vero, posteaquam mecum in bello atque in re militari fuit, tantam in eo virtutem, prudentiam, fidem tantamque erga me benevolentiam cognovi, ut hominem neminem pluris faciam. Eum cum Sardianis habere controversiam scis: causam tibi exposuimus Ephesi, quam tu tamen coram facilius meliusque cognosces. De reliquo mihi mehercule diu dubium fuit, quid ad te potissimum scriberem; ius enim quemadmodum dicas, clarum et magna cum tua laude notum est, nobis autem in hac causa nihil aliud opus est nisi te ius instituto tuo dicere; sed tamen, quum me non fugiat, quanta sit in praetore auctoritas, praesertim ista integritate, gravitate, clementia, qua te esse inter omnes constat, peto abs te pro nostra coniunctissima necessitudine plurimisque officiis paribus ac mutuis, ut voluntate, auctoritate, studio tuo perficias, ut M. Anneius intelligat te et sibi amicum esse, quod non dubitat—saepe enim mecum locutus est—, et multo amiciorem his meis litteris esse factum. In tuo toto imperio atque provincia nihil est, quod mihi gratus facere possis; nam, apud ipsum, gratissimum hominem atque optimum virum, quam bene positurus sis studium tuum atque officium, dubitare te non existimo.
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When I spoke with you at Ephesus about the matter of Marcus Anneius, my legate, I thought I understood that you were already strongly inclined to do everything for his own sake. Even so, I value Marcus Anneius so highly that I think I must omit nothing that concerns his interests, and I believe you value me so highly that my recommendation will add great weight to your existing goodwill.
I had long been fond of Marcus Anneius and had shown what I thought of him by offering him a legation unasked, after refusing many men who had asked for one. But after he served with me in war and military administration, I came to know such courage, judgment, loyalty, and goodwill toward me in him that I value no one more highly.
You know that he has a dispute with the Sardians. We explained the case to you at Ephesus, though you will be able to examine it more easily and better in person. As for the rest, I hesitated for a long time over what exactly I should write to you. Your way of administering justice is clear and widely known, to your great credit, and in this case we need nothing except that you administer justice according to your usual practice.
Still, I know how great a praetor's authority is, especially one whose integrity, dignity, and fairness are acknowledged by everyone. So I ask you, in the name of our very close connection and the many equal and mutual services between us, to use your goodwill, authority, and zeal to make Marcus Anneius understand that you are his friend - something he does not doubt, for he has often spoken with me about it - and that this letter of mine has made you much more his friend.
In all your command and province there is nothing you can do that would please me more. And I do not think you doubt how well your zeal and kindness will be placed with him, a most grateful and excellent man.
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
LV. Scr. in Cilicia exeunte mense Decembri a.u.c. 703. CICERO THERMO PROPR. SAL.
Etsi mihi videor intellexisse, quum tecum Ephesi de re M. Anneii, legati mei, locutus sum, te ipsius causa vehementer omnia velle, tamen et M. Anneium tanti facio, ut mihi nihil putem praetermittendum, quod illius intersit, et me a te tanti fieri puto, ut non dubitem, quin ad tuam voluntatem magnus cumulus accedat commendationis meae; nam, quum iam diu diligerem M. Anneium deque eo sic existimarem, ut res declarat, qui ultro ei detulerim legationem, quum multis petentibus denegassem, tum vero, posteaquam mecum in bello atque in re militari fuit, tantam in eo virtutem, prudentiam, fidem tantamque erga me benevolentiam cognovi, ut hominem neminem pluris faciam. Eum cum Sardianis habere controversiam scis: causam tibi exposuimus Ephesi, quam tu tamen coram facilius meliusque cognosces. De reliquo mihi mehercule diu dubium fuit, quid ad te potissimum scriberem; ius enim quemadmodum dicas, clarum et magna cum tua laude notum est, nobis autem in hac causa nihil aliud opus est nisi te ius instituto tuo dicere; sed tamen, quum me non fugiat, quanta sit in praetore auctoritas, praesertim ista integritate, gravitate, clementia, qua te esse inter omnes constat, peto abs te pro nostra coniunctissima necessitudine plurimisque officiis paribus ac mutuis, ut voluntate, auctoritate, studio tuo perficias, ut M. Anneius intelligat te et sibi amicum esse, quod non dubitat—saepe enim mecum locutus est—, et multo amiciorem his meis litteris esse factum. In tuo toto imperio atque provincia nihil est, quod mihi gratus facere possis; nam, apud ipsum, gratissimum hominem atque optimum virum, quam bene positurus sis studium tuum atque officium, dubitare te non existimo.