Marcus Tullius Cicero→Publius Silius|c. 50 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Bithynia|AI-assisted
I did not think it possible that I could run out of words, but in recommending Marcus Laenius I will. So I will set the matter before you briefly, though clearly enough for you to see my feeling.
It is incredible how highly both I and my dearest brother value Marcus Laenius. That comes from his many services, but also from his great integrity and singular restraint. I let him leave me with the greatest reluctance, both because of our close friendship and the pleasure of his company, and because I gladly used his loyal and sound advice.
But I am afraid you may now think I still have too many words after saying they would fail me. I recommend him to you as you understand I must recommend a man about whom I have written as I have above. I ask you earnestly, again and again, to settle whatever business he has in your province and to tell him personally whatever you think is right. You will find him very easy to deal with and very gentlemanly.
So I ask you to send him back to me as soon as possible, free and unencumbered, with his business completed through your help. You will do both me and my brother a very great favor.
CCL (Fam. XIII, 63) TO P. SILIUS NERVA (PROPRAETOR OF BITHYNIA AND PONTUS) LAODICEA, FEBRUARY: I never thought that I could possibly be at a 1055 for words, but I certainly am so in writing a letter of commendation for M. Laenius . I will, therefore, state the case to you in a few words, yet enough to show you my feelings. Both I and my dearest brother have a value for M. Laenius which passes belief. This arises, indeed, from his very numerous services to us, but also from his extreme honesty and the eminent correctness of his conduct. It is with the greatest reluctance that I am parting with him, as well on account of our close intimacy and the charm of his society, as because I am glad to have the advantage of his candid and sound advice. But I am afraid that you will be thinking that the words, for which I said that I was at a loss, are already more than enough. I commend him to you with all the warmth you perceive that I am bound to feel for one of whom I use such language as the above: and I ask you earnestly and repeatedly to facilitate his business in your province, and to give him personally any information you think you fairly can. You will find him most reasonable and gentlemanlike. Therefore I beg you to send him back to me as soon as possible, disembarrassed and free, with his business accomplished as far as it lies in your hands. You will very greatly oblige me and my brother by so doing.
LXIII. Scr. Laodiceae mense Februario a.u.c. 704. M. CICERO S. D. P. SILIO PROPR.
Non putavi fieri posse, ut mihi verba deessent, sed tamen in M. Laenio commendando deerunt; itaque rem tibi exponam paucis verbis, sed tamen, ut plane perspicere possis voluntatem meam. Incredibile est, quanti faciamus et ego et frater meus, qui mihi carissimus est, M. Laenium: id fit quum plurimis eius officiis, tum summa probitate et singulari modestia. Eum ego a me invitissimus dimisi quum propter familiaritatem et consuetudinis suavitatem, tum quod consilio eius fideli ac bono libenter utebar. Sed vereor, ne iam superesse mihi verba putes, quae dixeram defutura: commendo tibi hominem sic, ut intelligis me eum, de quo ea supra scripserim, debere commendare, a teque vehementer etiam atque etiam peto, ut, quod habet in tua provincia negotii, expedias, quod tibi videbitur rectum esse, ipse dicas. Hominem facillimum liberalissimumque cognosces; itaque te rogo, ut eum solutum, liberum, confectis eius negotiis per te, quam primum ad me remittas: id mihi fratrique meo gratissimum feceris.
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I did not think it possible that I could run out of words, but in recommending Marcus Laenius I will. So I will set the matter before you briefly, though clearly enough for you to see my feeling.
It is incredible how highly both I and my dearest brother value Marcus Laenius. That comes from his many services, but also from his great integrity and singular restraint. I let him leave me with the greatest reluctance, both because of our close friendship and the pleasure of his company, and because I gladly used his loyal and sound advice.
But I am afraid you may now think I still have too many words after saying they would fail me. I recommend him to you as you understand I must recommend a man about whom I have written as I have above. I ask you earnestly, again and again, to settle whatever business he has in your province and to tell him personally whatever you think is right. You will find him very easy to deal with and very gentlemanly.
So I ask you to send him back to me as soon as possible, free and unencumbered, with his business completed through your help. You will do both me and my brother a very great favor.
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
LXIII. Scr. Laodiceae mense Februario a.u.c. 704. M. CICERO S. D. P. SILIO PROPR.
Non putavi fieri posse, ut mihi verba deessent, sed tamen in M. Laenio commendando deerunt; itaque rem tibi exponam paucis verbis, sed tamen, ut plane perspicere possis voluntatem meam. Incredibile est, quanti faciamus et ego et frater meus, qui mihi carissimus est, M. Laenium: id fit quum plurimis eius officiis, tum summa probitate et singulari modestia. Eum ego a me invitissimus dimisi quum propter familiaritatem et consuetudinis suavitatem, tum quod consilio eius fideli ac bono libenter utebar. Sed vereor, ne iam superesse mihi verba putes, quae dixeram defutura: commendo tibi hominem sic, ut intelligis me eum, de quo ea supra scripserim, debere commendare, a teque vehementer etiam atque etiam peto, ut, quod habet in tua provincia negotii, expedias, quod tibi videbitur rectum esse, ipse dicas. Hominem facillimum liberalissimumque cognosces; itaque te rogo, ut eum solutum, liberum, confectis eius negotiis per te, quam primum ad me remittas: id mihi fratrique meo gratissimum feceris.