Marcus Tullius Cicero→Publius Silius|c. 50 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Bithynia|AI-assisted
I am very close and constantly associated with Publius Terentius Hispo, who is working in the pasture-tax business as deputy manager. Many important services, equal and mutual, have passed between us. His reputation now depends greatly on completing agreements with the remaining cities.
I remember that we tried this at Ephesus and could not in any way obtain the consent of the Ephesians. But because, as everyone thinks and as I understand, your complete integrity and your singular kindness and gentleness have enabled you to obtain from the Greeks, with a nod, whatever you wish, I ask you with more than ordinary earnestness to let Hispo gain this distinction for the sake of my reputation.
Besides, I am very closely connected with the partners in the pasture-tax company, not only because the whole company is under my protection, but also because I know most of the individual partners very well. By doing this, you will honor my friend Hispo through me, you will make the company more closely attached to me, and you yourself will gain the greatest return both from the respect of this extremely grateful man and from the gratitude of the partners, men of the highest standing. You will also have bestowed on me the greatest kindness.
Please understand that in your whole province and throughout your command there is nothing you can do that would please me more.
CCXXXV (Fam. XIII, 65) TO P. SILIUS NERVA (PROPRAETOR OF BITHYNIA AND PONTUS) CILICIA I am very intimate and in constant communication with P. Terentius Hispo , who is engaged in the collection of the pasture-dues as deputy-manager, and many important services, equally advantageous to us both, have been interchanged between us. It is of capital importance to his reputation to settle the contracts with the remaining states. I don't forget that we tried to do that at Ephesus , but were quite unable to get the assent of the Ephesians . But since, as is the general opinion, and, as I understand, you have secured as well by your singular uprightness, as by your kindness and gentleness, that the slightest expression of your wish meets with the readiest consent of the Greeks to any object you have in view, I beg you with more than common earnestness, for the sake of my credit, to determine that Hispo shall gain this distinction. I may add that I am closely connected with the partners in the pasture company, not only because that company as a body is my client, but also because I am very intimate with most of the individual partners. By acting thus you will not only have assisted my friend Hispo in consequence of a recommendation of mine, and given the company still greater confidence in me, but you will yourself also receive the most ample reward from the regard of this most gratefully disposed man, as well as the thanks of the partners, who are men of the highest position, and you will have done me personally a very great kindness. Pray be assured that in your whole province and the whole sphere of your government there is nothing that you can do that could gratify me more.
LXV. Scr. in Cilicia exeunte anno u.c. 703. M. CICERO S. D. P. SILIO PROPR.
Cum P. Terentio Hispone, qui operas in scriptura pro magistro dat, mihi summa familiaritas consuetudoque est, multaque et magna inter nos officia paria et mutua intercedunt: eius summa existimatio agitur in eo, ut pactiones cum civitatibus reliquis conficiat. Non me praeterit nos eam rem Ephesi expertos esse neque ab Ephesiis ullo modo impetrare potuisse; sed, quoniam, quemadmodum omnes existimant et ego intelligo, tua quum summa integritate, tum singulari humanitate et mansuetudine consecutus es, ut libentissimis Graecis nutu, quod velis, consequare, peto a te in maiorem modum, ut honoris mei causa hac laude Hisponem affici velis. Praeterea cum sociis scripturae mihi summa necessitudo est, non solum ob eam causam, quod ea societas universa in mea fide est, sed etiam quod plerisque sociis utor familiarissime. Ita et Hisponem meum per me ornaris et societatem mihi coniunctiorem feceris tuque ipse et ex huius observantia, gratissimi hominis, et ex sociorum gratia, hominum amplissimorum, maximum fructum capies et me summo beneficio affeceris. Sic enim velim existimes, in tota tua provincia omnique isto imperio nihil esse, quod mihi gratius facere possis.
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I am very close and constantly associated with Publius Terentius Hispo, who is working in the pasture-tax business as deputy manager. Many important services, equal and mutual, have passed between us. His reputation now depends greatly on completing agreements with the remaining cities.
I remember that we tried this at Ephesus and could not in any way obtain the consent of the Ephesians. But because, as everyone thinks and as I understand, your complete integrity and your singular kindness and gentleness have enabled you to obtain from the Greeks, with a nod, whatever you wish, I ask you with more than ordinary earnestness to let Hispo gain this distinction for the sake of my reputation.
Besides, I am very closely connected with the partners in the pasture-tax company, not only because the whole company is under my protection, but also because I know most of the individual partners very well. By doing this, you will honor my friend Hispo through me, you will make the company more closely attached to me, and you yourself will gain the greatest return both from the respect of this extremely grateful man and from the gratitude of the partners, men of the highest standing. You will also have bestowed on me the greatest kindness.
Please understand that in your whole province and throughout your command there is nothing you can do that would please me more.
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
LXV. Scr. in Cilicia exeunte anno u.c. 703. M. CICERO S. D. P. SILIO PROPR.
Cum P. Terentio Hispone, qui operas in scriptura pro magistro dat, mihi summa familiaritas consuetudoque est, multaque et magna inter nos officia paria et mutua intercedunt: eius summa existimatio agitur in eo, ut pactiones cum civitatibus reliquis conficiat. Non me praeterit nos eam rem Ephesi expertos esse neque ab Ephesiis ullo modo impetrare potuisse; sed, quoniam, quemadmodum omnes existimant et ego intelligo, tua quum summa integritate, tum singulari humanitate et mansuetudine consecutus es, ut libentissimis Graecis nutu, quod velis, consequare, peto a te in maiorem modum, ut honoris mei causa hac laude Hisponem affici velis. Praeterea cum sociis scripturae mihi summa necessitudo est, non solum ob eam causam, quod ea societas universa in mea fide est, sed etiam quod plerisque sociis utor familiarissime. Ita et Hisponem meum per me ornaris et societatem mihi coniunctiorem feceris tuque ipse et ex huius observantia, gratissimi hominis, et ex sociorum gratia, hominum amplissimorum, maximum fructum capies et me summo beneficio affeceris. Sic enim velim existimes, in tota tua provincia omnique isto imperio nihil esse, quod mihi gratius facere possis.