Letter 69

I am on the most familiar terms with Lyso of Patrae, whom I have already recommended to you. I now commend him again most warmly and ask you to continue showing him your favor and protection. His son too I commend to your care. Whatever you do for them will be most welcome to me.

DVI (Fam. XIII, 69) TO P. SERVILIUS VATIA ISAURICUS (IN ASIA) ROME: C. Curtius Mithres is in fact, as you know, a freedman of my very intimate friend Postumus , but he pays me as much attention and respect as he does his own patron himself. At Ephesus , as often as I was in that town, his house was as open to me as my own, and many things occurred which gave me occasion to learn his affection and fidelity to myself. Accordingly, if either I or any of my friends had occasion for anything in Asia , it has been my habit to write to him, and to use his services and fidelity as well as his house and means as though they were my own. I tell you this at the greater length, to make you understand that I am not writing conventionally or for unworthy motives, but as I should do for a man with whom I am intimate and have very close ties. My request to you, therefore, is that in the lawsuit in which he is engaged with a certain Colophonian as to the possession of an estate, you should in compliment to me afford him every assistance in your power, as far as your honour and convenience will allow: though my knowledge of his reasonable character assures me that he will never be an embarrassment to you. If by means of my recommendation and his own uprightness he secures your good opinion, he will think that he has gained all he desires. I therefore earnestly beg you again and again to accord him your patronage and put him on the list of your friends. On my side, whatever I think that you wish or is to your interest, I will see to with zeal and activity.

LXIX. Scr. Romae a.u.c. 708. M. CICERO P. SERVILIO COLLEGAE SAL. PLURIMAM. C. Curtius Mithres est ille quidem, ut scis, libertus Postumi, familiarissimi mei, sed me colit et observat aeque atque illum ipsum patronum suum. Apud eum ego sic Ephesi fui, quotiescumque fui, tamquam domi meae, multaque acciderunt, in quibus et benevolentiam eius erga me experirer et fidem. Itaque, si quid aut mihi aut meorum cuipiam in Asia opus est, ad hunc scribere consuevi, huius quum opera et fide, tum domo et re uti tamquam mea. Haec ad te eo pluribus scripsi, ut intelligeres me non vulgare nec ambitiose, sed ut pro homine intimo ac mihi pernecessario scribere. Peto igitur a te, ut in ea controversia, quam habet de fundo cum quodam Colophonio, et in ceteris rebus, quantum fides tua patietur quantumque tuo commodo poteris, tantum ei honoris mei causa commodes, etsi, ut eius modestiam cognovi, gravis tibi nulla in re erit: si et mea commendatione et sua probitate assecutus erit, ut de se bene existimes, omnia se adeptum arbitrabitur. Ut igitur eum recipias in fidem habeasque in numero tuorum, te vehementer etiam atque etiam rogo: ego, quae te velle quaeque ad te pertinere arbitrabor, omnia studiose diligenterque curabo.