Marcus Tullius Cicero→Quintus Cornificius|c. 43 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Africa|AI-assisted
Quintus Turius, who did business as a banker in Africa, was a good and honorable man. He made men like himself his heirs: Gnaeus Saturninus, Sextus Aufidius, Gaius Anneius, Quintus Considius Gallus, Lucius Servilius Postumus, and Gaius Rubellius.
From what they said to me, I gathered that they needed a letter of thanks more than a recommendation. They spoke of having received such great kindness from you that I concluded you had already done more for them than I would have dared to ask.
Even so, I will dare to ask, because I know how much weight a recommendation from me carries with you. I therefore beg you to allow the generosity you have already shown without any letter from me to receive its fullest possible completion through this one.
The main point of my recommendation is this: do not allow Eros Turius, the freedman of Quintus Turius, to take possession of the property left by Turius, as he has so far been doing. In all other matters, please consider these men as warmly commended by me. You will take much pleasure in their standing and grateful attention. I ask you again and again to be kind enough to do this.
DCCCXXVI (Fam. XII, 26) TO QUINTUS CORNIFICIUS (IN AFRICA) ROME: Quintus Turius , who was a banker in Africa, a good and honourable man, made Certain men of like character to himself his heirs- Gnaeus Saturninus , Sextus Aufidius , Quintus Considius Gallus , Lucius Servilius Postumus , Gaius Rubellius. From what these men have said to me, I have gathered that what they require is a letter of thanks rather than of recommendation. For they spoke of having experienced such great kindness at your hands, that I came to the conclusion that you had already done more for them than I should venture to ask. However, I will venture: for I know how much weight a recommendation of mine has with you. Therefore I beg you to allow the liberality, which you have already displayed without any letter from me, to receive a finishing touch as complete as possible by this one. The chief point, however, of my recommendation is that you should not allow Eros Turius , the freedman of Quintus Turius , to possess himself of the property left by the latter, as up to the present time he has done; and that you should regard these men in all other matters as most warmly commended by me. You will derive much pleasure from their high position and grateful attentions. I beg you repeatedly to be kind enough to do this.
XXVI. Scr. mense incerto (post XIII. Kal. Ian.) a.u.c. 710. CICERO CORNIFICIO SAL.
Q. Turius, qui in Africa negotiatus est, vir bonus et honestus, heredes fecit similes sui, Cn. Saturninum, Sex. Aufidium, C. Anneium, Q. Considium Gallum, L. Servilium Postumum, C. Rubellium: ex eorum oratione intellexi gratiarum actione eos magis egere quam commendatione; tanta enim liberalitate se tua usos praedicabant, ut iis plus a te tributum intelligerem, quam ego te auderem rogare; audebo tamen, scio enim, quantum ponderis mea commendatio sit habitura. Quare a te peto, ut ad eam liberalitatem, qua sine meis litteris usus es, quam maximus his litteris cumulus accedat; caput autem est meae commendationis, ne patiare Erotem Turium, Q. Turii libertum, ut adhuc fecit, hereditatem Turianam avertere ceterisque omnibus rebus habeas eos a me commendatissimos. Magnam ex eorum splendore et observantia capies voluptatem: quod ut velis, te vehementer etiam atque enim rogo.
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Quintus Turius, who did business as a banker in Africa, was a good and honorable man. He made men like himself his heirs: Gnaeus Saturninus, Sextus Aufidius, Gaius Anneius, Quintus Considius Gallus, Lucius Servilius Postumus, and Gaius Rubellius.
From what they said to me, I gathered that they needed a letter of thanks more than a recommendation. They spoke of having received such great kindness from you that I concluded you had already done more for them than I would have dared to ask.
Even so, I will dare to ask, because I know how much weight a recommendation from me carries with you. I therefore beg you to allow the generosity you have already shown without any letter from me to receive its fullest possible completion through this one.
The main point of my recommendation is this: do not allow Eros Turius, the freedman of Quintus Turius, to take possession of the property left by Turius, as he has so far been doing. In all other matters, please consider these men as warmly commended by me. You will take much pleasure in their standing and grateful attention. I ask you again and again to be kind enough to do this.
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
XXVI. Scr. mense incerto (post XIII. Kal. Ian.) a.u.c. 710. CICERO CORNIFICIO SAL.
Q. Turius, qui in Africa negotiatus est, vir bonus et honestus, heredes fecit similes sui, Cn. Saturninum, Sex. Aufidium, C. Anneium, Q. Considium Gallum, L. Servilium Postumum, C. Rubellium: ex eorum oratione intellexi gratiarum actione eos magis egere quam commendatione; tanta enim liberalitate se tua usos praedicabant, ut iis plus a te tributum intelligerem, quam ego te auderem rogare; audebo tamen, scio enim, quantum ponderis mea commendatio sit habitura. Quare a te peto, ut ad eam liberalitatem, qua sine meis litteris usus es, quam maximus his litteris cumulus accedat; caput autem est meae commendationis, ne patiare Erotem Turium, Q. Turii libertum, ut adhuc fecit, hereditatem Turianam avertere ceterisque omnibus rebus habeas eos a me commendatissimos. Magnam ex eorum splendore et observantia capies voluptatem: quod ut velis, te vehementer etiam atque enim rogo.