Marcus Tullius Cicero→Quintus Valerius Orca|c. 50 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome|Human translated
I am not displeased that the connection between us is known to as many people as possible, nor do I on that account -- as you can best judge -- hinder you from carrying out the business you have undertaken in accordance with your loyalty and diligence, and according to the wishes of Caesar, who has entrusted you with a great and difficult matter. For although many ask many things of me because they have no doubt about your goodwill toward me, I do not allow my influence-seeking to disturb your duty. I have been on the most intimate terms with Gaius Curtius from his earliest youth; I grieved at his most unjust misfortune in the Sullan period, and when it seemed that those who had suffered a similar wrong were being granted a return to their country by the general consent, even though they had lost all their fortunes, I was a helper in securing his safety. He has a property in the Volaterran territory, having gathered there, as it were, the remnants of a shipwreck. At this time Caesar has enrolled him in the senate, an order he can scarcely maintain if that property is lost. It is most grievous that, having risen in rank, he should be lower in fortune, and it is most unfitting that a man who is a senator by Caesar's favor should be removed from the very land that is being divided by Caesar's order. But I prefer not to write much about the justice of the case, lest my argument seem to have prevailed with you rather than my personal appeal. Therefore I ask you most earnestly to consider Gaius Curtius's business as my own: whatever you would do for my sake, please understand that in doing it for Curtius, what he has received through me, I have received from you. This I ask you again and again most earnestly.
DCLXX (Fam. XIII, 5) TO Q. VALERIUS ORCA (IN ETRURIA) ROME (AUTUMN) CICERO greets Q. Valerius , legatus pro praetore. I am not sorry that my friendship for you is known as widely as possible. Not, however, that I wish on that plea — as you may well believe — to prevent your carrying out the business you have undertaken with good faith and activity, to the satisfaction of Caesar , who has intrusted to you a matter of great importance and difficulty. For though I am besieged with petitions from men who are assured of your kindness to me, I am always careful not to embarrass you in the performance of your duty by any self-seeking on my part. I have been very intimate with Gaius Curtius from our earliest days. I was grieved at the most undeserved calamity which befell him and the others in the Sullan epoch: and when it appeared that those who had suffered a similar wrong, though they lost all their property, were yet allowed by universal consent to return to their native country, I supported the removal of his disability. This man has a holding in the territory of Volaterrae , having betaken himself to it as a kind of salvage from shipwreck. Recently also Caesar has selected him for a seat in the senate — a rank which he can scarcely maintain if he loses this holding. Now it is a great hardship that, having been raised in rank, he should occupy an inferior position in regard to wealth, and it is not at all consistent that a man who is a senator by Caesar 's favour should be dispossessed of land which is being divided by Caesar 's order. But I don't so much care to write at length on the legal merits of the case, lest I should be thought to have had influence with you owing to its strength rather than from your personal feeling for me. Wherefore I beg you with more than common earnestness to look upon Gaius Curtius 's affair as mine; and whatever you do for my sake, I beg you to consider, though you have done it for Gaius Curtius , that I have from your hand what he has obtained through my influence. I reiterate this request with warmth.
V. Scr. Romae mense Octobri a.u.c. 709. M. CICERO S. D. Q. VALERIO LEG. PROPR.
Non moleste fero eam necessitudinem, quae mihi tecum est, notam esse quam plurimis, neque tamen ob eam causam—quod tu optime existimare potes—te impedio, quo minus susceptum negotium pro tua fide et diligentia ex voluntate Caesaris, qui tibi rem magnam difficilemque commisit, gerere possis; nam, quum multi a me petant multa, quod de tua erga me voluntate non dubitent, non committo, ut ambitione mea conturbem officium tuum. C. Curtio ab ineunte aetate familiarissime sum usus; eius et Sullani temporis iniustissima calamitate dolui et, quum iis, qui similem iniuriam acceperant, amissis omnibus fortunis reditus tamen in patriam voluntate omnium concedi videretur, adiutor incolumitatis fui: is habet in Volaterrano possessionem, quum in eam tamquam e naufragio reliquias contulisset; hoc autem tempore eum Caesar in senatum legit, quem ordinem ille ista possessione amissa tueri vix potest; gravissimum autem est, quum superior factus sit ordine, inferiorem esse fortuna, minimeque convenit ex eo agro, qui Caesaris iussu dividatur, eum moveri, qui Caesaris beneficio senator sit. Sed mihi minus libet multa de aequitate rei scribere, ne causa potius apud te valuisse videar quam gratia; quamobrem te in maiorem modum rogo, ut C. Curtii rem meam putes esse: quidquid mea causa faceres, ut, id C. Curtii causa quum feceris, existimes, quod ille per me habuerit, id me habere abs te. Hoc te vehementer etiam atque etiam rogo.
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I am not displeased that the connection between us is known to as many people as possible, nor do I on that account -- as you can best judge -- hinder you from carrying out the business you have undertaken in accordance with your loyalty and diligence, and according to the wishes of Caesar, who has entrusted you with a great and difficult matter. For although many ask many things of me because they have no doubt about your goodwill toward me, I do not allow my influence-seeking to disturb your duty. I have been on the most intimate terms with Gaius Curtius from his earliest youth; I grieved at his most unjust misfortune in the Sullan period, and when it seemed that those who had suffered a similar wrong were being granted a return to their country by the general consent, even though they had lost all their fortunes, I was a helper in securing his safety. He has a property in the Volaterran territory, having gathered there, as it were, the remnants of a shipwreck. At this time Caesar has enrolled him in the senate, an order he can scarcely maintain if that property is lost. It is most grievous that, having risen in rank, he should be lower in fortune, and it is most unfitting that a man who is a senator by Caesar's favor should be removed from the very land that is being divided by Caesar's order. But I prefer not to write much about the justice of the case, lest my argument seem to have prevailed with you rather than my personal appeal. Therefore I ask you most earnestly to consider Gaius Curtius's business as my own: whatever you would do for my sake, please understand that in doing it for Curtius, what he has received through me, I have received from you. This I ask you again and again most earnestly.
Human translation - ToposText / Shuckburgh
Latin / Greek Original
V. Scr. Romae mense Octobri a.u.c. 709. M. CICERO S. D. Q. VALERIO LEG. PROPR.
Non moleste fero eam necessitudinem, quae mihi tecum est, notam esse quam plurimis, neque tamen ob eam causam—quod tu optime existimare potes—te impedio, quo minus susceptum negotium pro tua fide et diligentia ex voluntate Caesaris, qui tibi rem magnam difficilemque commisit, gerere possis; nam, quum multi a me petant multa, quod de tua erga me voluntate non dubitent, non committo, ut ambitione mea conturbem officium tuum. C. Curtio ab ineunte aetate familiarissime sum usus; eius et Sullani temporis iniustissima calamitate dolui et, quum iis, qui similem iniuriam acceperant, amissis omnibus fortunis reditus tamen in patriam voluntate omnium concedi videretur, adiutor incolumitatis fui: is habet in Volaterrano possessionem, quum in eam tamquam e naufragio reliquias contulisset; hoc autem tempore eum Caesar in senatum legit, quem ordinem ille ista possessione amissa tueri vix potest; gravissimum autem est, quum superior factus sit ordine, inferiorem esse fortuna, minimeque convenit ex eo agro, qui Caesaris iussu dividatur, eum moveri, qui Caesaris beneficio senator sit. Sed mihi minus libet multa de aequitate rei scribere, ne causa potius apud te valuisse videar quam gratia; quamobrem te in maiorem modum rogo, ut C. Curtii rem meam putes esse: quidquid mea causa faceres, ut, id C. Curtii causa quum feceris, existimes, quod ille per me habuerit, id me habere abs te. Hoc te vehementer etiam atque etiam rogo.