Marcus Tullius Cicero→Marcus Junius Brutus|c. 50 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome|Human translated
In another letter I recommended the envoys of the Arpinates to you as carefully as I could in a general way. In this one I recommend separately, and more carefully, Quintus Fufidius, with whom I have every bond of connection -- not to diminish that earlier recommendation, but to add to this one. For he is the stepson of Marcus Caesius, my very close friend and connection, and he served with me in Cilicia as military tribune, in which office he conducted himself so well that I seemed to have received a favor from him rather than given one. Furthermore -- and this carries the greatest weight with you -- he is not averse to our literary pursuits. Therefore I would have you embrace him most generously and see to it that in this embassy, which he undertook against his own convenience in following my authority, his industry may shine forth as much as possible. For he wishes -- as nature grants to every excellent man -- to win the greatest praise both from us who urged him and from the municipality, which will be his if this recommendation of mine succeeds in winning your goodwill toward him.
CDLI (Fam. XIII, 12) TO M. IUNIUS BRUTUS (IN CISALPINE GAUL) ROME (?) IN another letter I have commended our commissioners from Arpinum in a body as earnestly as I could. In this with still greater earnestness I commend Q. Fufidius to you separately — with whom I have ties of all kinds — not to detract at all from the former commendation, but to put in this one in addition. He has two special claims on me: he is a stepson of M. Caesius , who is a very intimate friend and close connexion of mine; and he served under me in Cilicia as a military tribune, in which office he conducted himself in such a way as to make me feel that I had received a kindness from him, rather than conferred one. He is besides — which is of very great weight with you — by no means without taste for our favourite studies. Wherefore I would have you admit him to your society without the least reserve, and take pains to make his labour on this commission — which he has undertaken to his own inconvenience and at my instigation — as complete a success as possible. For he wishes, as the best men naturally do, to earn the utmost possible credit both from me, who urged him to undertake it, and from the municipium. This he will succeed in doing, if by this recommendation of mine he secures your good services.
XII. Scr. Romae a.u.c. 708. CICERO BRUTO SAL.
Alia epistula communiter commendavi tibi legatos Arpinatium ut potui diligentissime, hac separatim Q. Fufidium, quocum mihi omnes necessitudines sunt, diligentius commendo, non ut aliquid de illa commendatione deminuam, sed ut ad hanc addam: nam et privignus est M. Caesii, mei maxime et familiaris et necessarii, et fuit in Cilicia mecum tribunus militum, quo in munere ita se tractavit, ut accepisse ab eo beneficium viderer, non dedisse; est praeterea—quod apud te valet plurimum—a nostris studiis non abhorrens. Quare velim eum quam liberalissime complectare operamque des, ut in ea legatione, quam suscepit contra suum commodum secutus auctoritatem meam, quam maxime eius excellat industria; vult enim, id quod optimo cuique natura tributum est, quam maximam laudem quum a nobis, qui eum impulimus, tum a municipio consequi, quod ei continget, si hac mea commendatione tuum erga se studium erit consecutus.
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In another letter I recommended the envoys of the Arpinates to you as carefully as I could in a general way. In this one I recommend separately, and more carefully, Quintus Fufidius, with whom I have every bond of connection -- not to diminish that earlier recommendation, but to add to this one. For he is the stepson of Marcus Caesius, my very close friend and connection, and he served with me in Cilicia as military tribune, in which office he conducted himself so well that I seemed to have received a favor from him rather than given one. Furthermore -- and this carries the greatest weight with you -- he is not averse to our literary pursuits. Therefore I would have you embrace him most generously and see to it that in this embassy, which he undertook against his own convenience in following my authority, his industry may shine forth as much as possible. For he wishes -- as nature grants to every excellent man -- to win the greatest praise both from us who urged him and from the municipality, which will be his if this recommendation of mine succeeds in winning your goodwill toward him.
Human translation - ToposText / Shuckburgh
Latin / Greek Original
XII. Scr. Romae a.u.c. 708. CICERO BRUTO SAL.
Alia epistula communiter commendavi tibi legatos Arpinatium ut potui diligentissime, hac separatim Q. Fufidium, quocum mihi omnes necessitudines sunt, diligentius commendo, non ut aliquid de illa commendatione deminuam, sed ut ad hanc addam: nam et privignus est M. Caesii, mei maxime et familiaris et necessarii, et fuit in Cilicia mecum tribunus militum, quo in munere ita se tractavit, ut accepisse ab eo beneficium viderer, non dedisse; est praeterea—quod apud te valet plurimum—a nostris studiis non abhorrens. Quare velim eum quam liberalissime complectare operamque des, ut in ea legatione, quam suscepit contra suum commodum secutus auctoritatem meam, quam maxime eius excellat industria; vult enim, id quod optimo cuique natura tributum est, quam maximam laudem quum a nobis, qui eum impulimus, tum a municipio consequi, quod ei continget, si hac mea commendatione tuum erga se studium erit consecutus.