Marcus Tullius Cicero→Marcus Tullius Tiro|c. 47 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Patrae|Human translated
Well then? Should it not be done this way? I think it should; one should even add "his own." But if you prefer, let us avoid jealousy, which I have often scorned anyway. I am glad the change of diet has helped you; and if the Tusculan estate has helped too -- good gods! -- how much dearer it will be to me! But if you love me -- which you either do or simulate very prettily, though that too works in its way -- but however it is, indulge your health, which you have not sufficiently served up to now, while you were serving me. You know what it requires: digestion, freedom from worry, moderate walking, massage, a healthy bowel. Come back to me a handsome fellow, so that I may love not only you but our Tusculan estate even more. Stir up Paredrus to take the garden contract himself; that way you will put the gardener on his toes. That worthless Helico was offering 1,100 sesterces, with no sunny garden, no drainage, no wall, no shed -- shall that fellow laugh at us after such expense? Heat the man up, as I do Motho; I am therefore using up my garlands. As for the Crabra aqueduct, although there is more than enough water right now, I would still like to know what is happening. I shall send the sundial and the books if it is fine weather. But do you have no little books with you? Or are you composing something Sophoclean? See that a finished work appears. Aulus Ligurius, a friend of Caesar's, has died -- a good man and a friend of ours. Let me know when we should expect you. Take good care of yourself. Farewell.
DCLXXXIX (Fam. XVI, 18) TO TIRO (AT TUSCULUM) ROME (DECEMBER) WHAT do you say? Ought it not be so? I think it ought for my part. The word SUO ought also to be added. But, if you please, let us avoid exciting prejudice, which however I have myself often neglected. I am glad the sweating has done you good. If only Tusculum has done so also, good heavens! what a charm that would add to the place in my eyes! But if you love me, as you do, or make a very pretty imitation of doing — an imitation which quite answers its purpose-well, however that may be, nurse your health now, to which, while devoting yourself to my service, you have not been devoted enough. You know what it requires-good digestion, freedom from fatigue, moderate walking, friction of the skin, easy operation of the bowels. Be sure you come back looking well. That would make me still fonder of Tusculum as well as of you. Stir up Parhedrus to hire the garden for himself: by doing so you will keep the actual gardener up to the mark. That utter scoundrel Helico used to pay a thousand sesterces, when there was no hot-bed, no water turned on, no wall, no garden-shed. Is he to have the laugh of us, after we have spent all that money? Warm the fellow up, as I do Motho and so get plenty of flowers. What arrangement is being made about the Crabra, though now indeed we have enough water and to spare, I should yet wish to know. I will send the sun-dial and books, if the weather is dry. But have you no books with you, or are you composing in the Sophoclean vein? Mind you have something to show for your labour. Caesar 's friend Aulus Ligurius is dead: he was a good man and a good friend to me. Let me know when we are to expect you. Take great care of yourself. Good-bye
XVIII. Scr. post a.u.c. 707 (708?). TULLIUS TIRONI SAL.
Quid igitur? non sic oportet? equidem censeo sic; addendum etiam "SUO." Sed, si placet, invidia vitetur, quam quidem ego saepe contempsi. Tibi diaforhsin gaudeo profuisse; si vero etiam Tusculanum, dei boni! quanto mihi illud erit amabilius! Sed, si me amas, quod quidem aut facis aut perbelle simulas, quod tamen in modum procedit, sed, ut ut est, indulge valetudini tuae, cui quidem tu adhuc, dum mihi deservis, servisti non satis. Ea quid postulet, non ignoras: p°cin , éxop¤an , per¤paton sÊmmetron , trðcin , eÈlus¤an xoil¤aw . Fac bellus revertare: non modo te, sed etiam Tusculanum nostrum plus amem. Paredrum excita, ut hortum ipse conducat: sic olitorem ipsum commovebis. Helico nequissimus HS CI C dabat nullo aprico horto, nullo emissario, nulla maceria, nulla casa: iste nos tanta impensa derideat? Calface hominem, ut ego Mothonem; itaque abutor coronis. De Crabra quid agatur, etsi nunc quidem etiam nimium est aquae, tamen velim scire. Horologium mittam et libros, si erit sudum. Sed tu nullosne tecum libellos? an pangis aliquid Sophocleum? fac opus appareat. A. Ligurius, Caesaris familiaris, mortuus est, bonus homo et nobis amicus. Te quando exspectemus, fac ut sciam. Cura te diligenter. Vale.
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Well then? Should it not be done this way? I think it should; one should even add "his own." But if you prefer, let us avoid jealousy, which I have often scorned anyway. I am glad the change of diet has helped you; and if the Tusculan estate has helped too -- good gods! -- how much dearer it will be to me! But if you love me -- which you either do or simulate very prettily, though that too works in its way -- but however it is, indulge your health, which you have not sufficiently served up to now, while you were serving me. You know what it requires: digestion, freedom from worry, moderate walking, massage, a healthy bowel. Come back to me a handsome fellow, so that I may love not only you but our Tusculan estate even more. Stir up Paredrus to take the garden contract himself; that way you will put the gardener on his toes. That worthless Helico was offering 1,100 sesterces, with no sunny garden, no drainage, no wall, no shed -- shall that fellow laugh at us after such expense? Heat the man up, as I do Motho; I am therefore using up my garlands. As for the Crabra aqueduct, although there is more than enough water right now, I would still like to know what is happening. I shall send the sundial and the books if it is fine weather. But do you have no little books with you? Or are you composing something Sophoclean? See that a finished work appears. Aulus Ligurius, a friend of Caesar's, has died -- a good man and a friend of ours. Let me know when we should expect you. Take good care of yourself. Farewell.
Human translation - ToposText / Shuckburgh
Latin / Greek Original
XVIII. Scr. post a.u.c. 707 (708?). TULLIUS TIRONI SAL.
Quid igitur? non sic oportet? equidem censeo sic; addendum etiam "SUO." Sed, si placet, invidia vitetur, quam quidem ego saepe contempsi. Tibi diaforhsin gaudeo profuisse; si vero etiam Tusculanum, dei boni! quanto mihi illud erit amabilius! Sed, si me amas, quod quidem aut facis aut perbelle simulas, quod tamen in modum procedit, sed, ut ut est, indulge valetudini tuae, cui quidem tu adhuc, dum mihi deservis, servisti non satis. Ea quid postulet, non ignoras: p°cin , éxop¤an , per¤paton sÊmmetron , trðcin , eÈlus¤an xoil¤aw . Fac bellus revertare: non modo te, sed etiam Tusculanum nostrum plus amem. Paredrum excita, ut hortum ipse conducat: sic olitorem ipsum commovebis. Helico nequissimus HS CI C dabat nullo aprico horto, nullo emissario, nulla maceria, nulla casa: iste nos tanta impensa derideat? Calface hominem, ut ego Mothonem; itaque abutor coronis. De Crabra quid agatur, etsi nunc quidem etiam nimium est aquae, tamen velim scire. Horologium mittam et libros, si erit sudum. Sed tu nullosne tecum libellos? an pangis aliquid Sophocleum? fac opus appareat. A. Ligurius, Caesaris familiaris, mortuus est, bonus homo et nobis amicus. Te quando exspectemus, fac ut sciam. Cura te diligenter. Vale.