Marcus Tullius Cicero→Gaius Trebatius Testa|c. 49 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Gaul|AI-assisted
Caesar has written to me very kindly. He says that, because of his many duties, you are not yet as familiar with him as he would like, but that you certainly will be. I wrote back telling him how grateful I would be if he poured as much of his interest, kindness, and generosity as possible into you.
But from your letters I detected a certain over-hasty impatience, and at the same time I wondered why you rejected the advantages of a military tribuneship, especially when the labor of soldiering had been removed. I will complain to Vacerra and Manilius. I dare say nothing to Cornelius, who is responsible for your foolishness, since you profess to have learned legal wisdom from him.
Why not press this opportunity and opening? You will never find a better one. As for what you write about that jurist Precianus, I do not stop recommending you to him. He himself also writes to me that you owe him thanks. Make sure I know what that is about.
I am waiting for your British letters.
CXXXIX (Fam. VII, 8) TO C. TREBATIUS TESTA (IN GAUL) ROME (JUNE) Caesar has written me a very courteous letter saying that he has not yet seen as much of you as he could wish, owing to his press of business, but that he certainly will do so. I have answered his letter and told him how much obliged I shall be if he bestows on you as much attention, kindness, and liberality as he can. But I gathered from your letters that you are in somewhat too great a hurry: and at the same time I wondered why you despised the profits of a military tribuneship, especially as you are exempted from the labour of military duty. I shall express my discontent to Vacerra and Manilius : for I dare not say a word to Cornelius , who is responsible for your unwise conduct, since you profess to have learnt legal wisdom from him. Rather press on your opportunity and the means put into your hands, than which none better will ever be found. As to what you say of the jurist Precianus, I never cease recommending you to him; for he writes me word that you owe him thanks. Be sure to let me know to what that refers. I am waiting for a letter from you dated “ Britain .”
VIII. Scr. Romae mense Iunio a.u.c. 700. CICERO TREBATIO.
Scripsit ad me Caesar perhumaniter nondum te sibi satis esse familiarem propter occupationes suas, sed certe fore: cui quidem ego rescripsi, quam mihi gratum esset futurum, si quam plurimum in te studii, officii, liberalitatis suae contulisset. Sed ex tuis litteris cognovi praeproperam quandam festinationem tuam et simul sum admiratus, cur tribunatus commoda, dempto praesertim labore militiae, contempseris. Querar cum Vacerra et Manilio; nam Cornelio nihil audeo dicere, cuius tu periculo stultus es, quoniam te ab eo sapere didicisse profiteris. Quin tu urges istam occasionem et facultatem, qua melior numquam reperietur? Quod scribis de illo Preciano iureconsulto, ego te ei non desino commendare; scribit etiam ipse mihi te sibi gratias agere debere: de eo quid sit, cura, ut sciam. Ego vestras Britannicas litteras exspecto.
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Caesar has written to me very kindly. He says that, because of his many duties, you are not yet as familiar with him as he would like, but that you certainly will be. I wrote back telling him how grateful I would be if he poured as much of his interest, kindness, and generosity as possible into you.
But from your letters I detected a certain over-hasty impatience, and at the same time I wondered why you rejected the advantages of a military tribuneship, especially when the labor of soldiering had been removed. I will complain to Vacerra and Manilius. I dare say nothing to Cornelius, who is responsible for your foolishness, since you profess to have learned legal wisdom from him.
Why not press this opportunity and opening? You will never find a better one. As for what you write about that jurist Precianus, I do not stop recommending you to him. He himself also writes to me that you owe him thanks. Make sure I know what that is about.
I am waiting for your British letters.
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
VIII. Scr. Romae mense Iunio a.u.c. 700. CICERO TREBATIO.
Scripsit ad me Caesar perhumaniter nondum te sibi satis esse familiarem propter occupationes suas, sed certe fore: cui quidem ego rescripsi, quam mihi gratum esset futurum, si quam plurimum in te studii, officii, liberalitatis suae contulisset. Sed ex tuis litteris cognovi praeproperam quandam festinationem tuam et simul sum admiratus, cur tribunatus commoda, dempto praesertim labore militiae, contempseris. Querar cum Vacerra et Manilio; nam Cornelio nihil audeo dicere, cuius tu periculo stultus es, quoniam te ab eo sapere didicisse profiteris. Quin tu urges istam occasionem et facultatem, qua melior numquam reperietur? Quod scribis de illo Preciano iureconsulto, ego te ei non desino commendare; scribit etiam ipse mihi te sibi gratias agere debere: de eo quid sit, cura, ut sciam. Ego vestras Britannicas litteras exspecto.