Marcus Tullius Cicero→Gaius Trebatius Testa|c. 49 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Gaul|AI-assisted
How difficult people who love can be is clear from this: before, I was troubled that you were unwilling to stay where you are; now it stings me that you write that you are happy there. I could hardly bear that you were not pleased with my recommendation, and now I am anxious that anything can be pleasant to you without me.
Still, I would rather bear missing you than have you fail to gain what I hope for you. As for your becoming close to Gaius Matius, that charming and very learned man, I cannot say how glad I am. Make sure he loves you as much as possible. Believe me, you can bring nothing back from that province more pleasant than his friendship.
Take care of your health.
CLXXIII (Fam. VII, 15) TO C. TREBATIUS TESTA (IN GAUL) ROME: How wayward people are who love may be gathered from this: I was formerly annoyed that you were discontented at being where you are: now, on the contrary, it stings me to the heart that you write that you are quite happy there. For I did not like your not being pleased at my recommendation, and now I am vexed that you can find anything pleasant without me. But, after all, I prefer enduring your absence to your not getting what I hope for you. However, I cannot say how pleased I am that you have become intimate with that most delightful man and excellent scholar, C. Matius . Do your best to make him as fond of you as possible. Believe me, you can bring nothing home from your province that will give you greater pleasure. Take care of your health.
XV. Scr. Romae a.u.c. 701. CICERO TREBATIO.
Quam sint morosi, qui amant, vel ex hoc intelligi potest: moleste ferebam antea te invitum istic esse; pungit me rursus, quod scribis esse te istic libenter; neque enim mea commendatione te non delectari facile patiebar et nunc angor quidquam tibi sine me esse iucundum; sed hoc tamen malo ferre nos desiderium, quam te non ea, quae spero, consequi. Quod vero in C. Matii, suavissimi doctissimique hominis, familiaritatem venisti, non dici potest, quam valde gaudeam; qui fac ut te quam maxime diligat: mihi crede, nihil ex ista provincia potes, quod iucundius sit, deportare. Cura, ut valeas.
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How difficult people who love can be is clear from this: before, I was troubled that you were unwilling to stay where you are; now it stings me that you write that you are happy there. I could hardly bear that you were not pleased with my recommendation, and now I am anxious that anything can be pleasant to you without me.
Still, I would rather bear missing you than have you fail to gain what I hope for you. As for your becoming close to Gaius Matius, that charming and very learned man, I cannot say how glad I am. Make sure he loves you as much as possible. Believe me, you can bring nothing back from that province more pleasant than his friendship.
Take care of your health.
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
XV. Scr. Romae a.u.c. 701. CICERO TREBATIO.
Quam sint morosi, qui amant, vel ex hoc intelligi potest: moleste ferebam antea te invitum istic esse; pungit me rursus, quod scribis esse te istic libenter; neque enim mea commendatione te non delectari facile patiebar et nunc angor quidquam tibi sine me esse iucundum; sed hoc tamen malo ferre nos desiderium, quam te non ea, quae spero, consequi. Quod vero in C. Matii, suavissimi doctissimique hominis, familiaritatem venisti, non dici potest, quam valde gaudeam; qui fac ut te quam maxime diligat: mihi crede, nihil ex ista provincia potes, quod iucundius sit, deportare. Cura, ut valeas.