If you are well, I am glad. For I am yours by use but our friend Atticus's by ownership. So the profit is yours, the legal title is his -- though if he should advertise this property for sale among the old buyers' club, he would not get very much. But how valuable is that boast of ours, that whatever we are, whatever we have, and whatever reputation we enjoy among men, we owe entirely to you! Therefore, my dear Cicero, persevere steadfastly in preserving us, and recommend us in the most favorable terms to Sulpicius's successor, so that we may more easily obey your instructions and may be glad to see you in the spring and may be able to detach and carry off our possessions safely. But, great friend, do not show this letter to Atticus: let him err and think me a good man who does not usually whitewash two walls from the same bucket. So, my patron, farewell, and greet my friend Tiro in my name. Dated the fourth day before the Kalends of November.
DCLXXIV (Fam. VII, 29) MANIUS CURIUS TO CICERO (AT ROME) PATRAE, 29 OCTOBER: If you are well, I am glad; for I am yours by usus, Atticus 's in full dominium. therefore the usufruct of me is yours, the ownership his. If indeed he puts us up for sale in one lot, he won't make much of us. But what an addition to my selling price will be my declaration that whatever I am or have, and whatever position I enjoy in the world, is all owing to you! Wherefore, my dear Cicero , persevere in your constant care for my welfare, and recommend me in a letter of introduction of the finest brand to the successor of Sulpicius . I shall thereby have greater facility in obeying your maxims, and of seeing you to my joy by the spring, and of breaking up my establishment and bringing my belongings safely home. But, my dear distinguished friend, do not show this letter to Atticus . Let him continue to regard me as heart and soul his, and not as one who “whitewashes two walls out of the same pot.” So, patron mine, good-bye to you, and give Tiro kind regards from me. 29 October.
XXIX. Scr. Patris a. d. IIII. Kal. Nov. a.u.c. 709. CURIUS [M.] CICERONI SUO SAL.
S. v. b. e.; sum enim xrÆsei m¢n tuus, xtÆsei d¢ Attici nostri; ergo fructus est tuus, mancipium illius, quod quidem si inter senes coÎmptionales venale proscripserit, egerit non multum. At illa nostra praedicatio quanti est, nos, quod simus, quod habeamus, quod homines existimemur, id omne abs te habere! Quare, Cicero mi, persevera constanter nos conservare et Sulpicii successori nos de meliore nota commenda, quo facilius tui praeceptis obtemperare [possimus] teque ad ver libentes videre et nostra refigere deportareque tuto possimus. Sed, amice magne, noli hanc epistulam Attico ostendere: sine eum errare et putare me virum bonum esse nec solere duo parietes de eadem fidelia dealbare. Ergo, patrone mi, bene vale Tironemque meum saluta nostris verbis. D. a. d. IIII. K. Nov.
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If you are well, I am glad. For I am yours by use but our friend Atticus's by ownership. So the profit is yours, the legal title is his -- though if he should advertise this property for sale among the old buyers' club, he would not get very much. But how valuable is that boast of ours, that whatever we are, whatever we have, and whatever reputation we enjoy among men, we owe entirely to you! Therefore, my dear Cicero, persevere steadfastly in preserving us, and recommend us in the most favorable terms to Sulpicius's successor, so that we may more easily obey your instructions and may be glad to see you in the spring and may be able to detach and carry off our possessions safely. But, great friend, do not show this letter to Atticus: let him err and think me a good man who does not usually whitewash two walls from the same bucket. So, my patron, farewell, and greet my friend Tiro in my name. Dated the fourth day before the Kalends of November.
Human translation - ToposText / Shuckburgh
Latin / Greek Original
XXIX. Scr. Patris a. d. IIII. Kal. Nov. a.u.c. 709. CURIUS [M.] CICERONI SUO SAL.
S. v. b. e.; sum enim xrÆsei m¢n tuus, xtÆsei d¢ Attici nostri; ergo fructus est tuus, mancipium illius, quod quidem si inter senes coÎmptionales venale proscripserit, egerit non multum. At illa nostra praedicatio quanti est, nos, quod simus, quod habeamus, quod homines existimemur, id omne abs te habere! Quare, Cicero mi, persevera constanter nos conservare et Sulpicii successori nos de meliore nota commenda, quo facilius tui praeceptis obtemperare [possimus] teque ad ver libentes videre et nostra refigere deportareque tuto possimus. Sed, amice magne, noli hanc epistulam Attico ostendere: sine eum errare et putare me virum bonum esse nec solere duo parietes de eadem fidelia dealbare. Ergo, patrone mi, bene vale Tironemque meum saluta nostris verbis. D. a. d. IIII. K. Nov.