Marcus Cornelius Fronto→Marcus Aurelius|c. 156 AD|Marcus Cornelius Fronto|From Rome (career hub)|To Rome (career hub)|AI-assisted
My lord, I would gladly spend my whole life so that you may celebrate many birthdays of your children in happiness, dear to your parents, pleasing to the people, approved by your friends, and worthy of your fortune, birth, and rank. I would spend not only this small remnant of life left to me, but even the life I have already lived, if it could somehow be restored whole and paid out as a debt for the good of you, your family, and your children. If I could walk comfortably, this would have been the day when I wanted to be among the first to embrace you; but I must make some concession to my feet, since they themselves make little progress. I am considering a course of waters [a spa treatment]. If I decide anything more definite, I shall let you know. Farewell, my sweetest lord. Address your Faustina in my words and congratulate her, and kiss our little ladies in my name, just as I usually do, feet and hands included. Give my greetings to the Lady.
? 154–156 A.D. To my Lord. That you may keep many birthdays of your children with all happiness, the pride of your parents, the darling of the people, the beloved of your friends, worthy of your fortune, your lineage, and your station, gladly would I give my whole life, not that meagre portion of it only that now remains to me, but also what I have already lived, if in any way it could be restored to me entire, and expended as the repayment of a debt for the benefit of yourself and your children. If I could walk with comfort, this were the day on which I would wish among the first to embrace you; but I must, as you see, make my feet some concession, since they have not much procession in them. I am thinking of trying waters. If I come any nearer a decision, I will let you know. Farewell, my sweetest Lord. Give your Faustina a message from me and congratulate her and kiss our little ladies in my name and, as I always do, their feet and hands as well. Greet your Lady.
ad M. Caesarem 5.57 [81 Hout; 1.244 Haines]
Domino meo.
1 Plurimos natales liberum tuorum prosperis tuis rebus ut celebres parentibus gratus, populo acceptus, amicis probatus, fortuna et genere et loco tuo dignus, omni vita mea redemisse cupiam, non hac modo exigua vita, quae mihi superest, sed illa etiam quam vixi, si quomodo in integrum redigi ac pro te tuisque ac liberum tuorum commodis in solutum dependi potest. Si facile ingredi possem. Hic erat dies, quo cum primis conplecti te cuperem, sed concedendum est pedibus scilicet, quando ipsi parum procedunt. Ego de aquarum usu delibero. Si certius quid statuero, faciam tibi notum.
2 Vale, mi domine dulcissime. Faustinam tuam meis verbeis appella et gratulare et matronas nostras meo nomine exosculare, sed, uti ego soleo, cum plantis illis et manibus. Dominam saluta.
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My lord, I would gladly spend my whole life so that you may celebrate many birthdays of your children in happiness, dear to your parents, pleasing to the people, approved by your friends, and worthy of your fortune, birth, and rank. I would spend not only this small remnant of life left to me, but even the life I have already lived, if it could somehow be restored whole and paid out as a debt for the good of you, your family, and your children. If I could walk comfortably, this would have been the day when I wanted to be among the first to embrace you; but I must make some concession to my feet, since they themselves make little progress. I am considering a course of waters [a spa treatment]. If I decide anything more definite, I shall let you know. Farewell, my sweetest lord. Address your Faustina in my words and congratulate her, and kiss our little ladies in my name, just as I usually do, feet and hands included. Give my greetings to the Lady.
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
ad M. Caesarem 5.57 [81 Hout; 1.244 Haines] Domino meo. 1 Plurimos natales liberum tuorum prosperis tuis rebus ut celebres parentibus gratus, populo acceptus, amicis probatus, fortuna et genere et loco tuo dignus, omni vita mea redemisse cupiam, non hac modo exigua vita, quae mihi superest, sed illa etiam quam vixi, si quomodo in integrum redigi ac pro te tuisque ac liberum tuorum commodis in solutum dependi potest. Si facile ingredi possem. Hic erat dies, quo cum primis conplecti te cuperem, sed concedendum est pedibus scilicet, quando ipsi parum procedunt. Ego de aquarum usu delibero. Si certius quid statuero, faciam tibi notum. 2 Vale, mi domine dulcissime. Faustinam tuam meis verbeis appella et gratulare et matronas nostras meo nomine exosculare, sed, uti ego soleo, cum plantis illis et manibus. Dominam saluta.