Marcus Cornelius Fronto→Marcus Aurelius|c. 163 AD|Marcus Cornelius Fronto|From Rome (career hub)|To Rome (career hub)|AI-assisted
To my Lord.
This is the fifth day on which I have been seized with pain in all my limbs, but above all in my neck and my groin. I recall that I excerpted from Cicero's letters only those passages that contained some discussion of eloquence, or of philosophy, or of public affairs; besides these, if anything seemed to be expressed with unusual elegance or by some notable word, I excerpted that too. Such of these extracts as I had at hand for my own use I have sent to you. You will order three books to be copied out—two addressed to Brutus, one to Axius—if it seems to you that there is any value in them, and you will send them back to me, for I have made no copies of those particular extracts. I hold, moreover, that all of Cicero's letters ought to be read—in my own judgment even more than all his orations: nothing is more perfect than Cicero's letters.
To my Lord. This is the fifth day since I have been seized with pain in all my limbs, but especially in my neck and groin. As far as I remember I have extracted from Cicero's letters only those passages in which there was some discussion about eloquence or philosophy or politics; besides, if there seemed to be any choice expression or striking word I have extracted it. Such of these as were by me for my own use I have sent to you. You might, if you think it worth while, have the three books, two to Brutus and one to Axius, copied and return them to me, as of these particular extracts I have made no copies. All Cicero's letters, however, should, I think, be read—in my opinion, even more than his speeches. There is nothing more perfect than Cicero's letters.
ad Anton.Imp. 3.8 [104 Hout; 2.156 Haines]
Domino meo.
1 Quinctus hic dies est, quo correptus sum dolore membrorum omnium, praecipue autem cervicum et inguinum. Memini me excerpisse de Ciceronis epistulis ea dumtaxat, quibus inesset aliqua de eloquentia vel philsophia vel de re publica disputatio; praeterea, si quid elegantius aut verbo notabili dictum videretur, excerpsi. Quae in usu meo ad manum erant excerpta misi tibi. Tres libros, duos ad Brutum, unum ad Axium describi kubebis, si quid rei esse videbitur, et remittes mihi, nam exemplares eorum excerptorum nullos feci. Omnes autem Ciceronis epistulas legendas censeo, mea sententia vel magis quam omnis ejus orationes: Epistulis Ciceronis nihil est perfectius.
◆
To my Lord.
This is the fifth day on which I have been seized with pain in all my limbs, but above all in my neck and my groin. I recall that I excerpted from Cicero's letters only those passages that contained some discussion of eloquence, or of philosophy, or of public affairs; besides these, if anything seemed to be expressed with unusual elegance or by some notable word, I excerpted that too. Such of these extracts as I had at hand for my own use I have sent to you. You will order three books to be copied out—two addressed to Brutus, one to Axius—if it seems to you that there is any value in them, and you will send them back to me, for I have made no copies of those particular extracts. I hold, moreover, that all of Cicero's letters ought to be read—in my own judgment even more than all his orations: nothing is more perfect than Cicero's 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
ad Anton.Imp. 3.8 [104 Hout; 2.156 Haines] Domino meo. 1 Quinctus hic dies est, quo correptus sum dolore membrorum omnium, praecipue autem cervicum et inguinum. Memini me excerpisse de Ciceronis epistulis ea dumtaxat, quibus inesset aliqua de eloquentia vel philsophia vel de re publica disputatio; praeterea, si quid elegantius aut verbo notabili dictum videretur, excerpsi. Quae in usu meo ad manum erant excerpta misi tibi. Tres libros, duos ad Brutum, unum ad Axium describi kubebis, si quid rei esse videbitur, et remittes mihi, nam exemplares eorum excerptorum nullos feci. Omnes autem Ciceronis epistulas legendas censeo, mea sententia vel magis quam omnis ejus orationes: Epistulis Ciceronis nihil est perfectius.