Letter 500.8

Fronto to Antoninus Pius Augustus. 1. That I devoted all my effort, most holy Emperor, and desired with lavish zeal to discharge the office of proconsul, the matter itself is witness. For I both argued the question of the right of the lot, so long as it remained undecided, and, after another man proved to have the prior claim by virtue of the privilege accorded to those with children [the ius liberorum, which gave precedence in the allotment of provinces], I regarded the most splendid province that remained to me as though I had chosen it. After that, whatever pertained to the equipping of the province I diligently made ready, so that such great affairs might more easily be undertaken by me through the abundance of my friends: my kinsmen and friends, whose loyalty and integrity I had come to know, I summoned from home; I wrote to my intimates at Alexandria to hasten to Athens and there await me, and to those most learned men I entrusted the care of the Greek correspondence; from Cilicia too I urged eminent men to come, since I have a great abundance of friends in that province, having always defended the affairs of the Cilicians before you, both in public and in private. From Mauretania as well I called to me a man most devoted to me and mutually dear, Julius Senex, by whose loyalty and diligence, and indeed by whose military energy in tracking down and holding in check brigands, I might be assisted. 2. All this I did, relying on the hope that by a meager diet and the drinking of water I might, if not altogether allay the ill health by which I am hindered, at least mitigate its onsets by spacing them at greater intervals and rendering them lighter. So it came about that I enjoyed good health longer than usual and was vigorously strong, so much so that I even defended two cases of my friends, of no slight labor, before you. But then so great a force of illness assailed me as to show me that all that hope too had been in vain: nearly everything [...] me [...] to me [...] are [...] [...] same things which [...] for who indeed [...] these [...] [...] are [...] [...] for it is [...] of him [...] we name [...] is yours, it is [...] honor [...] [...] or if anyone [...] you may be [...] dearest [...] you [...] [...] [One page cannot be read.]

? 153–154 A.D. to Antoninus Pius Augustus. 1. The facts testify, most reverend Emperor, that I have spared no pains and earnestly desired to discharge the duties of proconsul. For as long as the matter was undecided, I claimed my rights under the lot and, when by virtue of having more children another proved to have the prior claim, I was as satisfied, as if I had chosen it, with that most splendid province which was left to me. Then I took active steps to enlist the help of my friends in all that concerned the ordering of the province. Relations and friends of mine, of whose loyalty and integrity I was assured, I called from home to assist me. I wrote to my intimates at Alexandria to repair with all speed to Athens and await me there, and I deputed the management of my Greek correspondence to those most learned men. From Cilicia too I called upon eminent citizens to join me, for, owing to my always having advocated the public and private interests of Cilicians before you, I had hosts of friends in that province. From Mauretania also I summoned to my side Julius Senex, a man whose love for me was no less than mine for him, that I might avail myself not only of his loyalty and diligence, but also of his military activity in the hunting down and suppressing of brigands. 2. All this I did buoyed up by the hope that by abstemiousness and water-drinking I might, if not wholly relieve the ill-health from which I suffered, yet at all events mitigate its attacks by postponing them for a longer period. The result was that I had a lengthier spell of health than usual, and felt strong and vigorous, "so much so that I was able to appear before you on behalf of two of my friends in cases that entailed very considerable labour. Then I was assailed by so severe an attack of illness as shewed me that all my hopes had been illusory . . . .

ad Anton.Pium 8 [166 Hout; 1.236 Haines] Antonino Pio Augusto Fronto. 1 Omnem operam me dedisse, sanctissime imeprator, et inpenso studio cupisse fungi proconsulari munere res ipsa testis est. Nam et de jure sortiendi, quoad incertum fuit, disceptavi et, postquam jure liberorum prior alius apparuit, eam, quae mihi remansit, splendidissimam provinciam pro electa habui. Postilla quaecumque ad instruendam provinciam adtinerent, quo facilius a me tanta negotia per amicorum copias obirentur, sedulo praeparavi: Propinquos et amicos meos, quorum fidem et integritatem cognoveram, domo accivi; Alexandriam ad familiares meos scripsi, ut Athenas festinarent ibique me opperirentur, iisque Graecarum epistularum curam doctissimis viris detuli; ex Cilicia etiam splendidos viros, quod magna mihi in ea provincia amicorum copia est, cum publice privatimque semper negotia Cilicum apud te defenderim, ut venirent, hortatus sum. Ex Mauretania quoque virum amantissimum mihique mutuo carum Julium Senem ad me vocavi, cujus non modo fide et diligentia, sed etiam militari industria circa quaerendos et continendos latrones adjuvarer. 2 Haec omnia feci spe fretus posse me victu tenui et aqua potanda malam valetudinem, qua impedior, si non omnino sedare, certe ad majora intervalla et levioribus impetus mitigare. Ita evenit, ut solito diutius bene valerem et fortis vigerem, adeo ut etiam duas amicorum causas non minimi laboris apud te tutatus sim. Ingruit deinde tanta vis valetudinis, quae mihi ostenderet, omnem spem illam etiam frustra fuisse: Prope omnia du . . . me . . . . . o . . . mihi . . . . . . . . ci sunt . . . . . . . eret ob . fini . . . . . . . dinen . . . . . . . res . . . . mot . . . . . . . eastus . . . con . . . . essem . . . . . . . es et nonis . . . . ate . . . . . s stae . . . oribus . . . . . . . . . . . . pen . . . . iru . . n . . ecum . . r . . . . ris . . que . . eadem quae n . . . . . . . . uin . . . . . . p . fur . . . . . ri . . . . . s . . . quis enim l . e . . hos . . . . bis sim . . . . . . . . . ervales . . . . . ins . . . sunt . . nia . . . . . . . . . . re . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . os est nam ejus . . . . . h . . . . namus . . . . . . . i . . . l . est tuus est e . . . e . . . . . . a . . . . . . nia . . . . hono . . . . . . uusus . . . . . . . . . . . . . n . . ota . . . . . . . . s . . . . . . . . . . . . add . . . . . sive quis . . . . . . . . . . . ta . us s . . . . . ere . . . . . ta tu sis . . . . . . . . . . . . is carissim . . . . . . . . . . . ina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ea te . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ae p . . . . . . . . . . n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . niae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iste . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [Una pagina legi nequit]