Humanitext Reader

Cicero · Letters to Friends §10.21a.1

Apology for His Brother's Absence and Request for Friendship

Passage 221 of 413 · Latin

Summary

Plancus excuses his brother's absence due to illness, requests Cicero to protect his dignity, and asks to succeed the late Hirtius in Cicero's affection and mutual respect.

§10.21a.1fratrem meum tibi, fortissimum civem et ad omnia paratissimum, excusem litteris? qui ex labore in febriculam incidit adsiduam et satis molestam.
Should I excuse my brother to you by letter—a most gallant citizen and most prepared for everything? From fatigue he has fallen into a persistent and rather troublesome slight fever.
Cum primum poterit, istoc recurrere non dubitabit, ne quo loco rei p. desit.
As soon as he is able, he will not hesitate to hasten back to that place, lest he fail the republic in any respect.
meam dignitatem commendatam habeas rogo.
I ask that you hold my dignity recommended to you.
concupiscere me nihil oportet; habeo te et amantissimum mei et, quod optavi, summae auctoritatis;
It is not right for me to covet anything; I have you, both most affectionate toward me and, as I have wished, of the highest authority.
tu videris quantum et quando tuum munus apud me velis esse.
You yourself will see how much and when you wish your favor toward me to be.
tantum te rogo, in Hirti locum me subdas et ad tuum amorem et ad meam observantiam.
I only ask you to substitute me in Hirtius's place, both for your love toward me and for my respect toward you.

Notes

  1. §10.21a.1excusem — Present subjunctive, first-person singular. It is used here as a deliberative subjunctive in a question, expressing "should I excuse...?"
  2. §10.21a.1quo loco — The indefinite pronoun `aliquo` is shortened to `quo` after the negative conjunction `ne`. `loco` is an ablative of respect or metaphorical place, meaning "in any respect" or "at any post."
  3. §10.21a.1commendatam habeas — A subjunctive clause depending on `rogo` (expressing request), with the conjunction `ut` omitted. The verb `habeas` (present subjunctive second-person singular) combined with the perfect participle `commendatam` (used descriptively) forms a periphrastic construction meaning "to keep recommended," i.e., "to hold in high regard" or "to protect."
  4. §10.21a.1summae auctoritatis — Genitive of quality (description) modifying `te`, continuing the construction `habeo te ... summae auctoritatis` ("I have you as one of the highest authority").
  5. §10.21a.1tu videris — Future perfect (or perfect subjunctive) second-person singular of `video`. This is an idiomatic expression used to leave a matter to the recipient's judgment, meaning "you will see to it" or "it is for you to consider."
  6. §10.21a.1in Hirti locum me subdas — A subjunctive clause with `ut` omitted, dependent on `rogo`. `subdas` is the present subjunctive second-person singular of `subdo` ("to substitute," "to put in place of"). `Hirti` refers to Aulus Hirtius, the consul who had recently died at the Battle of Mutina; Plancus requests to take Hirtius's place in Cicero's affection and intimacy.

Cite this passage

Cicero, Letters to Friends §10.21a.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi056.humanitext-lat1:10.21a.1

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