§12.17.1grata mihi vehementer est memoria nostri tua quam significasti litteris; quam ut conserves, non quo de tua con 'stantia dubitem sed quia mos est ita rogandi, rogo.
Your memory of me, which you indicated in your letter, is exceedingly pleasing to me; and I ask you to preserve it—not because I doubt your constancy, but because it is the custom to make such a request.
ex Syria nobis tumultuosiora quaedam nuntiata sunt, quae quia tibi sunt propiora quam nobis, tua me causa magis movent quam mea.
From Syria, some rather turbulent news has been reported to us, which, because it is closer to you than to us, moves me more on your account than on my own.
Romae summum otium est, sed ita ut malis salubre aliquod et honestum negotium; quod spero fore.
In Rome there is the greatest quiet, but of such a kind that you would prefer some wholesome and honorable business; which I hope will be the case.
video id curae esse Caesari.
I see that this is a matter of care to Caesar.
§12.17.2me scito, dum tu absis, quasi occasionem quandam et licentiam nactum scribere audacius, et cetera quidem fortasse quae etiam tu concederes, sed proxime scripsi de optimo genere dicendi, in quo saepe suspicatus sum te. a iudicio nostro sic scilicet ut doctum hominem ab non indocto paulum dissidere.
Know that I, while you are absent, having obtained as it were a certain opportunity and license, have been writing rather boldly—other things indeed perhaps which even you would allow, but recently I wrote on the best style of oratory, in which I have often suspected that you differ slightly from my judgment, naturally just as a learned man from one who is not unlearned.
huic tu libro maxime velim ex animo, si minus, gratiae causa suffragere.
I would wish you to support this book especially from your heart, or if not, for the sake of our friendship.
dicam tuis ut eum, si velint, describant ad teque mittant; puto enim, etiam si rem minus probabis, tamen in ista solitudine, quicquid a me profectum sit, iucundum tibi fore.
I will tell your people to copy it, if they wish, and send it to you; for I think that, even if you do not quite approve of the matter, yet in that solitude of yours, whatever has proceeded from me will be pleasant to you.
§12.17.3quod mihi existimationem tuam dignitatemque commendas, facis tu quidem omnium more, sed velim sic existimes, me cum amori quem inter nos mutuum esse intellegam plurimum tribuam, tum de summo ingenio et de studiis tuis optimis et de spe amplissimae dignitatis ita iudicare ut neminem tibi anteponam, comparem paucos.
As to your commending your reputation and dignity to me, you act indeed in the manner of all; but I would wish you to think thus: that while I attribute very much to the love which I understand to be mutual between us, I also judge of your supreme talent, your excellent studies, and the hope of your most ample dignity in such a way that I place no one before you, and compare few to you.