§13.17.1M'. Curius, qui Patris negotiatur, multis et magnis de causis a me diligitur; nam et amicitia pervetus mihi cum eo est ut primum in forum venit instituta, et Patris cum aliquotiens antea tum proxime hoc miserrimo bello domus eius tota mihi patuit; qua si opus fuisset tam essem usus quam mea.
Manius Curius, who does business at Patrae, is beloved by me for many and great reasons; for not only is there a very old friendship between me and him, established when he first entered the forum, but also at Patrae, both on several occasions before and most recently in this most miserable war, his entire house was open to me; which, if there had been need of it, I would have used as my own.
maximum autem mihi vinculum cum eo est quasi sanctioris cuiusdam necessitudinis, quod est Attici nostri familiarissimus eumque unum praeter ceteros observat ac diligit.
But my greatest bond with him is as it were of a certain more sacred intimacy, because he is the most intimate friend of our Atticus, and respects and loves him alone above all others.
§13.17.2quem si tu iam forte cognosti, puto me hoc quod facio facere serius; ea est enim humanitate et observantia, ut eum tibi iam ipsum per se commendatum putem.
If by chance you have already come to know him, I think that I am doing too late what I am doing; for he is of such courtesy and respectfulness that I think he is already recommended to you by himself.
quod tamen si ita est, magno opere a te quaeso ut ad eam voluntatem, si quam in illum ante bas meas litteras contulisti, quam maximus potest mea commendatione cumulus accedat;
If, however, this is so, I earnestly request of you that to that goodwill, if any you have bestowed upon him before this letter of mine, the greatest possible addition may be made by my recommendation.
§13.17.3sin autem propter verecundiam suam minus se tibi obtulit aut nondum eum satis habes cognitum aut quae causa est cur maioris commendationis indigeat, sic tibi eum commendo, ut neque maiore studio quemquam neque iustioribus de causis commendare possim, faciamque id quod debent facere ii qui religiose et sine ambitione commendant; spondebo enim tibi vel potius spondeo in meque recipio eos esse M'. Curi mores eamque cum probitatem tum etiam humanitatem, ut eum et amicitia tua et tam accurata commendatione, si tibi sit cognitus, dignum sis existimaturus.
But if, because of his modesty, he has presented himself less to you, or you do not yet know him well enough, or if there is some other reason why he needs a stronger recommendation, I recommend him to you in such a way that I could not recommend anyone with greater zeal or for more just reasons; and I will do what those who recommend conscientiously and without self-seeking ought to do; for I will promise you, or rather I do promise and take it upon myself, that the character of Manius Curius, and both his probity and his courtesy, are such that, if he becomes known to you, you will judge him worthy both of your friendship and of so careful a recommendation.
mihi certe gratissimum feceris, si intellexero has litteras tantum, quantum scribens confidebam, apud te pondus habuisse.
You will certainly have done me a most agreeable favor, if I perceive that this letter has had as much weight with you as I, while writing, trusted it would.