§13.19.1Cum Lysone Patrensi est mihi quidem hospitium vetus, quam ego necessitudinem sancte colendam puto; sed ea causa est etiam cum aliis compluribus, familiaritas tanta nullo cum hospite, et ea cum officiis eius multis tum etiam consuetudine cotidiana sic est aucta, ut nihil sit familiaritate nostra coniunctius.
I have indeed an old relation of hospitality with Lyso of Patrae, a bond which I think should be sacredly cherished; but while that relation is also shared with many others, there is with no guest such great intimacy, and it has been so increased both by his many services and also by our daily intercourse, that nothing is closer than our intimacy.
is cum Romae annum prope ita fuisset, ut mecum viveret, etsi eramus in magna spe te meis litteris commendationeque diligentissime facturum id, quod fecisti, ut eius rem et fortunas absentis tuerere, tamen, quod in unius potestate erant omnia et quod Lyso fuerat in nostra causa nostrisque praesidiis, cotidie aliquid timebamus.
When he had been at Rome for nearly a year, in such a way as to live with me, although we were in great hope that, through my letter and recommendation, you would most diligently do what you have done—namely, protect his property and fortunes in his absence—yet, because everything was in the power of one man and Lyso had been on our side and under our protection, we were fearing something every day.
effectum tamen est et ipsius splendore et nostro reliquorumque hospitum studio ut omnia quae vellemus a Caesare impetrarentur, quod intelleges ex iis litteris, quas Caesar ad te dedit.
Nevertheless, it was brought about both by his own distinction and by the zeal of myself and of his other guests that all that we wished was obtained from Caesar, as you will understand from the letter which Caesar sent to you.
§13.19.2nunc non modo non remittimus tibi aliquid ex nostra commendatione quasi adepti iam omnia, sed eo vehementius a te contendimus ut Lysonem in fidem necessitudinemque tuam recipias; cuius dubia fortuna timidius tecum agebamus verentes ne quid accideret eius modi ut ne tu quidem mederi posses; explorata vero eius incolumitate omnia a te summo studio et cura peto.
Now, so far from relaxing anything of our recommendation to you as if we had already obtained everything, we rather strive all the more vehemently with you to receive Lyso into your protection and patronage; while his fortune was doubtful, we were dealing with you more timidly, fearing lest something of such a kind should happen that not even you could remedy it; but now that his safety is assured, I ask everything of you with the greatest zeal and care.
quae ne singula enumerem, totam tibi domum commendo, in his adulescentem filium eius, quem C. Maenius Gemellus, cliens meus, cum in calamitate exsili sui Patrensis civis factus esset, Patrensium legibus adoptavit1 ut eius ipsius hereditatis ius causamque tueare.
Lest I enumerate these things one by one, I commend to you his whole house, and among them his young son, whom C. Maenius Gemellus, my client, when in the calamity of his exile he had been made a citizen of Patrae, adopted under the laws of the Patreans, so that you may protect his right and cause in that very inheritance.
§13.19.3caput illud est ut Lysonem, quem ego virum optimum a gratissimumque cognovi, recipias in necessitudinem tuam.
The chief point is that you should receive Lyso, whom I have known to be an excellent and most grateful man, into your close relationship.
quod si feceris, non dubito quin in eo diligendo ceterisque postea commendando idem quod ego sis iudici et voluntatis habiturus.
If you do this, I do not doubt but that in loving him and afterwards recommending others to you, you will have the same judgment and will as I have.
quod cum fieri vehementer studeo tum etiam illud vereor ne, si minus cumulate videbere fecisse aliquid eius causa, me ille neglegenter scripsisse putet, non te oblitum mei.
While I strongly desire this to be done, I also fear lest, if you seem to have done anything for his sake less than fully, he may think that I wrote carelessly, not that you forgot me.
quanti enim me faceres cum ex sermonibus cotidianis meis tum ex epistulis etiam tuis potuit cognoscere.
For how highly you valued me he could know both from my daily conversations and also from your letters.