§13.69.1C. Curtius Mithres est ille quidem, ut scis, libertus Postumi, familiarissimi mei, sed me colit et observat aeque is atque illum ipsum patronum suum.
Gaius Curtius Mithres is indeed, as you know, a freedman of Postumus, a very close friend of mine, but he respects and esteems me just as much as he does that patron of his himself.
apud eum ego sic Ephesi fui, quotienscumque fui, tamquam domi meae, multaque acciderunt in quibus et benevolentiam eius erga me experirer et fidem.
Whenever I was at Ephesus, I stayed with him just as if I were in my own home, and many things occurred in which I experienced both his goodwill toward me and his fidelity.
itaque si quid aut mihi aut meorum cuipiam in Asia opus est, ad hunc scribere consuevi, huius cum opera et fide tum domo et re uti tamquam mea.
Therefore, if either I or any of my people have need of anything in Asia, I have been accustomed to write to him, and to use his assistance and fidelity, as well as his home and property, just as if they were my own.
haec ad te eo pluribus scripsi ut intellegeres me non †vulgare nec ambitiose, sed ut pro homine intimo ac mihi pernecessario scribere.
I have written these things to you at greater length for this reason, so that you might understand that I am writing not in a commonplace or self-seeking manner, but as if for a man who is most intimate and highly essential to me.
§13.69.2peto igitur a te ut in ea controversia, quam habet de fundo cum quodam Colophonio, et in ceteris rebus quantum fides tua patietur quantumque tuo commodo poteris tantum ei honoris mei causa commodes; etsi ut eius modestiam cognovi, gravis tibi nulla in re erit.
I ask you, therefore, that in that dispute which he has about an estate with a certain Colophonian, and in all other matters, you would show him as much favor for the sake of my honor as your good faith will allow and as you can with your own convenience; although, from what I know of his modesty, he will be troublesome to you in no respect.
si et mea commendatione et sua probitate adsecutus erit ut de se bene existimes, omnia se adeptum arbitrabitur.
If, by both my recommendation and his own honesty, he succeeds in getting you to think well of him, he will consider that he has obtained everything.
ut igitur eum recipias in fidem habeasque in numero tuorum te vehementer etiam atque etiam rogo.
Therefore, I earnestly entreat you again and again to receive him into your protection and to count him among the number of your friends.
ego quae te velle quaeque ad te pertinere arbitrabor omnia studiose diligenterque curabo.
I, on my part, shall attend zealously and diligently to everything which I think you wish and which I judge to concern you.