Humanitext Reader

Cicero · Letters to Friends §13.73.1-13.73.2

Congratulations to Philippus and Plea for Antipater's Sons

Passage 354 of 413 · Latin

Summary

Cicero congratulates Quintus Philippus on his safe return from Asia, expresses gratitude for his hospitality toward his friends, and pleads for him to pardon the sons of Antipater, with whom Cicero has a close bond.

§13.73.1gratulor tibi, quod ex provincia salvum te ad tuos recepisti incolumi fama et re p.
I congratulate you on having returned safe from your province to your people, with your reputation intact and the public interest undamaged.
quod si Romae fuissem, te vidissem coramque gratias egissem, quod tibi L. Egnatius familiarissimus meus, absens, L. Oppius praesens curae fuisset.
But if I had been in Rome, I would have seen you and thanked you in person because my very close friend Lucius Egnatius, though absent, and Lucius Oppius, being present, had been objects of care to you.
§13.73.2Cum Antipatro Derbete mihi non solum hospitium verum etiam summa familiaritas intercedit.
Between me and Antipater of Derbe there exists not only a relationship of hospitality but also the closest intimacy.
ei te vehementer suscensuisse audivi et moleste tuli.
I heard that you were extremely angry with him, and I was deeply grieved by it.
de re nihil possum iudicare, nisi illud mihi persuadeo, te, talem virum, nihil temere so fecisse.
Concerning the matter itself, I can make no judgment, except that I am convinced of this, that you, being such a man, did nothing rashly.
A te autem pro vetere nostra necessitudine etiam atque etiam peto ut eius filios, qui in tua potestate sunt, mihi potissimum condones, nisi quid existimas in ea re violari existimationem tuam.
But from you, in accordance with our long-standing friendship, I ask you again and again to pardon his sons, who are in your power, for my sake above all, unless you think that in that matter your reputation would be compromised in some way.
quod ego si arbitrarer, num quam te rogarem mihique tua fama multo antiquior esset quam illa necessitudo est; sed mihi ita persuadeo (potest fieri ut fallar) eam rem laudi tibi potius quam vituperationi fore.
And if I thought so, I would never ask you, and your reputation would be much more precious to me than that friendship is; but I am so convinced (it may be that I am mistaken) that this action will bring you praise rather than blame.
quid fieri possit et quid mea causa facere possis (nam quin velis non dubito) velim, si tibi grave non erit,. certiorem me facias.
I would like you to let me know, if it is not a burden to you, what can be done and what you can do for my sake (for I do not doubt that you are willing).

Notes

  1. §13.73.1incolumi fama et re p. — re p. is an abbreviation for re publica. incolumi fama et re publica is an ablative absolute construction (or ablative of attendant circumstances), meaning 'with your reputation intact and the public interest undamaged.'
  2. §13.73.1curae fuisset — A double dative construction combining the dative of person tibi (to you) with the dative of purpose/result curae (as a care), meaning 'had been cared for by you.'
  3. §13.73.2mihi potissimum condones — The phrase condonare aliquem alicui is an idiomatic expression meaning 'to pardon or hand over someone for the sake of someone else.' Here it means 'pardon his sons for my sake above all.'
  4. §13.73.2quod ego si arbitrarer — A conditional sentence introduced by the connecting relative quod, using the imperfect subjunctive (arbitrarer, rogarem, esset) to express a contrary-to-fact condition in the present ('If I thought so [now], I would not be asking [now]').
  5. §13.73.2antiquior — Comparative of the adjective antiquus (old). Instead of chronological age, it expresses a figurative value judgment meaning 'more important' or 'preferable.'
  6. §13.73.2laudi tibi potius quam vituperationi fore — A double dative construction with the future infinitive fore. It contrasts the dative of person tibi (for you) with the datives of result laudi (praise) and vituperationi (blame), meaning 'would result in praise rather than blame for you.'
  7. §13.73.2quin velis — A subjunctive clause introduced by the verb of negative doubt non dubito (I do not doubt). quin combined with the present subjunctive velis expresses a strong conviction ('I do not doubt that you wish').

Cite this passage

Cicero, Letters to Friends §13.73.1-13.73.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi056.humanitext-lat1:13.73.1-13.73.2

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