Humanitext Reader

Cicero · Letters to Friends §16.18.1-16.18.3

Health Advice for Tiro and Updates on the Estate

Passage 407 of 413 · Latin

Summary

Cicero advises Tiro on the greeting of his letters and expresses deep concern for his health, prescribing specific remedies while discussing estate matters, the water channel, and the passing of a mutual friend.

§16.18.1quid igitur? non sic oportet? equidem censeo si&, addendum etiam 'SVO.' sed, si placet, invidia vitetur, quam quidem ego saepe contempsi.
What then? Is it not proper thus? Indeed, I think it is so, and that "suo" should also be added. But, if you please, let us avoid envy, which I indeed have often despised.
tibi diafo/rhsin gaudeo profuisse; si vero etiam Tusculanum, dei boni! quanto mihi illud erit amabilius! sed si me amas, quod quidem aut facis aut perbelle simulas, quod tamen in modum procedit, sed, ut ut est, indulge valetudini tuae; cui quidem tu adhuc, dum mihi deservis, servisti non satis.
I am glad that the diaphoresis has done you good; but if indeed the Tusculan villa does so too, good gods! how much more amiable will that place be to me! But if you love me, which indeed you either do or pretend very beautifully—which, however, goes on tolerably well—but, however it is, indulge your health; to which indeed you have hitherto not sufficiently ministered, while you have been over-ministering to me.
ea quid postulet non ignoras, pe/yin, a)kopi/an, peri/paton su/mmetron, tri=yin, eu)lusi/an koili/as.
You are not ignorant of what it demands: digestion, freedom from fatigue, a moderate walk, friction, and easy movement of the bowels.
fac bellus revertare; non modo te sed etiam Tusculanum nostrum plus amem.
See to it that you return in good health; I would love not only you but also our Tusculan villa all the more.
Parhedrum excita ut hortum ipse conducat; sic holitorem ipsum commovebis.
Stir up Parhedrus to lease the garden himself; in this way you will move the gardener himself.
§16.18.2Helico nequissimus HS co dabat nullo aprico horto, nullo emissario, nulla maceria, nulla casa.
That utter scoundrel Helico was offering a hundred sesterces when there was no sunny garden, no outlet, no stone wall, no cottage.
iste nos tanta impensa derideat? Calface hominem ut ego Mothonem; itaque abutor coronis.
Is that fellow to mock us at such an expense? Warm the fellow up, as I did Mothon; and so I am using up my garlands.
§16.18.3de Crabra quid agatur, etsi nunc quidem etiam nimium est aquae, tamen velim scire.
As to what is being done about the Crabra, although indeed even now there is too much water, yet I should like to know.
horologium mittam et libros, si erit sudum.
I will send the water-clock and the books, if it is clear weather.
sed tu nullosne tecum libellos? an pangis aliquid Sophocleum? fac opus appareat.
But have you no books with you? Or are you composing something Sophoclean? Make your work appear.
A. Ligurius, Caesaris familiaris, mortuus est, bonus homo et nobis amicus.
A. Ligurius, an intimate friend of Caesar, is dead, a good man and a friend to us.
te quando exspectemus fac ut sciam.
Let me know when we are to expect you.
cura te diligenter.
Take diligent care of yourself.
vale.
Farewell.

Notes

  1. §16.18.1sic, addendum etiam 'SVO.' — The manuscript reading `si&` is commonly emended to the adverb `sic` ('thus' or 'so'). `SVO` (written as `suo` in the manuscripts) refers to the possessive pronoun `suo` ('his own') typically added in letter greetings (e.g., `Tullius Tironi suo`) as an expression of affection.
  2. §16.18.1quod tamen in modum procedit — The phrase `in modum` is an idiomatic expression meaning 'moderately' or 'tolerably.' The relative pronoun `quod` refers to Tiro's pretending to love Cicero, making the clause mean 'which, however, goes on well enough' in a humorous tone.
  3. §16.18.1cui quidem tu adhuc, dum mihi deservis, servisti non satis — A wordplay contrasting the compound verb `deservire` (to devote oneself entirely to, to over-serve) and the simple verb `servire` (to serve, to pay attention to). `cui` is a relative pronoun in the dative case referring back to `valetudini` (health), functioning as the object of `servisti`.
  4. §16.18.2iste nos tanta impensa derideat? — A deliberative or indignant subjunctive (`derideat`) used in a rhetorical question, expressing outrage or disbelief: 'Is that fellow to mock us at such an expense?'
  5. §16.18.2abutor coronis — The verb `abutor` governs the ablative case (`coronis`) and can mean 'to use up' or 'to use to the full.' The 'garlands' (`coronae`) refer to festive celebrations; the phrase suggests lavish spending or enjoying oneself thoroughly.

Cite this passage

Cicero, Letters to Friends §16.18.1-16.18.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi056.humanitext-lat1:16.18.1-16.18.3

Please note the AI-draft status of the translation and the date accessed.

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