Humanitext Reader

Cicero · Letters to Friends §6.11.1-6.11.2

Congratulations on the Return of Trebianus

Passage 111 of 413 · Latin

Summary

Cicero warmly congratulates Trebianus on the recovery of his safety and dignity due to Dolabella's assistance, urging him to focus on what he has recovered rather than what he lost, and to look forward to their shared future.

§6.11.1Dolabellam antea tantum modo diligebam, obligatus ei nihil eram (nec enim acciderat mihi †opus esse, et ille mihi debebat, quod non defueram eius periculis); nunc tanto sum devinctus eius beneficio, quod et antea in re et hoc tempore in salute tua cumulatissime mihi satis fecit, ut nemini plus debeam.
Previously, I only liked Dolabella, and I was under no obligation to him (for it had not happened that I had any need, and he was indebted to me because I had not failed him in his times of danger); now I am bound by so great a benefit of his, in that he has satisfied me most abundantly both previously in a certain matter and at this time in your safety, that I owe more to no one.
qua in re tibi gratulor ita vehementer ut te quoque mihi gratulari quam gratias agere malim; alterum omnino non desidero, alterum vere facere poteris.
In which matter I congratulate you so vehemently that I would prefer you also to congratulate me rather than to return thanks to me; the latter I do not desire at all, the former you will be able to do truly.
§6.11.2quod reliquum est, quoniam tibi virtus et dignitas tua reditum ad tuos aperuit, est tuae sapientiae magnitudinisque animi quid amiseris oblivisci, quid reciperaris cogitare.
As for what remains, since your virtue and dignity have opened for you the return to your family, it belongs to your wisdom and greatness of soul to forget what you have lost and to think of what you have recovered.
vives cum tuis, vives nobiscum; plus adquisisti dignitatis quam amisisti rei familiaris; quae ipsa tum esset iucundior, si ulla res esset publica.
You will live with your family, you will live with us; you have acquired more of dignity than you have lost of private property; which itself would then be more pleasant, if there were any republic.
Vestorius, noster familiaris, ad me scripsit te mihi maximas gratias agere.
Vestorius, our close friend, wrote to me that you were returning the greatest thanks to me.
haec praedicatio tua mihi valde grata est caque te uti facile patior cum apud alios tum me hercule apud Sironem, nostrum amicum.
This commendation of yours is very pleasing to me, and I easily allow you to use it both before others and, by Hercules, before Siron, our friend.
quae enim facimus, ea prudentissimo cuique maxime probata esse volumus.
For what we do, we wish to be most approved by every most prudent person.
te cupio videre quam primum.
I desire to see you as soon as possible.

Notes

  1. §6.11.1nihil — Adverbial accusative, meaning 'in no way' or 'not at all.'
  2. §6.11.1tanto sum devinctus eius beneficio, quod... ut... — The demonstrative `tanto` correlates with `ut` introducing a clause of result, while the `quod` clause serves as a substantive clause of fact explaining the specific details or cause of the `beneficio`.
  3. §6.11.1alterum... alterum — Pronouns referring to the two preceding infinitives `gratulari` (to congratulate) and `gratias agere` (to return thanks). Contextually, the first `alterum` refers to the latter (`gratias agere`), which Cicero does not desire, and the second `alterum` refers to the former (`gratulari`), which the recipient can indeed do.
  4. §6.11.2est tuae sapientiae — Predicative use of the genitive of possession (characteristic genitive), meaning 'it is characteristic of / belongs to your wisdom.' The subjects are the following infinitive phrases, `oblivisci` and `cogitare`.
  5. §6.11.2quae ipsa tum esset iucundior, si ulla res esset publica — A relative connection where `quae` grammatically refers to the feminine noun `dignitatis` (or `rei familiaris`). The conditional sentence uses the imperfect subjunctive in both the protasis and apodosis, expressing a present contrary-to-fact condition.

Cite this passage

Cicero, Letters to Friends §6.11.1-6.11.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi056.humanitext-lat1:6.11.1-6.11.2

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