Humanitext Reader

Cicero · Letters to Friends §6.14.1-6.14.3

Intercession with Caesar and Confidence in Safety

Passage 114 of 413 · Latin

Summary

Cicero informs the recipient of his efforts for his safety, reports on his visit to Caesar where Caesar's gentle attitude convinced him of his safety, and encourages him to keep a brave mind.

§6.14.1me scito omnem meum laborem omnem operam, curam, studium in tua salute consumere.
Know that I am spending all my labor, all my effort, care, and devotion on your safety.
nam cum te semper maxime dilexi, tum fratrum tuorum, quos aeque atque te summa benevolentia sum complexus, singularis pietas amorque fraternus nullum me patitur offici erga te studique munus aut tempus praetermittere.
For while I have always loved you most, the singular piety and brotherly love of your brothers, whom I have embraced with the greatest goodwill equally as yourself, does not allow me to overlook any duty of office and devotion towards you, or any occasion.
sed quae faciam fecerimque pro te, ex illorum te litteris quam ex meis malo cognoscere; quid autem sperem aut confidam et exploratum habeam de salute tua, id tibi a me declarari volo.
But what I am doing and have done for you, I prefer that you learn from their letters rather than from mine; but what I hope or trust in and hold as certain concerning your safety, that I wish to be declared to you by me.
nam si quisquam est timidus in magnis periculosisque rebus semperque magis adversos rerum exitus metuens quam sperans secundos, is ego sum et, si hoc vitiumst; eo me non carere. confiteor.
For if anyone is timid in great and dangerous matters and always fearing adverse outcomes of things rather than hoping for favorable ones, I am that person, and, if this is a vice, I confess that I am not free from it.
§6.14.2ego idem tamen cum a. d. v K. intercalaris priores rogatu fratrum tuorum venissem mane ad Caesarem atque omnem adeundi et conveniendi illius indignitatem et molestiam pertulissem, cum fratres et propinqui tui iacerent ad pedes et ego essem locutus quae causa, quae tuum tempus postulabat, non solum ex oratione Caesaris, quae sane mollis et liberalis fuit, sed etiam ex oculis et vultu, ex multis praeterea signis, quae facilius perspicere potui quam scribere, hac opinione discessi ut mihi tua salus dubia non esset.
Yet I, the very same person, when on the fifth day before the Kalends of the former intercalary month I had come in the morning to Caesar at the request of your brothers, and had endured all the indignity and trouble of approaching and meeting him, while your brothers and relatives lay at his feet and I had spoken what the cause and what your situation demanded, departed with this opinion, not only from the speech of Caesar, which was indeed gentle and generous, but also from his eyes and countenance, and moreover from many signs which I could more easily perceive than write, that your safety was not doubtful to me.
§6.14.3quam ob rem fac animo magno fortique sis et, si turbidissima sapienter ferebas, tranquilliora laete feras.
Therefore, see to it that you are of a great and brave mind, and, if you were bearing the most turbulent things wisely, may you bear calmer things with joy.
ego tamen tuis rebus sic adero ut difficillimis neque Caesari solum sed etiam amicis eius omnibus, quos mihi amicissimos esse cognovi, pro te, sicut adhuc feci, libentissime,supplicabo.
I, however, will assist your affairs just as if they were most difficult, and not only to Caesar but also to all his friends, whom I have found to be very friendly to me, I will most gladly supplicate on your behalf, just as I have done up to now.
vale.
Farewell.

Notes

  1. §6.14.1me scito — The future imperative `scito` (second-person singular of `scire`) governs the accusative and infinitive construction `me ... consumere`, meaning "know that I am spending...".
  2. §6.14.1eo — An ablative pronoun referring to the preceding `vitium` (vice, fault), serving as the complement of the verb of deprivation `carere` ("to lack" or "to be free from").
  3. §6.14.2a. d. v K. intercalaris priores — Abbreviation for `ante diem quintum Kalendas intercalares priores`, referring to "the fifth day before the Kalends of the former intercalary month" (corresponding to November 26 of 46 BC, during Caesar's calendar reform).
  4. §6.14.3fac ... sis — A construction consisting of the imperative `fac` (from `facere`) with the present subjunctive `sis` (with `ut` omitted), expressing a strong exhortation: "see to it that you are...".
  5. §6.14.3sic adero ut difficillimis — Interpreted by supplying the ellipsis, as in `sic adero ut [si] difficillimis [rebus adessem]`, meaning "I will assist [your affairs] just as if they were most difficult."

Cite this passage

Cicero, Letters to Friends §6.14.1-6.14.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi056.humanitext-lat1:6.14.1-6.14.3

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

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