Humanitext Reader

Cicero · Letters to Friends §7.15.1-7.15.2

The Capriciousness of Affection and Matius's Friendship

Passage 137 of 413 · Latin

Summary

Cicero reflects on the exacting nature of love, being troubled whether Trebatius is unhappy or happy in Gaul, and expresses great joy over Trebatius's new friendship with Gaius Matius.

§7.15.1quam sint morosi qui amant, vel ex hoc intellegi potest: moleste ferebam antea te invitum istic esse; pungit me rursus, quod scribis esse te istic libenter.
How exacting those who love are can be understood even from this: previously I was distressed that you were there unwillingly; now again, it stings me that you write that you are there gladly.
neque enim mea commendatione te non delectari facile patiebar et nunc angor quicquam tibi sine me esse iucundum.
For I could not easily tolerate that you were not delighted by my recommendation, and now I am pained that anything is pleasant to you without me.
§7.15.2sed hoc tamen malo ferre nos desiderium quam te non ea quae spero consequi.
But still, I prefer that we bear this longing than that you do not attain those things which I hope you will.
quom vero in C. Mati, suavissimi doctissimique hominis, familiaritatem venisti, non dici potest quam valde gaudeam.
Since, however, you have entered into the intimacy of Gaius Matius, a most charming and learned man, it cannot be said how greatly I rejoice.
qui fac ut te quam maxime diligat.
As for him, see to it that he loves you as much as possible.
mihi crede, nihil ex ista provincia potes quod iucundius sit deportare.
Believe me, you can bring back nothing from that province of yours that would be more pleasant.
cura ut valeas.
Take care of your health.

Notes

  1. 7.15.1morosi — Nominative plural of the adjective morosus (touchy, exacting, capricious). It refers to the contradictory and demanding psychological state of lovers who feel uneasy whether their beloved is unhappy or happy in their absence.
  2. 7.15.1mea commendatione te non delectari facile patiebar — The accusative-with-infinitive clause (te non delectari) depending on patiebar contains the negative non, which correlates with the preceding negative neque, forming a double negation: 'I did not easily tolerate that you were not delighted by my recommendation'.
  3. 7.15.2hoc tamen malo ferre nos desiderium quam te non ea quae spero consequi — The verb malo (prefer) governs two accusative-with-infinitive clauses contrasted by quam: 'nos ferre hoc desiderium' (that we bear this longing) vs 'te non consequi ea...' (than that you do not attain those things...).
  4. 7.15.2qui fac ut te quam maxime diligat — The relative pronoun qui at the beginning of the sentence is a connecting relative referring to the preceding C. Matius ('and as for him'). The phrase fac ut + subjunctive is an imperative construction meaning 'see to it that...'. The subject of diligat is qui.

Cite this passage

Cicero, Letters to Friends §7.15.1-7.15.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0474.phi056.humanitext-lat1:7.15.1-7.15.2

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

Translation, notes and summary are AI-generated drafts, revised through reader feedback.