Marcus Tullius Cicero→Aulus Allienus|c. 50 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome|Human translated
I am on the most intimate terms with Lucius Oppius, a man of equestrian rank. I commend him and his affairs to you with the greatest earnestness and ask you to protect him in every way. Whatever you do for him will be most welcome to me.
DXXIII (Fam. XIII, 78) TO AULUS ALLIENUS (IN SICILY) ROME: DEMOCRITUS of Sicyon is not only my guest-firend, but also very intimate with me, as is not often the case with such men, especially if they are Greeks. For his honesty and virtue are of the highest kind, and he is exceedingly liberal and attentive to his guest-friends, and distinguishes me above the rest by his respect, attentions, and affection. You must regard him as the leading man not only of his fellow citizens, but almost of all Achaia . For such a man I do no more than open the door and pave the way to an acquaintance with you: when you once know him, your natural disposition is such that you will decide him to be worthy of your friendship and society. What I ask of you, then, is that on reading this letter you should accord him your patronage, and promise to do everything for him for my sake. For the rest, if; as I feel sure will be the case, you ascertain him to be deserving of your friendship and society, I ask you to receive him with open arms, to love him, and to regard him as one of your own family. That will be a more than common favour to me. Good-bye.
LXXVIII. Scr. Romae ineunte anno u.c. 708. M. CICERO A. ALLIENO SAL.
Democritus Sicyonius non solum hospes meus est, sed etiam, quod non multis contigit, Graecis praesertim, valde familiaris; est enim in eo summa probitas, summa virtus, summa in hospites liberalitas et observantia, meque praeter ceteros et colit et observat et diligit: eum tu non modo suorum civium, verum paene Achaiae principem cognosces. Huic ego tantummodo aditum ad tuam cognitionem patefacio et munio: cognitum per te ipsum, quae tua natura est, dignum tua amicitia atque hospitio iudicabis. Peto igitur a te, ut his litteris lectis recipias eum in tuam fidem, polliceare omnia te facturum mea causa; de reliquo, si, id quod confido fore, dignum eum tua amicitia hospitioque cognoveris, peto, ut eum complectare, diligas, in tuis habeas: erit id mihi maiorem in modum gratum. Vale.
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I am on the most intimate terms with Lucius Oppius, a man of equestrian rank. I commend him and his affairs to you with the greatest earnestness and ask you to protect him in every way. Whatever you do for him will be most welcome to me.
Human translation - ToposText / Shuckburgh
Latin / Greek Original
LXXVIII. Scr. Romae ineunte anno u.c. 708. M. CICERO A. ALLIENO SAL.
Democritus Sicyonius non solum hospes meus est, sed etiam, quod non multis contigit, Graecis praesertim, valde familiaris; est enim in eo summa probitas, summa virtus, summa in hospites liberalitas et observantia, meque praeter ceteros et colit et observat et diligit: eum tu non modo suorum civium, verum paene Achaiae principem cognosces. Huic ego tantummodo aditum ad tuam cognitionem patefacio et munio: cognitum per te ipsum, quae tua natura est, dignum tua amicitia atque hospitio iudicabis. Peto igitur a te, ut his litteris lectis recipias eum in tuam fidem, polliceare omnia te facturum mea causa; de reliquo, si, id quod confido fore, dignum eum tua amicitia hospitioque cognoveris, peto, ut eum complectare, diligas, in tuis habeas: erit id mihi maiorem in modum gratum. Vale.