Marcus Tullius Cicero→Marcus Tullius Tiro|c. 47 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Patrae|AI-assisted
See what charm you have over people. We were at Thyreum for two hours, and my host Xenomenes loves you as if he had grown up with you. He promised to provide everything you might need, and I think he will do it.
If you were stronger, I would have liked him to bring you to Leucas, where you could complete your recovery. You will see what Curius, Lyso, and the doctor think.
I wanted to send Mario back to you, so that you could send him on to me when you were a little better. Then I thought that Mario could bring only one letter, while I am waiting for frequent ones. So you can, and if you love me you will, have Acastus at the harbor every day. There will be many people to whom you can safely give letters and who will gladly carry them to me. For my part, I will let no one going to Patrae pass without a letter.
I place all my hope for your careful treatment in Curius. No one could be kinder or more attached to me. Put yourself entirely in his hands. I would rather see you a little later in good health than immediately in weakness. So care about nothing except getting well. I will take care of everything else.
Again and again, goodbye.
CCLXXXVIII (Fam. XVI, 5) TO TIRO (AT PATRAE) OFF LEUCAS, 7 NOVEMBER: Tullius and his son, Quintus and his son, send warm greetings to Tiro , gentlest and best of men. See what a fascination you possess! We have been two hours at Thyreum . My host Xenomenes is as fond of you as if he had been brought up with you. He has promised to supply you with everything you want: I think he will do so. I should like him, if you are better, to transport you to Leucas , that you might complete your cure there. See what Curius , Lyso , and the doctor think of it. I intended to send Mario back to you, that you might despatch him to me when you were a little better: but I reflected that Mario could only bring me one letter, while I was anxious for several. So you will be able (and pray do so, if you love me) to make Acastus go down to the harbour every day: there will be plenty of people to whom you may safely intrust a letter, and who will be pleased to convey it to me. For my part, I will not omit anyone who is going to Patrae . I place all my reliance for your proper treatment on Curius . Nothing can be kinder than he is, or more attached to me. Put yourself entirely in his hands. I would rather see you a little later strong and well, than at once in a feeble state. Devote yourself, therefore, exclusively to getting well. I will look after everything else. Good-bye again and again. Just starting from Leucas , 7 November.
V. Scr. Leucade VII. Idus Novembres a.u.c. 704. TULLIUS ET CICERO ET Q. Q. TIRONI HUMANISSIMO ET OPTIMO SAL. PLUR. DIC.
Vide, quanta sit in te suavitas: duas horas Thyrrei fuimus; Xenomenes hospes tam te diligit, quam si vixerit tecum; is omnia pollicitus est, quae tibi essent opus; facturum puto. Mihi placebat, si firmior esses, ut te Leucadem deportaret, ubi te plane confirmares: videbis, quid Curio, quid Lysoni, quid medico placeat. Volebam ad te Marionem remittere, quem, quum meliuscule tibi esset, ad me mitteres; sed cogitavi unas litteras Marionem afferre posse, me autem crebras exspectare. Poteris igitur et facies, si me diligis, ut quotidie sit Acastus in portu: multi erunt, quibus recte litteras dare possis, qui ad me libenter perferant; equidem Patras euntem neminem praetermittam. Ego omnem spem tui diligenter curandi in Curio habeo: nihil potest illo fieri humanius, nihil nostri amantius: ei te totum trade. Malo te paullo post valentem quam statim imbecillum videre: cura igitur nihil aliud nisi ut valeas; cetera ego curabo. Etiam atque etiam vale. Leucade proficiscens, VII. Id. Nov.
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See what charm you have over people. We were at Thyreum for two hours, and my host Xenomenes loves you as if he had grown up with you. He promised to provide everything you might need, and I think he will do it.
If you were stronger, I would have liked him to bring you to Leucas, where you could complete your recovery. You will see what Curius, Lyso, and the doctor think.
I wanted to send Mario back to you, so that you could send him on to me when you were a little better. Then I thought that Mario could bring only one letter, while I am waiting for frequent ones. So you can, and if you love me you will, have Acastus at the harbor every day. There will be many people to whom you can safely give letters and who will gladly carry them to me. For my part, I will let no one going to Patrae pass without a letter.
I place all my hope for your careful treatment in Curius. No one could be kinder or more attached to me. Put yourself entirely in his hands. I would rather see you a little later in good health than immediately in weakness. So care about nothing except getting well. I will take care of everything else.
Again and again, goodbye.
AI-assisted translation - This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek below for scholarly use.
Latin / Greek Original
V. Scr. Leucade VII. Idus Novembres a.u.c. 704. TULLIUS ET CICERO ET Q. Q. TIRONI HUMANISSIMO ET OPTIMO SAL. PLUR. DIC.
Vide, quanta sit in te suavitas: duas horas Thyrrei fuimus; Xenomenes hospes tam te diligit, quam si vixerit tecum; is omnia pollicitus est, quae tibi essent opus; facturum puto. Mihi placebat, si firmior esses, ut te Leucadem deportaret, ubi te plane confirmares: videbis, quid Curio, quid Lysoni, quid medico placeat. Volebam ad te Marionem remittere, quem, quum meliuscule tibi esset, ad me mitteres; sed cogitavi unas litteras Marionem afferre posse, me autem crebras exspectare. Poteris igitur et facies, si me diligis, ut quotidie sit Acastus in portu: multi erunt, quibus recte litteras dare possis, qui ad me libenter perferant; equidem Patras euntem neminem praetermittam. Ego omnem spem tui diligenter curandi in Curio habeo: nihil potest illo fieri humanius, nihil nostri amantius: ei te totum trade. Malo te paullo post valentem quam statim imbecillum videre: cura igitur nihil aliud nisi ut valeas; cetera ego curabo. Etiam atque etiam vale. Leucade proficiscens, VII. Id. Nov.