Marcus Tullius Cicero Minor→Marcus Tullius Tiro|c. 47 BC|Cicero|From Athens|To Patrae|AI-assisted
Although you had a fair and reasonable excuse for interrupting your letters, I ask you not to do that too often. I learn about the republic from rumors and reports, and my father always writes to me fully about his feelings toward me; still, a letter from you about anything at all, however small, has always been deeply welcome to me.
So, since your letters are among the things I miss most, do not let yourself fulfill the duty of writing by sending excuses instead of steady letters. Goodbye.
DCCXC (Fam. XVI, 25) M. CICERO (THE YOUNGER) TO TIRO (AT ROME) ATHENS (OCTOBER) Though your excuse for suspending your letter-writing is reasonable and sufficient, yet I beg you not to do it oftener. For though I get information about politics from rumours and the regular news, and my father always writes fully to me about his own wishes in regard to me, yet a letter written to me by you on any and every thing, however minute, has always been most delightful to me. Therefore, though there is nothing I miss so much as a letter from you, don't fulfil your obligation to write by sending an excuse rather than by regularity in actual letters. Good-bye.
XXV. Scr. Athenis exeunte a.u.c. 710. CICERO F. TIRONI SUO SAL.
Etsi iusta et idonea usus es excusatione intermissionis litterarum tuarum, tamen, id ne saepius facias, rogo; nam, etsi de re publica rumoribus et nuntiis certior fio et de sua in me voluntate semper ad me perscribit pater, tamen de quavis minima re scripta a te ad me epistula semper fuit gratissima. Quare quum in primis tuas desiderem litteras, noli committere, ut excusatione potius expleas officium scribendi quam assiduitate epistularum. Vale.
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Although you had a fair and reasonable excuse for interrupting your letters, I ask you not to do that too often. I learn about the republic from rumors and reports, and my father always writes to me fully about his feelings toward me; still, a letter from you about anything at all, however small, has always been deeply welcome to me.
So, since your letters are among the things I miss most, do not let yourself fulfill the duty of writing by sending excuses instead of steady letters. 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AI-assisted translation - This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed.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
XXV. Scr. Athenis exeunte a.u.c. 710. CICERO F. TIRONI SUO SAL.
Etsi iusta et idonea usus es excusatione intermissionis litterarum tuarum, tamen, id ne saepius facias, rogo; nam, etsi de re publica rumoribus et nuntiis certior fio et de sua in me voluntate semper ad me perscribit pater, tamen de quavis minima re scripta a te ad me epistula semper fuit gratissima. Quare quum in primis tuas desiderem litteras, noli committere, ut excusatione potius expleas officium scribendi quam assiduitate epistularum. Vale.