Letter 6.5

Whenever I see your son -- and I see him almost every day -- I promise him my zeal and effort without any exception of labor, occupation, or time, but my influence and authority with this exception: as much as I can and as much as I am able. Your book has been read and is being read by me carefully and kept most carefully. Your affairs and fortunes are of the greatest concern to me, and indeed they seem to me every day easier and better, and I see that many people take great interest in them -- about whose zeal and their own hopes I am sure your son has written to you in full. As for those matters which we can reach by conjecture, I do not presume to foresee more myself than I am persuaded you see and understand, but nevertheless, since it is possible that you think about these things with a more troubled mind, I think it is my duty to set forth what I feel. The nature of things and the course of events are such that this fortune of yours cannot be long-lasting, either for you or for the rest, nor can so bitter an injury persist in so good a cause and among such good citizens. Therefore, to the hope which we have for everyone, there is added the hope we have for you personally and specially, not only on account of your dignity and virtue -- for these distinctions you share with others -- but also on account of your outstanding talent and supreme eloquence, to which, by Hercules, the man in whose power we are gives great weight. And so you would not have been in this misfortune for even a moment, had he not felt himself offended by that very gift of yours in which he delights; and this resentment is softened every day, and we are given to understand by those who live with him that this very reputation for talent will be of the greatest benefit to you in his eyes. Therefore, first be of a brave and great spirit -- for you were born, raised, and educated so, and so also are you known, that you must do so -- and then hold the firmest hope for the reasons I have written. And I would have you trust that everything from me is most readily at your disposal and that of your children; for this is what the long standing of our mutual affection, my custom toward my friends, and your many services toward me require.

DXXXII (Fam. VI, 5) TO AULUS CAECINA (IN SICILY) ROME (JANUARY) EVERY time I see your son — and that is nearly every day — I promise him my zealous and active support, without any reserve as to labour, prior engagement, or time: but the exertion of my interest or favour with this reservation, “as far as I have the opportunity or power.” Your book has been read and is still being read by me with attention, and kept under lock and key with the greatest care. Your prospects and fortunes are of the highest concern to me. They seem to me to grow brighter and less complicated every day: and I can see that many are much interested in them, of whose zeal, 'as well as of his own hopes, I feel certain that your son has written fully to you. But as to those particulars, in which I am reduced to conjecture, I do not take upon myself to profess greater foresight than I am convinced that your own eyes and your own intelligence give you: but all the same, as it may. very well be that your reflexions on those points are somewhat agitated, I think it is incumbent upon me to explain my opinions. It is neither in the nature of things nor the ordinary revolutions of time that a position such as either your own or that of the rest should be protracted, or that so outrageous an injustice should be persistently maintained in so good a cause and in the case of such good citizens. In which matter, in addition to the hope which your own case gives me to a degree beyond the common — I don't mean only from your high position and admirable character, for these are distinctions which you share with others-there are the claims which brilliant genius and eminent virtue make peculiar to yourself. And to these, by Hercules , he in whose power we are allows much weight. Accordingly, you would not have remained even a moment in your present position, had it not been that he thought himself to have been insulted by precisely that accomplishment of yours, in which he takes delight. But this feeling is softening every day, and those who live with him hint to me, that this very opinion which he entertains of your genius will do you a great deal of good with him. Wherefore, in the first place, keep up your spirits and courage: for your birth, education, learning, and character in the world demand that you should do so. In the next place, entertain the most certain hopes for the reasons which I have given you. On my side, indeed, I would have you feel sure that everything I can do is most completely at your service and at that of your sons: for this is no more than our longstanding friendship, and my invariable conduct to my friends, and your many kindnesses to me demand.

V. Scr. Romae exeunte anno u. c. 708. M. CICERO S. D. A CAECINAE Quotiescumque filium tuum video—video autem fere quotidie—, polliceor ei studium quidem meum et operam sine ulla exceptione aut laboris aut occupationis aut temporis, gratiam autem atque auctoritatem cum hac exceptione, quantum valeam quantumque possim. Liber tuus et lectus est et legitur a me diligenter et custoditur diligentissime. Res et fortunae tuae mihi maximae curae sunt, quae quidem quotidie faciliores mihi et meliores videntur, multisque video magnae esse curae, quorum de studio et de sua spe filium ad te perscripsisse certo scio; iis autem de rebus, quas coniectura consequi possumus, non mihi sumo, ut plus ipse prospiciam, quam te videre atque intelligere mihi persuaserim, sed tamen, quia fieri potest, ut tu ea perturbatiore animo cogites, puto esse meum, quid sentiam, exponere: ea natura rerum est et is temporum cursus, ut non possit ista aut tibi aut ceteris fortuna esse diuturna neque haerere in tam bona causa et in tam bonis civibus tam acerba iniuria. Quare ad eam spem, quam de omnibus habemus, accedit ea, quam extra ordinem de te ipso habemus non solum propter dignitatem et virtutem tuam—haec enim ornamenta sunt tibi etiam cum aliis communia—, sed etiam propter eximium ingenium summamque eloquentiam, cui mehercules hic, cuius in potestate sumus, multum tribuit. Itaque ne punctum quidem temporis in ista fortuna fuisses, nisi eo ipso bono tuo, quo delectatur, se violatum putasset; quod ipsum lenitur quotidie, significaturque nobis ab iis, qui simul cum eo vivunt, tibi hanc ipsam opinionem ingenii apud illum plurimum profuturam. Quapropter primum fac animo forti atque magno sis—ita enim natus, ita educatus, ita doctus es, ita etiam cognitus, ut tibi id faciendum sit—, deinde spem quoque habeas firmissimam propter eas causas, quas scripsi: a me vero tibi omnia liberisque tuis paratissima esse confidas velim; id enim et vetustas nostri amoris et mea consuetudo in meos et tua multa erga me officia postulant.