Marcus Tullius Cicero→Lucius Papirius Paetus|c. 45 BC|Cicero|From Rome|To Rome|Human translated
Still, you have not abandoned your malice: you hint that Balbus was content with a rather modest spread. You seem to be saying that if kings are so abstemious, consular men ought to be even more so. You do not realize that I have fished out everything from him; for he came straight from the gate to my house, and I am not surprised that he came to mine rather than his own -- no, what surprises me is that he did not go to his own. And within my first three words: "How is our friend Paetus?" And he, swearing, said he was never more pleased anywhere. If you achieved this with words, I shall bring you ears no less refined; but if you achieved it with food, I ask you not to consider Balbi of greater account than eloquent men. Every day something or other holds me back; but if I can extricate myself to come to those parts, I shall not let you think you were informed too late.
CDLXXVI (Fam. IX, 19) TO L. PAPIRIUS PAETUS (AT NAPLES) ROME (AUGUST) What I you don't budge from your mischievous humour? You hint that Balbus was contented with very plain fare: your insinuation seems to be that when kings are so abstemious, much more ought mere consulars to be so. You don't know that I fished everything out of him; for he came straight from the city gate to my house — and I am not surprised that he did not prefer going to his own house, but that he didn't go to his own belle amie! However, my first three words were “How's our Paetus ?” In answer he swore that he had never had a pleasanter visit anywhere. If you earned that compliment by your conversation, I will bring you a pair of ears no less discriminating: but if by your dainty fare, I beg you not to think stutterers worth more than men of eloquence. One thing after another stops me every day. But if I ever get myself sufficiently free to be able to come to your parts, I won't let you think that you haven't sufficient notice from me.
XIX. Scr. Romae mense Sextili a.u.c. 708. CICERO S. D. PAETO.
Tamen a malitia non discedis: tenuiculo apparatu significas Balbum fuisse contentum. Hoc videris dicere, cum reges tam sint continentes, multo magis consulares esse oportere. Nescis me ab illo omnia expiscatum; recta enim a porta domum meam venisse neque hoc admiror, quod non suam potius, sed illud, quod non ad suam; ego autem tribus primis verbis: "quid noster Paetus?" at ille adiurans, nusquam se umquam libentius. Hoc si verbis assecutus es, aures ad te afferam non minus elegantes; sin autem opsonio, peto a te, ne pluris esse balbos quam disertos putes. Me quotidie aliud ex alio impedit; sed, si me expediero, ut in ista loca venire possim, non committam, ut te sero a me certiorem factum putes.
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Still, you have not abandoned your malice: you hint that Balbus was content with a rather modest spread. You seem to be saying that if kings are so abstemious, consular men ought to be even more so. You do not realize that I have fished out everything from him; for he came straight from the gate to my house, and I am not surprised that he came to mine rather than his own -- no, what surprises me is that he did not go to his own. And within my first three words: "How is our friend Paetus?" And he, swearing, said he was never more pleased anywhere. If you achieved this with words, I shall bring you ears no less refined; but if you achieved it with food, I ask you not to consider Balbi of greater account than eloquent men. Every day something or other holds me back; but if I can extricate myself to come to those parts, I shall not let you think you were informed too late.
Human translation - ToposText / Shuckburgh
Latin / Greek Original
XIX. Scr. Romae mense Sextili a.u.c. 708. CICERO S. D. PAETO.
Tamen a malitia non discedis: tenuiculo apparatu significas Balbum fuisse contentum. Hoc videris dicere, cum reges tam sint continentes, multo magis consulares esse oportere. Nescis me ab illo omnia expiscatum; recta enim a porta domum meam venisse neque hoc admiror, quod non suam potius, sed illud, quod non ad suam; ego autem tribus primis verbis: "quid noster Paetus?" at ille adiurans, nusquam se umquam libentius. Hoc si verbis assecutus es, aures ad te afferam non minus elegantes; sin autem opsonio, peto a te, ne pluris esse balbos quam disertos putes. Me quotidie aliud ex alio impedit; sed, si me expediero, ut in ista loca venire possim, non committam, ut te sero a me certiorem factum putes.