Marcus Cornelius Fronto→Marcus Aurelius|c. 154 AD|Marcus Cornelius Fronto|From Rome (career hub)|To Rome (career hub)|AI-assisted
My lord, I am unsure whether the nobility of the deed adorned the speech, or whether the speech matched the noblest deed. This much is certain: the words came from the same man as those deeds. Your brother's speech also delighted me, for it was both polished and sensible, and I am sure he had very little time to prepare.
? 153–154 A.D. To my Lord. Whether the merit of the act set off the speech, or the speech did not fall short of a most noble act, I can hardly say: yet of this I am sure, that these words had the same author as those deeds. But your brother's speech also delighted me, for it was polished and politic, and I feel sure he had very little time for preparing it.
ad M. Caesarem 5.53 [80 Hout; 1.240 Haines]
Domino meo.
Utrum facti virtus ornaverit orationem an oratio factum nobilissimum aequiperaverit, incertus sum. Certe quidem ejusdem dicta cujus illa facta. Sed et fratris tui oratio me delectavit, nam et ornata fuit et cordata; et certum habeo eum minimum spatii habuisse ad meditandum.
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My lord, I am unsure whether the nobility of the deed adorned the speech, or whether the speech matched the noblest deed. This much is certain: the words came from the same man as those deeds. Your brother's speech also delighted me, for it was both polished and sensible, and I am sure he had very little time to prepare.
AI-assisted translation - This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed.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
ad M. Caesarem 5.53 [80 Hout; 1.240 Haines] Domino meo. Utrum facti virtus ornaverit orationem an oratio factum nobilissimum aequiperaverit, incertus sum. Certe quidem ejusdem dicta cujus illa facta. Sed et fratris tui oratio me delectavit, nam et ornata fuit et cordata; et certum habeo eum minimum spatii habuisse ad meditandum.