Marcus Cornelius Fronto→Marcus Aurelius|c. 156 AD|Marcus Cornelius Fronto|From Rome (career hub)|To Rome (career hub)|AI-assisted
My lord, I was struck down by so severe a stomach attack that I lost my voice, hiccupped, struggled for breath, and at last my pulse failed and I fainted with no pulse at all. In the end my household gave me up for dead, and for some time I felt nothing. The doctors had no time or opportunity to revive and comfort me with a bath, cold water, or food, until after evening, when I swallowed a very few crumbs moistened drop by drop with wine. That brought me back altogether. For three straight days afterward I did not recover my voice. But now, with the gods' help, I am very comfortably well: I walk more easily, I can call out more clearly, and, if the gods help me, I plan to ride out by carriage tomorrow. If I can bear the paving stones without trouble, I shall hurry to you as fast as I can. I shall truly live once I have seen you. I shall set out from Rome on the seventh day before the Kalends, if the gods help me. Farewell, sweetest lord, most longed-for, the best reason for my life. Give my greetings to the Lady.
? 154–156 A.D. To my Lord. I have had such a choleraic attack that I lost my voice, gasped and struggled for breath; finally, my circulation failed and the pulse being imperceptible I became unconscious; in fact, I was given up by my family as dead and remained insensible for some time. The doctors were given no time or opportunity to revive or relieve me even with a warm bath or cold water or food, except that after nightfall I swallowed a few morsels of bread soaked in wine. Thus I was gradually brought quite round. For three whole days after I did not recover my voice. But now by God's help I am getting on very comfortably. I walk with more ease and my voice is stronger and more distinct; in fine, I purpose, please God, to take a drive to-morrow. If I find I can stand the flint paving well, I will hasten to you as fast as I can. Only when I see you shall I live. I will set out from Rome, please God, on the 7th day before the Kalends. Farewell, my Lord, most sweet, most missed, my best reason for living. Greet your Lady.
ad M. Caesarem 5.55 [80 Hout; 1.240 Haines]
Domino meo.
Cholera usque eo adflictus sum, ut vocem amitterem, singultirem, suspirio angerer, postremo venae deficerent, sine ullo pulsu venarum animo male fieret. Denique conclamatus sum a nostris; neque sensi aliquandiu; ne balneo quidem aut frigida aut cibo recreandi me ac fovendi medicis tempus aut occasio data; nisi post vesperam micularum minimum cum vino destillatum gluttivi. Ita focilatus totus sum. Postea per continuum triduum vocem non reciperavi. Sed nunc deis juvantibus commodissime valeo, facilius ambulo, clarius clamito; denique, si dei juvabunt, cras vehiculo vectari destino. Si facile silicem toleravero, quantum pote ad te curram. Tum vixero, cum te videro. A. d. VII Kal. Romam proficiscar, sei dei juvabunt.
Vale, domine dulcissime, desiderantissime, causa optima vitae meae. Dominam saluta.
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My lord, I was struck down by so severe a stomach attack that I lost my voice, hiccupped, struggled for breath, and at last my pulse failed and I fainted with no pulse at all. In the end my household gave me up for dead, and for some time I felt nothing. The doctors had no time or opportunity to revive and comfort me with a bath, cold water, or food, until after evening, when I swallowed a very few crumbs moistened drop by drop with wine. That brought me back altogether. For three straight days afterward I did not recover my voice. But now, with the gods' help, I am very comfortably well: I walk more easily, I can call out more clearly, and, if the gods help me, I plan to ride out by carriage tomorrow. If I can bear the paving stones without trouble, I shall hurry to you as fast as I can. I shall truly live once I have seen you. I shall set out from Rome on the seventh day before the Kalends, if the gods help me. Farewell, sweetest lord, most longed-for, the best reason for my life. Give my greetings to the Lady.
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 5.55 [80 Hout; 1.240 Haines] Domino meo. Cholera usque eo adflictus sum, ut vocem amitterem, singultirem, suspirio angerer, postremo venae deficerent, sine ullo pulsu venarum animo male fieret. Denique conclamatus sum a nostris; neque sensi aliquandiu; ne balneo quidem aut frigida aut cibo recreandi me ac fovendi medicis tempus aut occasio data; nisi post vesperam micularum minimum cum vino destillatum gluttivi. Ita focilatus totus sum. Postea per continuum triduum vocem non reciperavi. Sed nunc deis juvantibus commodissime valeo, facilius ambulo, clarius clamito; denique, si dei juvabunt, cras vehiculo vectari destino. Si facile silicem toleravero, quantum pote ad te curram. Tum vixero, cum te videro. A. d. VII Kal. Romam proficiscar, sei dei juvabunt. Vale, domine dulcissime, desiderantissime, causa optima vitae meae. Dominam saluta.