Marcus Cornelius Fronto→Unknown|c. 161 AD|Marcus Cornelius Fronto|From Rome (career hub)|AI-assisted
Fronto to Claudius Julianus, greeting.
1. We could indeed wish, my dearest Naucellius, that we had been so endowed by fate that, if children of the male sex too had been born to me, and their age were ripening for the discharge of military duties at this very time, the time when you are administering a province together with an army, my children might earn their service under you. 2. We will not be far from the day when this thing, which each of us would wish, has come to pass: for I love Faustinianus, the son of my friend Statianus, no less, nor do I wish him to be loved by you any less, than if he had been born of me. He will now serve under you. Know this also: by a better boon you will have increased his years; for as much adornment as Faustinianus gains from your goodwill, just so much pleasure will you take from Faustinianus's refinement. How learned he is, take my word for it; how skilled in soldiering, all those under whom he has served proclaim. But only then will he think that he has gathered the fruit of his learning and diligence, when he has proved himself to you. Make trial of him in military service through its duties, make trial of him in judicial deliberations, make trial of him in letters, in short by every exercise of good sense and of obliging readiness, whether in earnest or at ease: always and everywhere you will find him equal to himself.
3. As for his father, that distinguished man, unless you knew him yourself, I could not praise him enough. Indeed I would say somewhat too little, even though I should say very much. Truly I would hold dear the son of my Statianus, whatever sort he were. But now I do not know which of the two wins more favor with me on behalf of the other, except that I love each of them the more ardently for the other's sake.
? 157–161 A.D. to Claudius Julianus, greeting. We could assuredly wish, my dearest Naucellius, it had been our happy fortune that, if I had had any children also of the male sex and these were of an age for the discharge of military duties at this particular time, when you are administering a province with an army, my children should serve under you. This that each of us would desire will almost be fulfilled. For I love Faustinianus, the son of my friend Statianus, not less, and I desire him to be loved no less, than if he came from my own loins. He is now to serve under you. Any attention you shew him will be paid with interest. However much distinction Faustinianus gains by your goodwill, the pleasure you derive from his refined nature will be no less His learning you may trust me for; his military ability is vouched for by all those under whom he has served. But he will not think that he has reaped the full fruit of his learning and industry until he has earned your approbation. Try him in military duties, try him in legal consultations, try him in letters, in a word, in everything that requires judgment and ability, whether grave or gay, you will find him always and everywhere equal to himself. As to that eminent man, his father, did you not know him for yourself, I could not praise him highly enough. Nor could I escape having said a great deal too little, though I said ever so much. Verily I should love the son of my Statianus, whatever he were, just as by heaven I should hold dear the father of my Faustinianus, whatever he were. Now, however, I do not know which of the two endears me more to the other, save that I love each of them more dearlv, the one for the sake of the other.
ad amicos 1.5 [174 Hout; 1.290 Haines]
Fronto Claudio Juliano salutem.
1 Cuperemus profecto, mi Naucelli carissime, eo nos fato praeditos, ut, si mihi liberi etiam virilis sexus nati fuissent eorumque aetas hoc potissimum tempore ad munia militiae fungenda adolesceret, quo tempore tu provinciam cum exercitu administrares, uti sub te mei liberi stipendia mererent. 2 Non longe aberit, quin hoc, quod uterque cuperemus, evenerit: Nam Faustinianum Satiani mei filium non minus diligo neque minus cum a te diligi cupio, quam si ex me natus esset. Is nunc sub te merebit. Scias etiam: Meliore bono annos auxeris; quantum ex tua benivolentia Faustinianus ornamenti adsequetur, tantundem tu voluptatis ex Faustiniani elegantia capies. Quam doctus sit, mihi crede; quam rei militaris peritus, praedicant omnes sub quibus meruit. Sed tum demum doctrinae industriaeque suae fructum sese percepisse putabit, ubi se tibi probarit. Fac periculum in militia e muneribus, fac periculum in consiliis judiciaris, fac periculum in litteris, omni denique prudentiae et facilitatis usu vel serio vel remisso: Semper et ubique eum parem sui invenies,
3 Patrem vero ejus egregium virum, nisi tute nosses, satis ego laudare non possem. Quin aliquanto minus dixerim, tametsi plurimum dixero. Prosus ego Statiani mei filium qualemcumque earum haberem. Nunc vero uter utri plus apud me gratiae conciliet ignoro, nisi quod utrumque impensius alterum alterius gratia diligo.
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Fronto to Claudius Julianus, greeting.
1. We could indeed wish, my dearest Naucellius, that we had been so endowed by fate that, if children of the male sex too had been born to me, and their age were ripening for the discharge of military duties at this very time, the time when you are administering a province together with an army, my children might earn their service under you. 2. We will not be far from the day when this thing, which each of us would wish, has come to pass: for I love Faustinianus, the son of my friend Statianus, no less, nor do I wish him to be loved by you any less, than if he had been born of me. He will now serve under you. Know this also: by a better boon you will have increased his years; for as much adornment as Faustinianus gains from your goodwill, just so much pleasure will you take from Faustinianus's refinement. How learned he is, take my word for it; how skilled in soldiering, all those under whom he has served proclaim. But only then will he think that he has gathered the fruit of his learning and diligence, when he has proved himself to you. Make trial of him in military service through its duties, make trial of him in judicial deliberations, make trial of him in letters, in short by every exercise of good sense and of obliging readiness, whether in earnest or at ease: always and everywhere you will find him equal to himself.
3. As for his father, that distinguished man, unless you knew him yourself, I could not praise him enough. Indeed I would say somewhat too little, even though I should say very much. Truly I would hold dear the son of my Statianus, whatever sort he were. But now I do not know which of the two wins more favor with me on behalf of the other, except that I love each of them the more ardently for the other's sake.
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 amicos 1.5 [174 Hout; 1.290 Haines] Fronto Claudio Juliano salutem. 1 Cuperemus profecto, mi Naucelli carissime, eo nos fato praeditos, ut, si mihi liberi etiam virilis sexus nati fuissent eorumque aetas hoc potissimum tempore ad munia militiae fungenda adolesceret, quo tempore tu provinciam cum exercitu administrares, uti sub te mei liberi stipendia mererent. 2 Non longe aberit, quin hoc, quod uterque cuperemus, evenerit: Nam Faustinianum Satiani mei filium non minus diligo neque minus cum a te diligi cupio, quam si ex me natus esset. Is nunc sub te merebit. Scias etiam: Meliore bono annos auxeris; quantum ex tua benivolentia Faustinianus ornamenti adsequetur, tantundem tu voluptatis ex Faustiniani elegantia capies. Quam doctus sit, mihi crede; quam rei militaris peritus, praedicant omnes sub quibus meruit. Sed tum demum doctrinae industriaeque suae fructum sese percepisse putabit, ubi se tibi probarit. Fac periculum in militia e muneribus, fac periculum in consiliis judiciaris, fac periculum in litteris, omni denique prudentiae et facilitatis usu vel serio vel remisso: Semper et ubique eum parem sui invenies, 3 Patrem vero ejus egregium virum, nisi tute nosses, satis ego laudare non possem. Quin aliquanto minus dixerim, tametsi plurimum dixero. Prosus ego Statiani mei filium qualemcumque earum haberem. Nunc vero uter utri plus apud me gratiae conciliet ignoro, nisi quod utrumque impensius alterum alterius gratia diligo.