Marcus Cornelius Fronto→Unknown|c. 165 AD|Marcus Cornelius Fronto|From Rome (career hub)|AI-assisted
Fronto to Avidius Cassius, greeting.
1. Junius Maximus the tribune, who brought to Rome the laurel-wreathed dispatches, performed not only his public charge with vigor, but also discharged a private duty toward you in the spirit of friendship: so unfailingly has he shown himself everywhere a most assiduous herald of your labors and your counsels, of your industry and your watchfulness. To me, indeed, when I was unwell and he had come out to my suburban villa, he never ceased, right up until evening, to weave together tales of your campaigns and of the discipline you have established and maintained according to the ancient custom [the old-fashioned, strict standard of Roman military training]; and then of your most energetic vigor in leading the column and in joining battle hand to hand, and of your most well-judged sense of the right moment. In short, no soldier of Plautus [the boastful soldier of Roman comedy, the miles gloriosus] ever proclaimed his own merits more gloriously than this man proclaimed yours, except that Plautus spoke of his soldier with wit, while this man spoke of you with affection and the utmost loyalty.
2. He deserves to be loved by you and to be honored by your support. You will add to your own proper glory in proportion as you build up the standing of the man who praises you.
to Avidius Cassius, greeting. Junius Maximus the tribune, who brought the laurelled letter, not only discharged his public mission with despatch, but also his private duty towards you with friendship, so unfailingly did he appear everywhere as the eulogist of your labours and measures and industry and vigilance. Indeed, when he came to me in my villa near the city, when I was far from well, he never ceased till nightfall telling tale after tale of your expeditions and of the discipline which you had restored and maintained up to the ancient standard; then of your unremitting vigour on the march and unerring instinct for the right moment for battle. In very truth no soldier of Plautus so vaingloriously eulogized his own merits as he did yours, only that Plautus in the case of his soldier spoke with pleasantry, while of you Maximus spoke with affection and the utmost loyalty. He deserves your love, and to profit by your patronage. Whatever you do to enhance the honour of your eulogist will redound to your own glory.
ad amicos 1.6 [175 Hout; 2.190 Haines]
Fronto Avidio Cassio salutem.
1 Junius Maximus tribunus, qui laureatas Romam adtulit litteras, non publico tantum munere strenue, sed privato etiam erga te officio amice functus est: Ita de laboribus et consiliis tuis et industria et vigilantia praedicator ubique frequentissimus extitit. Ad me quidem minus valentem, cum in suburbanam villam venisset, numquam cessavit in vesperum usque fabulas nectere itinerum tuorum et disciplinae ad priscum morem institutae ac retentae; tum in agmine ducendo et manu conserenda strenuissimi vigoris tui et consultissimae opportunitatis: Prorsus ut nullus miles Plautinus de suis quam hic de tuis virtutibus gloriosius praedicaret, nisi quod Plautus de suo milite cum lepore, hic de te cum amore et cum summa fide. 2 Dignus est quem diligas et suffragiis tuis ornes. Tuae propriae gloriae addideris quantum dignitati laudatoris tui adstruxeris.
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Fronto to Avidius Cassius, greeting.
1. Junius Maximus the tribune, who brought to Rome the laurel-wreathed dispatches, performed not only his public charge with vigor, but also discharged a private duty toward you in the spirit of friendship: so unfailingly has he shown himself everywhere a most assiduous herald of your labors and your counsels, of your industry and your watchfulness. To me, indeed, when I was unwell and he had come out to my suburban villa, he never ceased, right up until evening, to weave together tales of your campaigns and of the discipline you have established and maintained according to the ancient custom [the old-fashioned, strict standard of Roman military training]; and then of your most energetic vigor in leading the column and in joining battle hand to hand, and of your most well-judged sense of the right moment. In short, no soldier of Plautus [the boastful soldier of Roman comedy, the miles gloriosus] ever proclaimed his own merits more gloriously than this man proclaimed yours, except that Plautus spoke of his soldier with wit, while this man spoke of you with affection and the utmost loyalty.
2. He deserves to be loved by you and to be honored by your support. You will add to your own proper glory in proportion as you build up the standing of the man who praises you.
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 1.6 [175 Hout; 2.190 Haines] Fronto Avidio Cassio salutem. 1 Junius Maximus tribunus, qui laureatas Romam adtulit litteras, non publico tantum munere strenue, sed privato etiam erga te officio amice functus est: Ita de laboribus et consiliis tuis et industria et vigilantia praedicator ubique frequentissimus extitit. Ad me quidem minus valentem, cum in suburbanam villam venisset, numquam cessavit in vesperum usque fabulas nectere itinerum tuorum et disciplinae ad priscum morem institutae ac retentae; tum in agmine ducendo et manu conserenda strenuissimi vigoris tui et consultissimae opportunitatis: Prorsus ut nullus miles Plautinus de suis quam hic de tuis virtutibus gloriosius praedicaret, nisi quod Plautus de suo milite cum lepore, hic de te cum amore et cum summa fide. 2 Dignus est quem diligas et suffragiis tuis ornes. Tuae propriae gloriae addideris quantum dignitati laudatoris tui adstruxeris.