Marcus Aurelius→Marcus Cornelius Fronto|c. 162 AD|Marcus Cornelius Fronto|From Rome (career hub)|To Rome (career hub)|AI-assisted
To my master.
A good year, good health, good fortune I ask of the gods on this day, your solemn birthday, and I am confident that I shall obtain what I have prayed for; for the man whom the gods of their own will choose to assist, and judge worthy of their aid, profits fittingly by their kindness. You, my master, while you turn over in your mind on this festal day other things that bring you gladness, count up to yourself those who love you dearly: among the foremost of these set this your pupil, and right beside him set my lord and brother [Lucius Verus, Marcus's adoptive brother and co-heir]—men who love you with deep feeling.
Farewell, and through many years keep continuous good health, my master, rejoicing in the safety of your daughter, your grandchildren, and your son-in-law. Our Faustina is recovering her health. Our little chick Antoninus coughs somewhat more gently now. Each one in our little nest, as far as he is already old enough to do so, offers a prayer for you. Again and again, and on still further into a long old age, fare well, most delightful of masters. I ask of you—but let it be granted—that you not wear yourself out by going to Lorium on account of Cornificia's birthday. The gods willing, you shall see us at Rome within a few days. But after your birthday, if you love me, on the night that follows make sure that you now rest peacefully, without a thought for any pressing obligation. Grant this to your Antoninus, who asks it anxiously and in earnest.
To my master. A good year, good health, good fortune do I ask of the Gods on this your birthday, a red-letter day for me, and I am assured that they will grant my prayer, for I commend to their bounty him whom the Gods themselves delight to aid and deem worthy of their help. You, my master, when other joyous thoughts pass through your mind on this your festal day, count over to yourself those who dearly love you: among the chief of these set this your pupil, set the Lord my brother there, both of us men that love you passionately. Farewell, my master, and may you for many years to come enjoy unbroken good health with your daughter, grandchildren and son-in-law spared to make your happiness complete. Our Faustina is recovering her health. Our little chick Antoninus coughs rather less. The occupants of our little nest, each as far as he is old enough to do so, offer prayers for you. Next year and the year after and right on into a long old age, most delightful of masters, may you have the best of good health. I ask of you—and do not refuse me—not to take the trying journey to Lorium for Cornificia's birthday. God willing, you shall see us at Rome a few days hence. But if you love me, pass the coming night in peace and quiet without attending to any business however pressing. Grant this to your Antoninus, who asks it with sincerity and concern.
ad Anton.Imp. 1.1 [86 Hout; 2.30 Haines]
Magistro meo.
1 Bonum annum, bonam salutem, bonam fortunam peto a dis dies mihi sollemni natali tuo compotemque me voti fore confido; nam quem sponte dei juvisse volunt et dignum ope sua judicant, eum commode benignitati eorum. Tu cum alia laetabilia, mi magister, in tuo animo festo die agitabis, numerato apud te, qui te valde diligant: In iis primis hunc tuum discipulum ponito, inibi dominum meum fratrem, πάθει φιλοῦντάς σε ἀνθρώπους.
2 Vale et perennem multis annis bonam valetudinem, mi magister, obtine laetissimus incolumitate filiae, nepotum, generi. 3 Nostra Faustina reficit sanitatem. Pullus noster Antoninus aliquo lenius tussit. Quantum quisque in nidulo nostro jam sapit, tantum pro te precatur. Iterum atque iterum ac porro in longam senectam bene vale, jucundissime magister. Peto a te, sed impetratum sit, ne te ob diem natalem Cornificiae Lorium vexes. Dis volentibus Romae paucis diebus nos videbis. Sed post diem natalem tuum, si me amas, nox quae sequitur, fac jam placide quiescas sine ullius instantis officii cogitatione. Hoc Antonino tuo da sollicite et vere petentei.
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To my master.
A good year, good health, good fortune I ask of the gods on this day, your solemn birthday, and I am confident that I shall obtain what I have prayed for; for the man whom the gods of their own will choose to assist, and judge worthy of their aid, profits fittingly by their kindness. You, my master, while you turn over in your mind on this festal day other things that bring you gladness, count up to yourself those who love you dearly: among the foremost of these set this your pupil, and right beside him set my lord and brother [Lucius Verus, Marcus's adoptive brother and co-heir]—men who love you with deep feeling.
Farewell, and through many years keep continuous good health, my master, rejoicing in the safety of your daughter, your grandchildren, and your son-in-law. Our Faustina is recovering her health. Our little chick Antoninus coughs somewhat more gently now. Each one in our little nest, as far as he is already old enough to do so, offers a prayer for you. Again and again, and on still further into a long old age, fare well, most delightful of masters. I ask of you—but let it be granted—that you not wear yourself out by going to Lorium on account of Cornificia's birthday. The gods willing, you shall see us at Rome within a few days. But after your birthday, if you love me, on the night that follows make sure that you now rest peacefully, without a thought for any pressing obligation. Grant this to your Antoninus, who asks it anxiously and in earnest.
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 Anton.Imp. 1.1 [86 Hout; 2.30 Haines] Magistro meo. 1 Bonum annum, bonam salutem, bonam fortunam peto a dis dies mihi sollemni natali tuo compotemque me voti fore confido; nam quem sponte dei juvisse volunt et dignum ope sua judicant, eum commode benignitati eorum. Tu cum alia laetabilia, mi magister, in tuo animo festo die agitabis, numerato apud te, qui te valde diligant: In iis primis hunc tuum discipulum ponito, inibi dominum meum fratrem, πάθει φιλοῦντάς σε ἀνθρώπους. 2 Vale et perennem multis annis bonam valetudinem, mi magister, obtine laetissimus incolumitate filiae, nepotum, generi. 3 Nostra Faustina reficit sanitatem. Pullus noster Antoninus aliquo lenius tussit. Quantum quisque in nidulo nostro jam sapit, tantum pro te precatur. Iterum atque iterum ac porro in longam senectam bene vale, jucundissime magister. Peto a te, sed impetratum sit, ne te ob diem natalem Cornificiae Lorium vexes. Dis volentibus Romae paucis diebus nos videbis. Sed post diem natalem tuum, si me amas, nox quae sequitur, fac jam placide quiescas sine ullius instantis officii cogitatione. Hoc Antonino tuo da sollicite et vere petentei.