Letter 500.9

Fronto to Antoninus Pius Augustus. 1. I have received, Caesar [...] [...] you have, at my request, by granting two procuratorships already, enhanced the standing of a Roman knight, my house-companion Sextus Calpurnius. These benefits of two procuratorships I reckon as four in number: twice when you granted the procuratorships, and likewise twice when you accepted his pleas to be excused from them. 2. For two years now I have been petitioning you on behalf of my friend Appianus [Appian of Alexandria, the historian], with whom I share both a long-standing familiarity and an almost daily exchange in our studies. Indeed, I hold it for certain, and would venture to affirm, that he will show the very same restraint that Calpurnius Julianus showed in dealing with my friends. For it is in order to grace his own standing in old age that he wishes to attain this honor, not out of ambition or any desire for a procurator's salary. When I first made my request on Appianus's behalf, you admitted my prayers so kindly that I had reason to hope. 3. Last year, the year before this, when I petitioned you, you answered me graciously on many points, and one thing indeed you added good-humoredly: that, once I had prevailed on you to grant the procuratorship to Appianus at my asking, a whole spring of advocates would gush up requesting the same. You remember, too, the man from Greece whom you named, graciously and with a smile. But there are many differences between the cases: his age, his childlessness, which has need of consolations to soften it. I would venture to say that even honor and probity, as between two good men, nevertheless differ somewhat; and I say this the more readily because I have not named the man to whom I prefer my friend. 4. Lastly, I will say what my own plainness and truthfulness urge me to say, and what the confidence of my love toward you prompts: that it is surely more just that this man too should obtain his wish on my account. Remember also, my lord emperor, that when he petitions following my example, I petitioned over these two years: therefore grant his request too, if it seems good to you, after two years. He will be acting upon our own precedent if he likewise obtains your leave to excuse himself.

? 157–161 A.D. to Antoninus Pius Augustus. 1 . . . . The modesty of my friends has ensured that I should make no unworthy request for them . . . . you have at my request enhanced the dignity of one Roman knight, Sextius Calpurnius, who lived with me, by the grant of two procuratorships already. I count these two procuratorships as favours four times given: twice when you granted them, and twice when you permitted them to be declined. 2. For two years now I have been your suppliant for my friend Appianus, between whom and myself there has been both a long-standing intimacy and almost daily practice of mutual studies. Moreover, I feel certain and would be bold to affirm, that he will shew the same modesty that my friend Calpurnius Julianus has. For it is to enhance his dignity in old age that he desires to attain this distinction, and not from ambition or coveting the salary of a procurator. When I first made request for Appianus, you gave my petition so kindly a hearing that I had a right to hope. When I renewed my request the next, which was last, year, your answer contained much that was gracious, one thing even in a vein of pleasantry, that the moment you gave Appianus the procuratorship at my request, a flood of pleaders would gush forth asking a like favour. You remember too the native of Greece whom you graciously and smilingly mentioned. But the cases are far from parallel: there is age, there is childlessness, which calls for consolations to relieve it. I would make bold to add that, though both are good men, yet in worth and integrity one has some advantage over the other; and I may say this the more freely, in that I have not named him whom I put second to my friend. 3. Lastly I will say, as I am prompted to do by plain dealing and truth as well as by the assurance of my love towards you, that surely it is fairer that the other too should gain his wish on my account. Remember too, my Lord Imperator, when he follows my example in petitioning, that I have petitioned these two years. Then let him too, if so it please you, be gratified after two years. He will but be following my example, if he also then get permission to be excused.

ad Anton.Pium 10 [168 Hout; 1.262 Haines] <Antonino Pio Augusto Fronto. 1 Accepi, Caesar <...> lt;...> equitus Romani nius contubernalis mei Sexti Calpurnii dignitatem rogatu meo exornasti duabus jam procurationibus datis. Ea ego duarum procurationum beneficia quater numero: Bis cum dedisti procurationes itemqu bis cum excusationes recepisti. 2 Supplicavi tibi jam per biennium pro Appiano amico meo, cum quo mihi et vetus consuetudo et studiorum usus prope cotidianus intercedit. Quin ipsum quoque certum habeo et adfirmare ausim eadem modestia usurum, qua Calpurnius Julianus meis usus est. Dignitatis enim suae in senectute ornandae causa, non ambitione aut procuratoris stipendii cupiditate optat adpisci hunc honorem. Quom primum pro Appiano petivi, ita benigne admisisti preces meas, ut sperare deberem. 3 Proximo superiore anno petenti mihi propitius multa respondisti, illud vero etiam comiter, futurum ut, cum Appiano me rogante procurationem dedisses, causidicorum scatebra exorertur idem petentium. Meministi etiam, quem de Graecia propitius et ridens nominaveris. Sed multa distant: Aetas, orbitas, cui leniendas solaciis opus est. Ausim dicere honestatem quoque et probitatem inter duos bonos viros nonnihil tamen distare; quod propterea facilius dico, quoniam illum, cui amicum meum antepono, non nominavi. 4 Postremo dicam, quomodo simplicitas mea et veritas me dicere hortantur et fiducia amoris erga te mei, profecto aequius esse illum quoque propter me impetrare. Memento etiam, domine imperator, cum ille meo exemplo petet, me biennio hoc petisse: Igitur illei quoque, sei videbitur, post biennium dato. Fecerit exemplo nostro, si ipse quoque se tibi impetraverit excusare.