Ad Familiares 12.26
Ad Familiares 12.26
Headnote
Cicero to Q. Cornificius, governor of Africa Vetus, from Rome in the spring of 43 BC — Perseus dateline Scr. Romae vere a. 711 (43). A letter of recommendation on behalf of the heirs of one Q. Turius, a businessman who died in Africa: Cicero has heard that Cornificius has already treated them generously, and writes to thank him and to ask that the freedman Eros Turius not be allowed to siphon off the estate. The salutation is preserved as transmitted (“COR ni FICIO”), an artefact of the Perseus OCR that the editorial convention of this edition keeps visible rather than silently mending.
Q. Turius, who carried on business in Africa — a good and honourable man — has made heirs of his own kind: Cn. Saturninus, Sex. Aufidius, C. Anneus, Q. Considius Gallus, L. Servilius Postumus, C. Rubellius. From what they had to say I gathered that they stood in greater need of being thanked than of being recommended. For so abundant was the generosity, they declared, which they had met with at your hands, that I understood you to have granted them more than I would have dared to ask of you.
Q. Turius, qui in Africa negotiatus est, vir bonus et honestus, heredes fecit similis sui, Cn. Saturninum, Sex. Aufidium, C. Anneum, Q. Considium Gallum, L. Servilium Postumum, C. Rubellium. ex eorum oratione intellexi gratiarum actione eos magis egere quam commendatione. tanta enim liberalitate se tua usos praedicabant ut iis plus a te tributum intellegerem quam ego te auderem rogare.
I will dare to ask, even so; for I know what weight my recommendation will carry. I therefore ask of you that to the liberality which you have already shown them without any letter of mine, the greatest possible increment be added by this letter. The chief point of my recommendation is this: do not allow Eros Turius, the freedman of Q. Turius, to make off with the Turian inheritance, as he has been doing up to now; and in every other matter regard these men as commended to you in the warmest terms by me. From their distinction and from their attentiveness you will derive great pleasure. I ask you, again and again and most earnestly, to be willing in this.
audebo tamen; scio enim quantum ponderis mea commendatio sit habitura. qua re a te peto ut ad eam liberalitatem qua sine meis litteris usus es quam maximus his litteris cumulus accedat. caput autem est meae commendationis ne patiare Erotem Turium, Q. Turi libertum, ut adhuc fecit, hereditatem Turianam avertere ceterisque omnibus rebus habeas eos a me commendatissimos. magnam ex eorum splendore et observantia capies voluptatem. quod ut velis te vehementer etiam atque etiam rogo.