M. CORNELIUS FRONTO
Maecianus[1] was pressing, and it was right that your brother should return to you in good time. I beseech you, therefore, if you find any solecism or confusion of thought or shaky letter herein, put it down to haste. For though I am desperately fond of you as a friend, at the same time I must not forget that I ought to shew no less respect to my master than love to my friend. Farewell, my Fronto, dearest and beyond all things sweetest to me.
4. The Sota[2] of Ennius, which you have returned, seems to be on clearer paper, in a more handsome volume and a prettier hand than before. Let Gracchus[3] bide with the cask of new wine until we come. There is no risk of Gracchus fermenting out[4] meanwhile along with the wine. Fare ever well, my sweetest soul.
Marcus Aurelius to Fronto
His own Caesar to his master.
I need not say how pleased I was at reading those speeches of Gracchus, for you will know well enough, since it was you who, with your experienced judgment and kind thoughtfulness, recommended them for my reading. That your book might not be returned to you alone and unaccompanied, I have added this letter. Farewell, my sweetest of masters and friendliest of friends, to whom I am likely to be indebted for all the literature I shall ever know.
- ↑ Called amicus noster by Marcus and Verus in Digest, xxxvii. 14, 17 Pr. He was one of Marcus's teachers, and wrote a book for him De Asse ac Ponderibus, which is still extant.
- ↑ According to Teuffel's Latin Literature, Sota (Σωτᾶς) = Sotades. There was a metre called Sotadean, but probably named from a licentious Greek poet mentioned by Martial (Epigr. ii. 86).
- ↑ See next letter.
- ↑ Possibly the word means "to cool down" (cp. defervescere) and refers to the vehemence of Gracchus's style, see Ad Ver. i. 1. ad med.
