Ep. 2.13.1Et tū occāsiōnēs obligandī mē avidissimē amplecteris, et ego nēminī libentius dēbeō.You seize most eagerly the opportunities to oblige me, and there is no one to whom I am more glad to be indebted. Ep. 2.13.2Duābus ergō dē causīs ā tē potissimum petere cōnstituī, quod impetrātum maximē cupiō.For two reasons, then, I have decided to ask you above all others for something I very much want to obtain. Ep. 2.13.2Regis exercitum amplissimum: hinc tibi beneficiōrum larga māteria, longum praetereā tempus, quō amīcōs tuōs exōrnāre potuistī.You command a very large army: hence you have ample material for kindnesses, and a long time besides in which you have been able to advance your friends. Ep. 2.13.2Convertere ad nostrōs nec hōs multōs.Turn to mine, and these not many. Ep. 2.13.3Mālles tū quidem multōs;You would indeed prefer many; Ep. 2.13.3sed meae verēcundiae sufficit ūnus aut alter, ac potius ūnus.but for my modesty one or two is enough, or rather one. Ep. 2.13.4Is erit Vocōnius Rōmānus.That will be Voconius Romanus. Ep. 2.13.4Pater eī in equestrī gradū clārus, clārior vītricus, immō pater alius - nam huic quoque nōminī pietāte successit -, māter ē prīmīs.His father was distinguished in the equestrian order, his stepfather more so, or rather his second father – for he succeeded to this name too by his devotion –, and his mother is from one of the leading families.
Ep. 2.13.4Ipse citeriōris Hispāniae - scīs quod iūdicium prōvinciae illīus, quanta sit gravitās - flāmen proximē fuit.He himself was recently flamen of Nearer Spain – you know the judgement of that province, how great its seriousness is. Ep. 2.13.5Hunc ego, cum simul studērēmus, artē familiāriterque dīlēxī;When we studied together I loved him closely and intimately; Ep. 2.13.5ille meus in urbe ille in sēcessū contubernālis, cum hōc sēria cum hōc iocōs miscuī.he was my companion in the city, my companion in retreat, with him I shared serious matters, with him jokes. Ep. 2.13.6Quid enim illō aut fidēlius amīcō aut sodāle iūcundius?For what could be more loyal as a friend than he, or more delightful as a companion? Ep. 2.13.6Mīra in sermōne, mīra etiam in ōre ipsō vultūque suāvitās.There is a wonderful charm in his conversation, a wonderful charm even in his voice and face. Ep. 2.13.7Ad hoc ingenium excelsum subtīle dulce facile ērudītum in causīs agendīs;Besides, he has a talent lofty, subtle, pleasing, ready, and skilled in pleading cases; Ep. 2.13.7epistulās quidem scrībit, ut Mūsās ipsās Latīnē loquī crēdās.and he writes letters such that you would think the Muses themselves were speaking Latin.
Ep. 2.13.7Amātur ā mē plūrimum nec tamen vincitur.He is loved by me very much, and yet he is not outdone. Ep. 2.13.8Equidem iuvenis statim iuvenī, quantum potuī per aetātem, avidissimē contulī, et nūper ab optimō prīncipe trium līberōrum iūs impetrāvī;For my part, as a young man I at once conferred on him, also young, as much as I could at that age, most eagerly, and recently I obtained for him from our excellent emperor the right of three children; Ep. 2.13.8quod quamquam parcē et cum dēlēctū daret, mihi tamen tamquam ēligeret indulsit.and though the emperor granted this sparingly and with discrimination, he granted it to me as if he had chosen the man himself. Ep. 2.13.9Haec beneficia mea tuērī nūllō modō melius quam ut augeam possum, praesertim cum ipse illa tam grātē interpretētur, ut dum priōra accipit posteriōra mereātur.These kindnesses of mine I can protect in no better way than by adding to them, especially since he receives them so gratefully that, while he accepts the earlier ones, he earns the later.
Ep. 2.13.10Habēs quālis quam probātus cārusque sit nōbīs, quem rogō prō ingeniō prō fortūnā tuā exōrnēs.You have, then, what sort of man he is, how esteemed and dear to me, and I ask you to advance him as your judgement and your fortune allow. Ep. 2.13.10In prīmīs amā hominem;Above all, love the man; Ep. 2.13.10nam licet tribuās eī quantum amplissimum potes, nihil tamen amplius potes amīcitiā tuā;for although you may bestow on him the greatest thing you can, you can bestow nothing greater than your friendship; Ep. 2.13.10cuius esse eum ūsque ad intimam familiāritātem capācem quō magis scīrēs, breviter tibi studia mōrēs omnem dēnique vītam eius expressī.and so that you might know better that he is capable of it even to the closest intimacy, I have briefly sketched for you his studies, his character, in short his whole life. Ep. 2.13.11Extenderem precēs nisi et tū rogārī diū nōllēs et ego tōtā hoc epistulā fēcissem;I would extend my entreaties if you did not dislike being asked at length and if I had not been doing it in this whole letter; Ep. 2.13.11rogat enim et quidem efficācissimē, quī reddit causās rogandī.for he asks, and asks most effectively, who gives the reasons for asking.
Ep. 2.13.11Valē.Farewell.