Ep. 2.18.1Quid ā tē mihi iūcundius potuit iniungī, quam ut praeceptōrem frātris tuī līberīs quaererem?What could you have laid on me more delightful than to look for a teacher for your brother's children? Ep. 2.18.1Nam beneficiō tuō in scholam redeō, et illam dulcissimam aetātem quasi resūmō: sedeō inter iuvenēs ut solēbam, atque etiam experior quantum apud illōs auctōritātis ex studiīs habeam.For thanks to you I am going back to school, and as it were taking up again that sweetest time of life: I sit among the young men as I used to, and I even find out how much authority I have among them from my studies. Ep. 2.18.2Nam proximē frequentī audītōriō inter sē cōram multīs ōrdinis nostrī clārē iocābantur;For recently, in a crowded lecture hall, they were joking loudly among themselves in the presence of many of our order; Ep. 2.18.2intrāvī, conticuērunt;I came in, and they fell silent; Ep. 2.18.2quod nōn referrem, nisi ad illōrum magis laudem quam ad meam pertinēret, ac nisi spērāre tē vellem posse frātris tuī fīliōs probē discere.which I would not report if it did not redound to their credit more than to mine, and if I did not want you to hope that your brother's sons can learn properly.
Ep. 2.18.3Quod superest, cum omnēs quī profitentur audierō, quid dē quōque sentiam scrībam, efficiamque quantum tamen epistulā cōnsequī poterō, ut ipse omnēs audīsse videāris.For the rest, when I have heard all those who teach, I will write what I think of each, and I will make sure, as far as a letter can achieve it, that you seem to have heard them all yourself. Ep. 2.18.4Dēbeō enim tibi, dēbeō memoriae frātris tuī hanc fidem hoc studium, praesertim super tantā rē.For I owe you, I owe your brother's memory, this good faith, this zeal, especially on so important a matter. Ep. 2.18.4Nam quid magis interest vestrā, quam ut līberī - dīcerem tuī, nisi nunc illōs magis amārēs - dignī illō patre, tē patruō reperiantur?For what matters more to you both than that the children – I would say yours, except that you love them more now – should be found worthy of such a father, and of you as their uncle? Ep. 2.18.4quam cūram mihi etiam sī nōn mandāssēs vindicāssem.a responsibility which, even if you had not entrusted it to me, I would have claimed for myself.
Ep. 2.18.5Nec ignōrō suscipiendās offēnsās in ēligendō praeceptōre, sed oportet mē nōn modo offēnsās, vērum etiam simultātēs prō frātris tuī fīliīs tam aequō animō subīre quam parentēs prō suīs.Nor am I unaware that offence must be incurred in choosing a teacher, but I ought to undergo not only offence but even enmities for your brother's sons as calmly as parents do for their own. Ep. 2.18.5Valē.Farewell.