Ep. 6.29.1Avidius Quiētus, quī mē ūnicē dīlēxit et - quō nōn minus gaudeō - probāvit, ut multa alia Thraseae - fuit enim familiāris - ita hoc saepe referēbat, praecipere solitum suscipiendās esse causās aut amīcōrum aut dēstitūtās aut ad exemplum pertinentēs.Avidius Quietus, who loved me exceptionally and — which gives me no less joy — approved of me, used often to report, among many other sayings of Thrasea — for he was his close friend — this one too, that Thrasea was accustomed to advise that one should take on cases either of friends, or abandoned ones, or ones that set a precedent. Ep. 6.29.2Cūr amīcōrum, nōn eget interpretātiōne.Why those of friends needs no explanation. Ep. 6.29.2Cūr dēstitūtās?Why abandoned ones? Ep. 6.29.2quod in illīs maximē et cōnstantia agentis et hūmānitās cernerētur.Because in them above all both the firmness and the humanity of the advocate could be seen. Ep. 6.29.2Cūr pertinentēs ad exemplum?Why those that set a precedent? Ep. 6.29.2quia plūrimum referret, bonum an malum indūcerētur.Because it mattered very much whether a good or a bad one was introduced.
Ep. 6.29.3Ad haec ego genera causārum ambitiōsē fortasse, addam tamen clārās et illūstrēs.To these kinds of cases I shall add, ambitiously perhaps, but still I shall add, famous and conspicuous ones. Ep. 6.29.3Aequum est enim agere nōn numquam glōriae et fāmae, id est suam causam.For it is fair sometimes to plead for glory and fame, that is, to plead one's own case. Ep. 6.29.3Hōs terminōs, quia mē cōnsuluistī, dignitātī ac verēcundiae tuae statuō.These are the limits, since you have consulted me, that I set for your dignity and modesty. Ep. 6.29.4Nec mē praeterit ūsum et esse et habērī optimum dīcendī magistrum;Nor does it escape me that practice both is and is held to be the best teacher of speaking; Ep. 6.29.4videō etiam multōs parvō ingeniō litterīs nūllīs, ut bene agerent agendō cōnsecūtōs.I see too that many men of small talent and no learning have managed to plead well by pleading. Ep. 6.29.5Sed et illud, quod vel Polliōnis vel tamquam Polliōnis accēpī, vērissimum experior: "Commodē agendō factum est ut saepe agerem, saepe agendō ut minus commodē", quia scīlicet assiduitāte nimiā facilitās magis quam facultās, nec fīdūcia sed temeritās parātur.But I find by experience that this saying, which I have heard attributed either to Pollio or to someone like Pollio, is very true: 'By pleading well it came about that I pleaded often, and by pleading often that I pleaded less well,' since, of course, by excessive assiduity one acquires glibness rather than ability, and not confidence but rashness.
Ep. 6.29.6Nec vērō Īsocratī quō minus habērētur summus ōrātor offēcit, quod īnfirmitāte vōcis mollitiā frontis nē in pūblicō dīceret impediēbātur.Nor indeed did it prevent Isocrates from being held a supreme orator that he was kept from speaking in public by the weakness of his voice and the timidity of his nature. Ep. 6.29.6Proinde multum lege scrībe meditāre, ut possīs cum volēs dīcere: dīcēs cum velle dēbēbis.So read much, write, practise, so that you may be able to speak when you wish: you will speak when you ought to wish. Ep. 6.29.7Hoc ferē temperāmentum ipse servāvī;This is roughly the balance I have kept myself; Ep. 6.29.7nōn numquam necessitātī quae pars ratiōnis est pāruī.sometimes I have obeyed necessity, which is a part of reason. Ep. 6.29.7Ēgī enim quāsdam ā senātū iussus, quō tamen in numerō fuērunt ex illā Thraseae dīvīsiōne, hoc est ad exemplum pertinentēs.For I have pleaded certain cases at the senate's command, yet among them were some from that classification of Thrasea's, that is, ones that set a precedent. Ep. 6.29.8Adfuī Baeticīs contrā Baebium Massam: quaesītum est, an danda esset inquīsītiō;I appeared for the people of Baetica against Baebius Massa: the question was whether an inquiry should be granted; Ep. 6.29.8data est.it was granted.
Ep. 6.29.8Adfuī rūrsus īsdem querentibus dē Caeciliō Classicō: quaesītum est, an prōvinciālēs ut sociōs ministrōsque prōcōnsulis plectī oportēret;I appeared again for the same people when they were complaining of Caecilius Classicus: the question was whether the provincials should be punished as allies and agents of the proconsul; Ep. 6.29.8poenās luērunt.they paid the penalty. Ep. 6.29.9Accūsāvī Marium Prīscum, quī lēge repetundārum damnātus ūtēbātur clēmentiā lēgis, cuius sevēritātem immānitāte crīminum excesserat;I accused Marius Priscus, who, condemned under the law on extortion, was enjoying the leniency of the law, whose severity he had exceeded by the monstrousness of his crimes; Ep. 6.29.9relēgātus est.he was banished. Ep. 6.29.10Tuitus sum Iūlium Bassum, ut incustōdītum nimis et incautum, ita minimē malum;I defended Julius Bassus, as a man who was too unguarded and incautious, but by no means wicked; Ep. 6.29.10iūdicibus acceptīs in senātū remānsit.judges were granted and he kept his seat in the senate. Ep. 6.29.11Dīxī proximē prō Varēnō postulante, ut sibi invicem ēvocāre testēs licēret;I spoke recently for Varenus, who was asking to be allowed to call witnesses on his side in turn; Ep. 6.29.11impetrātum est.it was granted.
Ep. 6.29.11In posterum optō ut ea potissimum iubear, quae mē deceat vel sponte fēcisse.For the future I hope that I may be ordered above all to do what it would become me to have done even of my own accord. Ep. 6.29.11Valē.Farewell.