V (F XVI, 16)
Q. CICERO TO HIS BROTHER (GAUL?)
As I hope to see you again, my dear Marcus, and
my own son Cicero, and your Tulliola and your son
I am delighted about Tiro. He was much too good
for his position and I am truly glad that you
preferred that he should be our freedman and
friend rather than our slave. Believe me when I
read your letter and his I jumped for joy and I
both thank and congratulate you, for if the
fidelity and good character of my own Statius is a
delight to me, how much more valuable must those
same qualities be in your man since there is added
to them knowledge of literature conversational
powers, and culture, which have advantages even
over those useful virtues ! I have all sorts of
most conclusive reasons for loving you: and here
is another one, either for what you have done, or,
if you choose, for your perfect manner of
announcing it to me. Your letter shewed me your
whole heart. I have promised Sabinus's servants
all they asked, and I will perform my promise.
