CCXXXI (F XIII, 55)
TO Q. MINUCIUS THERMUS (IN ASIA)
CILICIA
Although, when I spoke to you at Ephesus of
the business of my legate M. Anneius, I gathered
that you were strongly inclined to do anything for
his own sake, nevertheless, I value M. Anneius so
highly, and think that you value me so highly,
that I do not hesitate to allow my recommendation
to be added as a finishing stroke to your existing
willingness to serve him. For, though
I have long been attached to M.
Anneius—as I have practically shown by
offering him a legation unasked, after having
refused many who asked for it—yet, since
he has been associated with me in war and the
conduct of military affairs, I have come to know
that his courage, good sense, honour, and loyalty
to myself are so eminent, that I now value him as
highly as anyone in the world. You know that he
has a suit with the people of Sardis: I explained
the merits of the case to you at Ephesus: but you
will, nevertheless, inquire into it more easily
and satisfactorily on the spot. As to the rest, by
Hercules, I long hesitated what exactly to write
to you. For your manner of deciding questions at
law is justly celebrated, and known to your high
credit. We, again, have no need of anything in
this case, but that you should decide the question
according to your usual principles. But yet, since
I am fully aware how great the influence of a
praetor is—especially a praetor whose
character for honesty, firmness, and equity is
acknowledged on all hands—I do ask of
you, in the name of our very close intimacy and of
the many mutual good services, which have
benefited us both equally, by a display of
cordiality, by an exercise Of influence, and by an
exertion of zeal to convince M. Anneius, not only
that you are his friend (this he does not doubt,
for he has often remarked it to me), but that you
have been made much more his friend by this letter
of mine. Finally, I don't think you feel any
hesitation as to how well you will be investing
your kindness with a man of the most grateful
disposition and most excellent principles.
CILICIA
