CCLXXIII (F XV, II)
TO C. CLAUDIUS MARCELLUS (CONSUL)
(ASIA, AUGUST)
How much trouble you have taken as to the
honour to be bestowed on me, and how far your
conduct as consul in complimenting me and
promoting my dignity has been exactly the same
as—in common with your ancestors and
your whole family—it had always been
before, though facts spoke for themselves, I have
nevertheless been informed by letters from all my
friends. Accordingly, there is no service so great
that I am not bound and fully purposed zealously
and gladly to do in your interests. For it makes a
great difference who the man is to whom one is
under an obligation: but there is no one to whom I
preferred to be under an obligation before
yourself, to whom, while common interests and
kindnesses received both from your father and
yourself had already closely united me, there is
now added what in my opinion is the strongest bond
of all, the fact that your present and past
administration of the Republic (the thing dearest
to me in the world) is of such a nature, that I
cannot disown an obligation to you in my single
person as great as that which all
loyalists put together owe you. Wherefore I wish
you the success which you deserve, and which I
feel confident you will have. Unless my voyage,
which falls in precisely with the Etesian winds,
delays me, I hope to see you shortly.
(ASIA, AUGUST)
