Letters to Atticus Passage 1

quid opus est de Dionysio tam valde adfirmare? an mihi nutus tuus non faceret fidem? suspicionem autem eo mihi maiorem tua taciturnitas adtulerat, quod et tu soles conglutinare amicitias testimoniis tuis et illum aliter cum aliis de nobis locutum audiebam. sed prorsus ita esse ut scribis mihi persuades. itaque ego is in illum sum quem tu me esse vis.

What need was there to affirm Dionysius’ character so emphatically? Would not a nod from you have been enough assurance for me? Your silence had increased my suspicion precisely because you are accustomed to cement friendships by your testimonials, and because I heard that he had spoken differently about me when talking with others. But you fully persuade me that matters are as you write. I shall therefore be toward him just what you wish me to be.

Pourquoi faut-il affirmer si fortement ce qui concerne Dionysius? Un signe de tête de ta part ne suffirait-il pas à m’en convaincre? Ton silence avait justement accru mes soupçons, parce que tu as l’habitude de cimenter les amitiés par tes témoignages et que j’entendais dire qu’il avait parlé de moi autrement avec d’autres personnes. Mais tu me persuades pleinement que les choses sont comme tu l’écris. Aussi suis-je envers lui tel que tu veux que je sois.