Des devoirs Passage 121

Habes a patre munus, Marce fili, mea quidem sententia magnum, sed perinde erit, ut acceperis. Quamquam hi tibi tres libri inter Cratippi commentarios tamquam hospites erunt recipiendi; sed, ut, si ipse venissem Athenas (quod quidem esset factum, nisi me e medio cursu clara voce patria revocasset), aliquando me quoque audires, sic, quoniam his voluminibus ad te profecta vox est mea, tribues iis temporis quantum poteris, poteris autem, quantum voles. Cum vero intellexero te hoc scientiae genere gaudere, tum et praesens tecum propediem, ut spero, et, dum aberis, absens loquar. Vale igitur, mi Cicero, tibique persuade esse te quidem mihi carissimum, sed multo fore cariorem, si talibus monitis praeceptisque laetabere.

You have a gift from your father, my son Marcus, a great one in my judgment, but its value will depend on how you receive it. These three books will admittedly have to be received as guests among the lectures of Cratippus. Yet just as, if I myself had come to Athens, which I would have done had my country not recalled me in a clear voice from the midst of my journey, you would sometimes have listened to me also, so, since my voice has traveled to you in these volumes, give them as much time as you can. And you will be able to give as much as you wish. When I understand that you take pleasure in this kind of learning, I hope soon to speak with you in person and, while you are away, I shall speak to you from afar. Farewell, then, my Cicero. Be assured that you are very dear to me, but that you will be far dearer if you delight in such counsels and teachings.

Tu tiens de ton père, mon fils Marcus, un présent grand à mon avis, mais sa valeur dépendra de la manière dont tu le recevras. Ces trois livres devront certes être accueillis parmi les commentaires de Cratippe comme des hôtes. Mais si j’étais moi-même venu à Athènes, ce qui serait arrivé si la patrie ne m’avait rappelé d’une voix claire au milieu de ma course, tu m’aurais parfois entendu moi aussi. De même, puisque ma voix est parvenue jusqu’à toi dans ces volumes, tu leur donneras tout le temps que tu pourras, et tu pourras autant que tu le voudras. Lorsque j’aurai compris que tu prends plaisir à ce genre de savoir, je te parlerai bientôt en ta présence, comme je l’espère, et, tant que tu seras absent, à distance. Adieu donc, mon cher Cicéron. Persuade-toi que tu m’es extrêmement cher, mais que tu me le seras bien davantage si tu trouves ta joie dans de tels avertissements et préceptes.