Lettres à Atticus Passage 4

a te autem peto ut me hanc quasi falsam hereditatem alienae gloriae sinas cernere meque aliqua ex parte in societatem tuarum laudum venire patiare. quamquam , mi Dolabella (haec enim iocatus sum), libentius omnis meas, si modo sunt aliquae meae laudes ad te transfuderim quam aliquam partem exhauserim ex tuis. nam cum te semper tantum dilexerim quantum tu intellegere potuisti, tum his tuis factis sic incensus sum ut nihil umquam in amore fuerit ardentius. nihil est enim, mihi crede, virtute formosius, nihil pulchrius, nihil amabilius.

I ask you to allow me to enter upon this inheritance, as it were, though it is a false inheritance of another's glory, and permit me to share in some part of your praises. Yet, my dear Dolabella, for I have been joking, I would more gladly pour all my own praises, if I possess any, into you than drain away any portion of yours. I have always loved you as much as you could understand, but these deeds of yours have so inflamed me that no affection has ever burned more ardently. Believe me, nothing is more beautiful, splendid, or lovable than virtue.

Je te demande de me permettre d’accepter pour ainsi dire ce faux héritage d’une gloire étrangère et de me laisser entrer pour une part dans la société de tes mérites. Pourtant, mon cher Dolabella, car je plaisantais, je préférerais verser sur toi tous mes titres de gloire, s’il m’en appartient quelques-uns, plutôt que de puiser la moindre part dans les tiens. Je t’ai toujours aimé autant que tu as pu le comprendre; mais tes actes présents m’ont enflammé à tel point que jamais affection ne fut plus ardente. Rien, crois-moi, n’est plus gracieux, plus beau ni plus aimable que la vertu.