M. CORNELIUS FRONTO
what my Lord your brother, acting upon your letter, has decided should be sent. I have added besides the speech for Demostratus, but on submitting this to your brother I learnt from him that Asclepiodotus, though he is taken to task in that speech, is not thought ill of by you. As soon as I was aware of this I was myself anxious to suppress the speech, but it had already been circulated too widely to be called in. What then? What then, I say, is best so be done, except that Asclepiodotus, since he has earned your approbation, should become to me also a very dear friend, just as by heaven Herodes and I are now on the best of terms, in spite of the speech being published. Besides your brother earnestly discussed with me what I am still more earnestly anxious to take in hand and, as soon as you send me your memoranda,[1] I will take the task in hand with the best will in the world: for as to my qualifications, you who have judged me capable of it must see to that yourself.
Lucius Verus to Fronto
165 A.D.
To my master.
You are aware I am sure, my dearest master, even if I keep silence, how keenly I feel every trouble of yours however slight. But, indeed, since you have lost simultaneously both a wife beloved through so many years, and a most sweet grandson, . . . . and you have known greater woes than I can dare to console my master for with well-turned words, but it is a father's part to pour forth a
- ↑ Notes on the conduct of the war mentioned above, Ad Verum, ii. 3. See above, p. 194.
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