§6nam cum in ipso beneficio vestro tanta magnitudo est ut eam complecti oratione non possim, tum in studiis vestris tanta animorum declarata est voluntas ut non solum calamitatem mihi detraxisse, sed etiam dignitatem auxisse videamini.
For not only is there such greatness in your benefit itself that I cannot embrace it in a speech, but also in your enthusiasm such goodwill of minds has been declared that you seem to have not only removed calamity from me, but even to have increased my dignity.
non enim pro meo reditu ut pro P. Popili, nobilissimi hominis, adulescentes filii et multi praeterea cognati atque adfines deprecati sunt, non ut pro Q. Metello, clarissimo viro, iam spectata aetate filius, non L. Diadematus consularis, summa auctoritate vir, non C. Metellus censorius, non eorum liberi, non Q. Metellus Nepos, qui tum consulatum petebat, non sororum filii, Luculli, Servilii, Scipiones; permulti enim tum Metelli aut Metellarum liberi pro Q. Metelli reditu vobis ac patribus vestris supplicaverunt.
For on behalf of my return, young sons and many other relatives by blood and marriage did not entreat as they did for P. Popilius, a most noble man; nor did a son of already proven age entreat as for Q. Metellus, a most illustrious man, nor did L. Diadematus, a man of consular rank and highest authority, nor C. Metellus of censorial rank, nor their children, nor Q. Metellus Nepos, who was then seeking the consulship, nor the sons of his sisters, the Luculli, Servilii, and Scipiones; for very many Metelli or children of Metellan women then supplicated you and your fathers for the return of Q. Metellus.
quod si ipsius summa dignitas maximaeque res gestae non satis valerent, tamen fili pietas, propinquorum preces, adulescentium squalor, maiorum natu lacrimae populum Romanum movere potuerunt.
But even if his own supreme dignity and greatest achievements were not influential enough, yet the devotion of his son, the prayers of his relatives, the mourning attire of the young men, and the tears of the elders were able to move the Roman people.
§7nam C. Mari, qui post illos veteres clarissimos consularis, hac vestra patrumque memoria, tertius ante me consularis subiit indignissimam fortunam praestantissima sua gloria, dissimilis fuit ratio; non enim ille deprecatione rediit, sed in discessu civium exercitu se armisque revocavit.
For the case of C. Marius was different, who, after those ancient most illustrious men of consular rank, within your and your fathers' memory, was the third consular before me to undergo a most undeserved fortune despite his outstanding glory; for he did not return by entreaty, but during the departure of the citizens, he recalled himself by means of an army and arms.
at me nudum a propinquis, nulla cognatione munitum, nullo armorum ac tumultus metu, C. Pisonis, generi mei, divina quaedam et inaudita auctoritas atque virtus, fratrisque miserrimi atque optimi cotidianae lacrimae sordesque lugubres a vobis deprecatae sunt.
But as for me, stripped of relatives, protected by no kindred, with no fear of arms or tumult, a certain divine and unheard-of authority and virtue of my son-in-law, C. Piso, and the daily tears and mournful squalor of my most wretched and excellent brother, entreated you on my behalf.
§8frater erat unus qui suo squalore vestros oculos inflecteret, qui suo fletu desiderium mei memoriamque renovaret; qui statuerat, Quirites, si vos me sibi non reddidissetis, eandem subire fortunam; tanto in me amore exstitit ut negaret fas esse non modo domicilio, sed ne sepulcro quidem se a me esse seiunctum.
There was only my brother alone to turn your eyes by his mourning attire, to renew the longing and memory of me by his weeping; who had resolved, citizens, if you had not restored me to him, to undergo the same fortune; he stood out with such great love toward me that he said it was not right by divine law for him to be separated from me, not only in residence, but not even in the grave.
pro me praesente senatus hominumque praeterea viginti milia vestem mutaverunt, pro eodem me absente unius squalorem sordisque vidistis.
For me when I was present, the senate and besides them twenty thousand men changed their raiment; for the same me when I was absent, you saw the mourning and squalor of only one man.
Vnus hic, qui quidem in foro posset esse, mihi pietate filius inventus est, beneficio parens, amore idem qui semper fuit frater.
This one man, who indeed was able to be in the forum, was found to be a son to me in devotion, a parent in benefit, and in love the same brother he had always been.
nam coniugis miserae squalor et luctus atque optimae filiae maeror adsiduus filique parvi desiderium mei lacrimaeque pueriles aut itineribus necessariis aut magnam partem tectis ac tenebris continebantur.
For the mourning and grief of my wretched wife, the constant sorrow of my excellent daughter, and the longing of my little son for me and his childish tears were confined either by necessary journeys or for the most part by the roof and darkness.
qua re hoc maius est vestrum in nos promeritum, quod non multitudini propinquorum sed nobismet ipsis nos reddidistis.
Therefore, this merit of yours toward us is all the greater, because you restored us not to a multitude of relatives, but to ourselves.
§9sed quem ad modum propinqui, quos ego parare non potui, mihi ad deprecandam calamitatem meam non fuerunt, sic—illud quod mea virtus praestare debuit—adiutores auctores hortatoresque ad me restituendum ita multi fuerunt ut longe superiores omnis hac dignitate copiaque superarem.
But just as relatives, whom I could not provide, were not present for me to entreat against my calamity, so—what my own virtue was bound to display—the helpers, authors, and encouragers for my restoration were so many that I far surpassed all predecessors in this dignity and abundance.
numquam de P. Popilio, clarissimo ac fortissimo viro, numquam de Q. Metello, nobilissimo et constantissimo cive, numquam de C. Mario, custode civitatis atque imperi vestri, in senatu mentio facta est.
Never was mention made in the senate concerning P. Popilius, a most illustrious and brave man; never concerning Q. Metellus, a most noble and steadfast citizen; never concerning C. Marius, the guardian of your state and empire.
§10tribuniciis superiores illi rogationibus nulla auctoritate senatus sunt restituti, Marius vero non modo non a senatu sed etiam oppresso senatu est restitutus.
Those predecessors were restored by tribunician rogations with no authority of the senate; Marius, however, was restored not only not by the senate but even with the senate oppressed.
nec rerum gestarum memoria in reditu C. Mari sed exercitus atque arma valuerunt; at de me ut valeret semper senatus flagitavit, ut aliquando proficeret, cum primum licuit, frequentia atque auctoritate perfecit.
Nor did the memory of achievements prevail in the return of C. Marius, but an army and arms; whereas concerning me, the senate always demanded that it should prevail, and when first it was permitted, accomplished it with its full attendance and authority so that it might finally bear fruit.
nullus in eorum reditu motus municipiorum et coloniarum factus est; at me in patriam ter suis decretis Italia cuncta revocavit.
No movement of the municipia and colonies occurred in their return; but Italy as a whole recalled me to my fatherland three times by its decrees.
illi inimicis interfectis magna civium caede facta reducti sunt: ego iis a quibus eiectus sum provincias obtinentibus, inimico autem, optimo viro et mitissimo, consule altero consule referente reductus sum, cum is inimicus, qui ad meam perniciem vocem suam communibus hostibus praebuisset, spiritu dumtaxat viveret, re quidem infra omnis mortuos amandatus esset.
They were brought back after enemies had been slain and a great slaughter of citizens made; I was brought back while those by whom I had been cast out were holding provinces, and while one consul, though an enemy, was a most excellent and gentle man, and the other consul was making the proposal, at a time when that enemy who had lent his voice to the common enemies for my destruction was merely breathing, but in reality had been banished below all the dead.