§33quid de fratribus dicam? noli, Caesar, putare de unius capite nos agere: aut tres Ligarii retinendi in civitate sunt aut tres ex civitate exterminandi.
What shall I say of the brothers? Do not think, Caesar, that we are pleading for the life of only one person: either three Ligarii must be retained in the state, or three must be banished from the state.
quodvis exsilium his est optatius quam patria, quam domus, quam di penates, illo uno exsulante.
Any exile is more desirable to them than their homeland, than their home, than their household gods, as long as that one is in exile.
si fraterne, si pie, si cum dolore faciunt, moveant te horum lacrimae, moveat pietas, moveat germanitas; valeat tua vox illa quae vicit.
If they act brotherly, if dutifully, if with pain, let the tears of these move you, let their devotion move you, let their brotherly bond move you; let that voice of yours which conquered prevail.
te enim dicere audiebamus nos omnis adversarios putare, nisi qui nobiscum essent; te omnis qui contra te non essent tuos.
For we used to hear you say that we regarded all as adversaries, unless they were with us; but that you regarded all who were not against you as yours.
videsne igitur hunc splendorem omnem, hanc Brocchorum domum, hunc L. Marcium, C. Caesetium, L. Corfidium, hos omnis equites Romanos qui adsunt veste mutata, non solum notos tibi verum etiam probatos viros.
Do you see, then, all this splendor, this house of the Brocchi, this Lucius Marcius, Gaius Caesetius, Lucius Corfidius, all these Roman knights who are present with changed garments, men not only known to you but also approved?
atque his irascebamur, hos requirebamus, his non nulli etiam minabantur.
And we were angry with these, we sought after them, some even threatened them.
conserva igitur tuis suos ut, quem ad modum cetera quae dicta sunt a te, sic hoc verissimum reperiatur.
Preserve, therefore, their own for your friends, so that, just as the other things which were said by you, so this also may be found to be most true.
§34quod si penitus perspicere posses concordiam Ligariorum, omnis fratres tecum iudicares fuisse.
But if you could have perceived thoroughly the harmony of the Ligarii, you would have judged that all the brothers had been with you.
an potest quisquam dubitare quin, si Q. Ligarius in Italia esse potuisset, in eadem sententia futurus fuerit in qua fratres fuerunt? quis est qui horum consensum conspirantem et paene conflatum in hac prope aequalitate fraterna noverit qui hoc non sentiat, quidvis prius futurum fuisse quam ut hi fratres diversas sententias fortunasque sequerentur? voluntate igitur omnes tecum fuerunt: tempestate abreptus est unus qui, si consilio id fecisset, esset eorum similis quos tu tamen salvos esse voluisti.
For can anyone doubt that, if Quintus Ligarius could have been in Italy, he would have been in the same opinion in which his brothers were? Who is there who knows the harmonious and almost fused agreement of these in this near-brotherly equality, who does not feel this, that anything would have happened sooner than that these brothers should follow different opinions and fortunes? By their will, therefore, all were with you: one was carried away by a storm, who, if he had done it by design, would be like those whom you nevertheless wished to be safe.
§35sed ierit ad bellum, dissenserit non a te solum verum etiam a fratribus: hi te orant tui.
But suppose he did go to war, suppose he did differ not only from you but also from his brothers: these, your friends, petition you.
equidem, cum tuis omnibus negotiis interessem, memoria teneo qualis T. Ligarius quaestor urbanus fuerit erga te et dignitatem tuam.
Indeed, when I was present at all your business, I hold in memory what kind of urban quaestor Titus Ligarius was toward you and your dignity.
sed parum est me hoc meminisse: spero etiam te qui oblivisci nihil soles nisi iniurias—cum hoc est animi, tum etiam ingeni tui—te aliquid de huius illo quaestorio officio, etiam de aliis quibusdam quaestoribus reminiscentem recordari.
But it is not enough for me to remember this: I hope that you also, who are accustomed to forget nothing except injuries—which is a quality both of your mind and of your nature—will remember something as you recall his quaestorian service, and also that of certain other quaestors.
§36hic igitur T. Ligarius, qui tum nihil egit aliud—neque enim haec divinabat—nisi ut tui se studiosum et bonum virum iudicares, nunc a te supplex fratris salutem petit.
This Titus Ligarius, therefore, who then did nothing else—for he did not foresee these things—except that you should judge him to be zealous for you and a good man, now as a suppliant asks of you the safety of his brother.
quam huius admonitus officio cum utrisque his dederis, tris fratres optimos et integerrimos non solum sibi ipsos neque his tot talibus viris neque nobis necessariis tuis sed etiam rei publicae condonaveris.
When, reminded of his service, you grant this to both of these, you will have granted three most excellent and upright brothers, not only to themselves, nor to these so many and such men, nor to us your close friends, but also to the republic.
§37fac igitur, quod de homine nobilissimo et clarissimo fecisti nuper in curia, nunc idem in foro de optimis et huic omni frequentiae probatissimis fratribus.
Do, therefore, what you did recently in the senate house concerning a most noble and famous man, now do the same in the forum concerning these most excellent brothers, highly approved by all this crowd.
ut concessisti illum senatui, sic da hunc populo, cuius voluntatem carissimam semper habuisti, et, si ille dies tibi gloriosissimus, populo Romano gratissimus fuit, noli, obsecro, dubitare, C. Caesar, similem illi gloriae laudem quam saepissime quaerere.
As you granted him to the senate, so give this man to the people, whose will you have always held most dear; and, if that day was most glorious for you and most pleasing to the Roman people, do not, I beseech you, Gaius Caesar, hesitate to seek praise similar to that glory as often as possible.
nihil est tam populare quam bonitas, nulla de virtutibus tuis plurimis nec admirabilior nec gratior misericordia est.
Nothing is so popular as goodness, and of your many virtues, none is more admirable or more pleasing than mercy.
§38homines enim ad deos nulla re propius accedunt quam salutem hominibus dando.
For men approach closer to the gods in no other thing than by giving safety to men.
nihil habet nec fortuna tua maius quam ut possis, nec natura melius quam ut velis servare quam plurimos.
Your fortune has nothing greater than that you are able, nor your nature anything better than that you wish, to save as many as possible.
longiorem orationem causa forsitan postulet, tua certe natura breviorem.
Perhaps the cause may demand a longer speech, but your nature certainly a shorter one.
qua re cum utilius esse arbitrer te ipsum quam aut me aut quemquam loqui tecum, finem iam faciam: tantum te admonebo, si illi absenti salutem dederis, praesentibus te his daturum.
Therefore, since I judge it to be more useful that you yourself should speak with yourself than either I or anyone else with you, I will now make an end: I will only remind you of this, that if you give safety to him in his absence, you will be giving it to these who are present.