§1.4.1A. d. xvi K. Febr. cum in senatu pulcherrime staremus, quod iam illam sententiam Bibuli de tribus legatis pridie eius diei fregeramus, unumque certamen esset relictum sententia Volcaci, res ab adversariis nostris extracta est variis calumniis; causam enim frequenti senatu non magna varietate magnaque invidia eorum, qui a te causam regiam alio traferebant, obtinebamus.
On January 17th, when we stood in an excellent position in the senate—since we had already on the day before shattered that proposal of Bibulus about three legates, and only one contest was left, namely the proposal of Volcacius—the matter was dragged out by our adversaries with various chicaneries; for we were winning our case in a crowded senate with no great division and to the great unpopularity of those who were trying to transfer the king's business from you to someone else.
eo die acerbum habuimus Curionem, Bibulum multo iustiorem, paene etiam amicum; Caninius et Cato negarunt se legem ullam ante comitia esse laturos.
On that day we found Curio bitter, Bibulus much more fair, almost even a friend; Caninius and Cato declared that they would not propose any law before the elections.
senatus haberi ante K. Februarias per legem Pupiam, id quod scis, non potest neque mense Febr. toto nisi perfectis aut reiectis legationibus. §1.4.2haec tamen opinio. est populi Romani, a tuis invidis atque obtrectatoribus nomen inductum fictae religionis, non tam ut te impediret, quam ut ne quis propter exercitus cupiditatem Alexandriam vellet ire.
As you know, under the Pupian law, a meeting of the senate cannot be held before the Kalends of February, nor during the whole month of February, unless the embassies have been either completed or rejected. This, however, is the opinion of the Roman people: that the name of a feigned religious scruple was introduced by your envious detractors, not so much to hinder you, as so that no one, from a desire for an army, should want to go to Alexandria.
dignitatis autem tuae nemo est quin existimet habitam esse rationem ab senatu; nemo est enim, qui nesciat, quo minus discessio fieret, per adversarios tuos esse factum;
As for your prestige, there is no one who does not think that regard was had for it by the senate; for there is no one who does not know that the failure to come to a division was brought about by your adversaries.
qui nunc populi nomine, re autem vera sceleratissimo tribunorum latrocinio si quae conabuntur agere, satis mi provisum est, ut ne quid salvis auspiciis aut legibus aut etiam sine vi agere possent. §1.4.3ego neque de meo studio neque de non nullorum iniuria scribendum mihi esse arbitror; quid enim aut me ostentem, qui, si vitam pro tua dignitate profundam, nullam partem videar meritorum tuorum adsecutus, aut de aliorum iniuriis querar, quod sine summo dolore facere non possum? ego tibi a vi, hac praesertim imbecillitate magistratuum, praestare nihil possum;
If they now attempt to do anything in the name of the people, but in reality by the most wicked brigandage of the tribunes, I have taken sufficient precautions so that they can do nothing without violating the auspices or the laws, or even without violence. I think I ought not to write either of my own zeal or of the injustice of certain persons; for why should I either parade myself—who, even if I were to pour out my life for your dignity, would seem to have attained no fraction of your services to me—or complain of the injustices of others, which I cannot do without the deepest pain?
vi excepta possum confirmare te et senatus et populi Romani summo studio amplitudinem tuam retenturum.
Against violence I can guarantee you nothing, especially with this weakness of the magistrates; but violence excepted, I can assure you that, through the greatest zeal of both the senate and the Roman people, you will retain your high position.