§1.8.1de omnibus rebus, quae ad te pertinent, quid actum, quid constitutum sit, quid Pompeius susceperit, optime ex M. Plaetorio cognosces, qui non solum interfuit iis rebus, sed etiam praefuit neque ullum officium erga te hominis amantissimi, prudentissimi, diligentissimi praetermisit.
Concerning all matters which relate to you, what has been done, what has been decided, and what Pompey has undertaken, you will learn best from Marcus Plaetorius, who not only was present at these matters but also took charge of them, and did not neglect any duty towards you expected of a most affectionate, prudent, and diligent man.
ex eodem de toto statu rerum communium cognosces.
From the same person you will learn about the entire state of our common affairs.
quae quales sint, non facile est scribere.
What they are like is not easy to write.
sunt quidem certe in amicorum nostrorum potestate, atque ita, ut nullam mutationem umquam hac hominum aetate habitura res esse videatur.
They are indeed certainly in the power of our friends, and in such a way that the situation seems unlikely ever to undergo any change in this generation of men.
§1.8.2ego quidem, ut debeo et ut tute mihi praecepisti et ut me pietas utilitasque cogit, me ad eius rationes adiungo, quem tu in meis rationibus tibi esse adiungendum putasti sed te non praeterit, quam sit difficile sensum in re publica, praesertim rectum et confirmatum, deponere.
As for me, as I ought and as you yourself instructed me and as duty and utility compel me, I attach myself to his interests, whom you thought should be attached to you in my interests. But it does not escape you how difficult it is to lay aside one's opinion on public affairs, especially one that is correct and firmly established.
verum tamen ipse me conformo ad eius voluntatem, a quo honeste dissentire non possum, neque id facio, ut forsitan quibusdam videar, simulatione; tantum enim animi inductio et me hercule amor erga Pompeium apud me valet, ut, quae illi utilia sunt, et quae ille vult, ea mihi omnia iam et recta et vera videantur; neque, ut ego arbitror, errarent ne adversarii quidem eius, si, cum pares esse non possent, pugnare desisterent.
Nevertheless, I conform myself to the will of him from whom I cannot honorably dissent, nor do I do this, as perhaps I may seem to some, out of pretense; for the inclination of my mind and indeed my love towards Pompey have such weight with me that whatever is useful to him and whatever he wishes now seem to me all both right and true; nor, as I think, would even his adversaries err if, since they cannot be equal to him, they ceased to fight.
§1.8.3me quidem etiam illa res consolatur, quod ego is sum, cui vel maxime concedant omnes, ut vel ea defendam, quae Pompeius velit, vel taceam vel etiam, id quod mihi maxime libet, ad nostra me studia referam litterarum; quod profecto faciam, si mihi per eiusdem amicitiam licebit.
Indeed, this fact also consoles me, that I am one to whom everyone would most of all concede that I may either defend what Pompey wishes, or remain silent, or even—which pleases me most—betake myself back to our literary studies; which indeed I shall do, if I am permitted through the friendship of the same man.
quae enim proposita fuerat nobis, cum et honoribus amplissimis et laboribus maximis perfuncti essemus, dignitas in sententiis dicendis, libertas in re publica capessenda, ea sublata totast, nec mihi magis quam omnibus; nam aut adsentiendum est nulla cum gravitate paucis aut frustra dissentiendum.
For that dignity in expressing opinions and that freedom in managing public affairs, which had been proposed to us when we had discharged both the most ample honors and the greatest labors, has been entirely taken away, not more from me than from everyone; for we must either agree with a few men with no gravity, or dissent in vain.
§1.8.4haec ego ad te ob eam causam maxime scribo, ut iam de tua quoque ratione meditere.
I write this to you chiefly for this reason, that you may now also meditate on your own policy.
commutata tota ratio est senatus, iudiciorum, rei totius publicae; otium nobis exoptandum est, quod ii, qui potiuntur rerum, praestaturi videntur, si quidam homines patientius eorum potentiam ferre potuerint; dignitatem quidem illam consularem fortis et constantis senatoris nihil est quod cogitemus; amissa culpa est eorum, qui a senatu et ordinem coniunctissimum et hominem clarissimum abalienarunt.
The whole system of the senate, of the courts, and of the entire state has been changed; we must wish for peace, which those who possess power seem likely to provide, if certain men can bear their power more patiently; as for that consular dignity of a brave and constant senator, there is no reason for us to think of it; it has been lost by the fault of those who alienated from the senate both a most closely allied order and a most illustrious man.
§1.8.5sed ut ad ea, quae coniunctiora rebus tuis sunt, revertar, Pompeium tibi valde amicum esse cognovi, et eo tu consule, quantum ego perspicio, omnia, quae voles, obtinebis, quibus in rebus me sibi ille adfixum habebit, neque a me ulla res, quae ad te pertineat, neglegetur; neque enim verebor, ne sim ei molestus, cui iucundum erit etiam propter se ipsum, quom me esse gratum videbit.
But to return to those things which are more closely connected with your affairs, I have realized that Pompey is very friendly to you, and during his consulship, as far as I can see, you will obtain everything you wish, in which matters he will have me closely attached to him, nor will any matter which relates to you be neglected by me; for I shall not fear lest I be troublesome to him to whom it will be a pleasure, even for his own sake, when he sees that I am grateful.
§1.8.6tu velim tibi ita persuadeas, nullam rem esse minimam, quae ad te pertineat, quae mihi non carior sit quam meae res omnes; idque cum sentiam, sedulitate mihimet ipse satis facere possum, re quidem ipsa ideo mihi non satis facio, quod nullam partem tuorum meritorum non modo referenda, sed ne cogitanda quidem gratia consequi possum.
I would have you convince yourself of this, that there is no matter so small relating to you which is not dearer to me than all my own affairs; and since I feel this, I can satisfy myself in diligence, but in the matter itself I do not satisfy myself, because I cannot catch up with any part of your merits, not only in returning gratitude, but not even in thinking of it.
§1.8.7rem te valde bene gessisse rumor erat; exspectabantur litterae tuae, de quibus eramus iam cum Pompeio locuti.
There was a rumor that you have managed your affairs very well; your letter was expected, about which we had already spoken with Pompey.
quae si erunt allatae, nostrum studium exstabit in conveniendis magistratibus et senatoribus, ceteraque, quae ad te pertinebunt cum etiam plus contenderimus quam possumus, minus tamen faciemus quam debemus.
If it is brought, our zeal will be evident in meeting with magistrates and senators, and in other things which relate to you; even when we exert ourselves more than we can, we shall still do less than we ought.