§10.15.1his litteris scriptis quae postea accidissent scire te ad rem p. putavi pertinere.
After this letter was written, I thought it concerned the republic that you should know what had happened afterwards.
sedulitas mea, ut spero, et mihi et rei p. tulit fructum.
My diligence, as I hope, has borne fruit both for myself and for the republic.
namque adsiduis internuntiis cum Lepido egi ut omissa omni contentione reconciliataque voluntate nostra communi consilio rei p. succurreret, se, liberos urbemque pluris quam unum perditum abiectumque latronem putaret obsequioque meo, si ita faceret, ad omnis res abuteretur.
For by means of constant messengers I urged Lepidus that, laying aside all contention and reconciling our goodwill, he should succor the republic with our common counsel; that he should value himself, his children, and the city more than one ruined and abject bandit; and that, if he did so, he should make full use of my compliance in all matters.
profeci.
I succeeded.
§10.15.2itaque per Laterensem internuntium fidem mihi dedit se Antonium, si prohibere provincia sua non potuisset, bello persecuturum, me ut venirem copiasque coniungerem rogavit, eoque magis, quod et Antonius ab equitatu firmus esse dicebatur et Lepidus ne mediocrem quidem equitatum habebat; nam etiam ex paucitate eius non multis ante diebus decem qui optimi fuerant ad me transierunt.
Therefore, through Laterensis as messenger, he gave me his word that if he could not keep Antony out of his province, he would pursue him in war; he asked me to come and join forces, and all the more so because Antony was said to be strong in respect of cavalry, while Lepidus did not have even a moderate cavalry force; for even from his small number, not many days before, ten who had been the best came over to me.
quibus rebus ego cognitis cunctatus non sum; in cursu bonorum consiliorum Lepidum adiuvandum putavi.
Having learned these things, I did not hesitate; I thought Lepidus should be helped in the course of his good designs.
§10.15.3adventus meus quid profecturus esset vidi, vel quod equitatu meo persequi atque opprimere equitatum eius possem, vel quod exercitus Lepidi eam partem; quae corrupta est et ab re p. alienata, et corrigere et coercere praesentia mei exercitus possem.
I saw what benefit my arrival would bring, either because I could pursue and crush his cavalry with my own, or because I could, by the presence of my army, both correct and restrain that part of Lepidus' army which has been corrupted and alienated from the republic.
itaque in Isara, flumine maximo, quod in finibus est Allobrogum, ponte uno die facto exercitum a. d. iiii Idus Mai. traduxi.
Therefore, having built a bridge in a single day over the Isara, a very large river which is in the territory of the Allobroges, I led my army across on May 12th.
Cum vero mihi nuntiatum esset L. Antonium praemissum cum equitibus et cohortibus ad forum Iuli venisse, fratrem cum equitum quattuor milibus ut occurreret ei misi a. d. iii Idus Mai. ; ipse maximis itineribus cum iiii legionibus expeditis et reliquo equitatu subsequar.
But when it was reported to me that Lucius Antony, sent ahead with cavalry and cohorts, had come to Forum Iuli, I sent my brother with four thousand cavalry to meet him on May 13th; I myself will follow closely by forced marches with four light-armed legions and the rest of the cavalry.
§10.15.4si nos mediocris modo fortuna rei p. adiuverit, et audaciae perditorum et nostrae sollicitudinis hic finem reperiemus.
If only a moderate fortune of the republic helps us, we shall find here an end both to the audacity of the ruined men and to our own anxiety.
quod si latro praecognito nostro adventu rursus in Italiam se recipere coeperit, Bruti erit officium occurrere ei; cui scio nec consilium nec animum defuturum.
But if the bandit, having learned of our arrival beforehand, should begin to retreat again into Italy, it will be the duty of Brutus to meet him; and I know that neither counsel nor courage will fail him.
ego tamen, si id acciderit, fratrem cum equitatu mittam qui sequatur Italiamque a vastatione defendat.
Nevertheless, if that happens, I will send my brother with cavalry to pursue him and defend Italy from devastation.
fac valeas meque mutuo diligas.
Take care to keep well, and love me in return.