§10.21.1puderet me inconstantiae mearum litterarum, si non haec ex aliena levitate penderent.
I should be ashamed of the inconsistency of my letters, if these things did not depend on the fickleness of another.
omnia feci qua re Lepido coniuncto ad rem p. defendendam minore sollicitudine vestra perditis resisterem; omnia ei et petenti recepi et ultro pollicitus sum scripsique tibi biduo ante confidere me bono Lepido esse usurum communique consilio bellum administraturum.
I have done everything so that, by joining with Lepidus to defend the republic, I might resist the ruined men with less anxiety on your part; I both undertook everything for him at his request and promised of my own accord, and I wrote to you two days ago that I trusted I should find Lepidus well-disposed and should conduct the war by common counsel.
credidi chirographis eius, adfirmationi praesentis Laterensis, qui tum apud me erat reconciliaremque me Lepido fidemque haberem orabat.
I believed his own handwriting, and the assurance of Laterensis who was then with me and implored me to reconcile myself to Lepidus and to have faith in him.
non licuit diutius bene de eo sperare; illud certe cavi et cavebo ne mea credulitate rei p. summa fallatur.
It was not permitted to hope well of him any longer; I certainly took care, and will take care, that the supreme interest of the republic is not endangered by my credulity.
§10.21.2Cum Isaram flumen uno die ponte effecto exercitum traduxissem pro magnitudine rei celeritatem adhibens, quod petierat per litteras ipse ut maturarem venire, praesto mihi fuit stator eius cum litteris, quibus ne venirem denuntiabat; se posse per se conficere negotium; interea ad Isaram exspectarem.
When, having built a bridge in a single day, I had led my army across the river Isara, applying speed in proportion to the importance of the matter, because he himself had requested by letter that I should hasten to come, his orderly met me with a letter in which he warned me not to come; saying that he could settle the business by himself; in the meantime, I should wait at the Isara.
indicabo temerarium meum consilium tibi: nihilo minus ire decreram existimans eum socium gloriae vitare.
I will disclose my rash plan to you: I had nevertheless decided to go, thinking that he wished to avoid a partner in glory.
putabam posse me nec de laude ieiuni hominis delibare quicquam et subesse tamen propinquis locis, ut, si durius aliquid esset, succurrere celeriter possem.
I thought that I could both avoid detracting anything from the praise of a greedy man, and yet remain near in neighboring places, so that, if anything more difficult should happen, I could quickly come to his aid.
§10.21.3ego a non malus homo hoc suspicabar.
I, as a guileless man, suspected this.
at Laterensis, vir sanctis simus suo chirographo mittit mihi litteras nimisque desperans de se, de exercitu, de Lepidi fide querensque se destitutum, in quibus aperte denuntiat videam ne fallar; suam fidem solutam esse; rei p. ne desim.
But Laterensis, a most upright man, sent me a letter in his own hand, despairing too much of himself, of the army, and of Lepidus's loyalty, and complaining that he had been abandoned; in which letter he openly warns me to see that I am not deceived, stating that his own pledge was dissolved, and imploring me not to fail the republic.
exemplar eius chirographi Titio misi; ipsa chirographa omnia, et ea quibus credidi, et ea quibus fidem non habendam putavi, Laevo Cispio dabo perferenda, qui omnibus iis interfuit rebus.
I have sent a copy of his handwritten letter to Titius; the actual handwritings themselves, both those in which I believed and those which I thought should not be trusted, I will give to Laevus Cispius to bring to you, who was present at all these matters.
§10.21.4accessit eo ut milites eius, cum Lepidus contionaretur, improbi per se, corrupti etiam per eos qui praesunt, Canidios Rufrenosque et ceteros quos cum opus erit scietis, conclamarent viri boni pacem se velle neque esse cum ullis pugnaturos duobus iam consulibus singularibus occisis, tot civibus pro patria amissis, hostibus denique omnibus iudicatis bonisque publicatis; neque hoc aut vindicarat Lepidus aut sanarat.
To this was added that his soldiers, while Lepidus was delivering a speech—worthless in themselves and corrupted also by those in command, the Canidii, the Rufreni, and others whom you will know when there is need—shouted out that they, as good citizens, wanted peace and would not fight with anyone, now that two extraordinary consuls had already been slain, so many citizens lost for their country, and finally all declared enemies and their property confiscated; and Lepidus had neither punished nor corrected this.
§10.21.5hoc me venire et duobus exercitibus coniunctis obicere exercitum fidelissimum, auxilia maxima, principes Galliae, provinciam cunctam summae dementiae et temeritatis esse vidi, mihique, si ita oppressus essem remque publicam mecum prodidissem, mortuo non modo honorem sed misericordiam quoque defuturum. itaque rediturus sum nec tanta munera perditis hominibus dari posse sinam.
I saw that for me to come here and, when two armies were joined, to expose a most faithful army, very great auxiliary forces, the leaders of Gaul, and the entire province, would be the height of madness and rashness; and that to me, if I were thus crushed and had betrayed the republic along with myself, not only honor but even pity would be lacking when dead.
§10.21.6ut exercitum locis habeam opportunis, provinciam tuear, etiam si ille exercitus descierit, omniaque integra servem dabo operam, quoad exercitus hoc summittatis parique felicitate rem p. hic vindicetis.
I will take care to keep my army in favorable positions, defend the province even if that army defects, and preserve everything intact, until you send armies here and with equal good fortune rescue the republic here.
nec depugnare, si occasio tulerit, nec obsideri, si necesse fuerit, nec mori, si casus inciderit, pro vobis paratior fuit quisquam.
No one was ever more prepared to fight to the end for you if occasion offers, nor to be besieged if it is necessary, nor to die if chance brings it about.
qua re hortor te, mi Cicero, exercitum hoc traiciendum quam primum cures et matures, prius quam hostes magis conroborentur et nostri perturbentur.
Therefore, my Cicero, I urge you to take care that the army is crossed over here as soon as possible and to hasten, before the enemy is further strengthened and our men are thrown into confusion.
in quo si celeritas erit adhibita, res p. in possessione victoriae deletis sceleratis permanebit.
If speed is applied in this matter, the republic will remain in possession of victory once the wicked are destroyed.
fac valeas meque diligas.
Make sure you keep well and love me.