§10.25.1si interest, id quod homines arbitrantur, rei p. te, ut instituisti atque fecisti, navare operam rebusque maximis, quae ad exstinguendas reliquias belli pertinent, interesse, nihil videris melius neque laudabilius neque honestius facere posse, istamque operam tuam, navitatem, animum in rem p. celeritati praeturae anteponendam censeo.
If, as people think, it is of importance to the republic that you, as you have begun and indeed done, exert yourself and take part in those most important matters which pertain to wiping out the remnants of the war, you seem to be able to do nothing better, more praiseworthy, or more honorable; and I judge that this effort, activity, and devotion of yours to the republic should be preferred to haste for the praetorship.
nolo enim te ignorare quantam laudem consecutus sis; mihi crede, proximam Planco, idque ipsius Planci testimonio, praeterea fama scientiaque omnium.
For I do not wish you to be ignorant of how great praise you have obtained; believe me, it is next to that of Plancus, and that by the testimony of Plancus himself, as well as by the rumor and knowledge of everyone.
§10.25.2quam ob rem, si quid operis tibi etiam nunc restat, id maximo opere censeo persequendum; quid enim honestius, aut quid honesto anteponendum? sin autem satis factum rei p.
Therefore, if any work still remains for you even now, I judge that it should be pursued with the greatest effort; for what is more honorable, or what should be preferred to the honorable?
putas, celeriter ad comitia, quoniam mature futura sunt, veniendum censeo, dum modo ne haec ambitiosa festinatio aliquid imminuat eius gloriae, quam consecuti sumus.
But if you think that satisfaction has been given to the republic, I judge that you should come quickly to the comitia, since they will be held early, provided that this ambitious haste does not in any way diminish that glory which we have obtained.
multi clarissimi viri, cum rei p. darent operam, annum petitionis suae non obierunt.
Many most illustrious men, when they were giving their labor to the republic, did not observe the year of their candidacy.
quod eo facilius nobis est, quod non est annus hic tibi destinatus, ut, si aedilis fuisses, post biennium tuus annus esset.
This is the easier for us because this year was not destined for you—as it would have been, if you had been aedile, that your year would be after a biennium.
nunc nihil praetermittere videbere usitati et quasi legitimi temporis ad petendum.
Now you will seem to omit nothing of the customary and, as it were, legitimate time for petitioning.
video autem Planco cos. , etsi etiam sine eo rationes expeditas haberes, tamen splendidiorem petitionem tuam, si modo ista ex sententia confecta essent.
Moreover, I see that with Plancus as consul, although even without him you would have your interests in readiness, your candidacy would nevertheless be more splendid, if only those matters of yours were finished satisfactorily.
§10.25.3omnino plura me scribere, cum tuum tantum consilium iudiciumque sit, non ita necesse arbitrabar; sed tamen sententiam meam tibi ignotam esse nolebam; cuius est haec summa, ut omnia te metiri dignitate malim quam ambitione maioremque fructum ponere in perpetuitate laudis quam in celeritate praeturae.
Altogether, since there is so much of your own counsel and judgment, I did not think it so necessary for me to write more; yet I did not wish my opinion to be unknown to you, the sum of which is this: that I would prefer you to measure everything by dignity rather than by ambition, and to place greater fruit in the permanence of praise than in the speed of the praetorship.
haec eadem locutus sum domi meae adhibito Quinto, fratre meo et Caecina et Calvisio studiosissimis tui, cum Dardanus, libertus tuus, interesset.
I spoke these same things at my house, having invited my brother Quintus, and Caecina and Calvisius, who are most devoted to you, while your freedman Dardanus was present.
omnibus probari videbatur oratio mea; sed tu optime iudicabis.
My speech seemed to be approved by all; but you will judge best.