§10.8.1si cui forte videor diutius et hominum exspectationem et spem rei p. de mea voluntate tenuisse suspensam, huic prius excusandum me esse arbitror quam de insequenti officio quicquam ulli pollicendum; non enim praeteritam culpam: videri volo redemisse, sed optimae mentis cogitata iam pridem maturo tempore enuntiare.
If by chance I seem to anyone to have kept both the expectation of men and the hope of the republic hanging in suspense concerning my intentions for rather too long, I think that I must excuse myself to this person before making any promise to anyone regarding my future duty; for I do not wish to appear to have redeemed a past fault, but rather to announce at a ripe moment the thoughts of a mind that has long been most excellent.
§10.8.2non me praeteribat in tanta sollicitudine hominum et tam perturbato statu civitatis fructuosissimam esse professionem bonae voluntatis, magnosque honores ex ea re; compluris consecutos videbam; sed cum in eum casum me fortuna demisisset, ut aut celeriter pollicendo magna mihi ipse ad proficiendum impedimenta opponerem aut, si in eo mihi temperavissem, maiores occasiones ad opitulandum haberem, expeditius iter communis salutis quam meae laudis esse volui.
It did not escape my notice that, in such great anxiety of men and in so disturbed a state of the commonwealth, the declaration of good intention was most fruitful, and I saw that many had obtained great honors from that source; but since fortune had cast me into such a situation that either by promising hastily I should oppose great obstacles to my own progress, or, if I restrained myself in that regard, I should have greater opportunities for helping, I wished the path of the common safety to be more open than that of my own praise.
nam quis in ea fortuna quae mea est, et ab ea vita quam in me cognitam hominibus arbitror et cum ea spe quam in manibus habeo, aut sordidum quicquam pati aut perniciosum concupiscere potest?
For who, in such fortune as is mine, and after such a life as I believe is well known to men in me, and with such hope as I hold in my hands, can either endure anything base or covet anything destructive?
§10.8.3sed aliquantum nobis temporis et magni labores et multae impensae opus fuerunt ut, quae rei p. bonisque omnibus polliceremur, exitu praestaremus neque ad auxilium patriae nudi cum bona voluntate sed cum facultatibus accederemus.
But we required some amount of time, great labors, and many expenses, in order that we might perform in the event what we promised to the republic and to all good citizens, and that we might approach the aid of our country not empty-handed with mere goodwill, but with actual resources.
confirmandus erat exercitus nobis magnis saepe praemiis sollicitatus, ut a b re p. potius moderata quam ab uno infinita speraret; confirmandae complures civitates, quae superiore anno largitionibus concessionibusque praemiorum erant obligatae, ut et illa vana putarent et eadem a melioribus auctoribus petenda existimarent; eliciendae etiam voluntates reliquorum, qui finitimis provinciis exercitibusque praefuerunt, ut potius cum pluribus societatem defendendae libertatis iniremus quam cum paucioribus funestam orbi terrarum victoriam partiremur.
We had to secure the army, which was often solicited by great rewards, so that it might hope for moderate things from the republic rather than infinite things from a single man; we had to secure several states which in the previous year had been bound by largesses and concessions of rewards, so that they might both consider those things empty and think that the same must be sought from better authorities; we also had to elicit the goodwill of the rest who were in charge of neighboring provinces and armies, so that we might enter into an alliance for defending liberty with many, rather than share a victory destructive to the whole world with a few.
§10.8.4muniendi vero nosmet ipsi fuimus aucto exercitu auxiliisque multiplicatis ut, cum praeferremus sensus aperte, tum etiam invitis quibusdam sciri quid defensuri essemus non esset periculosum.
Indeed, we ourselves had to be fortified by increasing our army and multiplying our auxiliaries, so that when we openly displayed our feelings, even though some were unwilling, it would not be dangerous for it to be known what we were about to defend.
ita numquam diffitebor multa me, ut ad effectum horum consiliorum pervenirem, et simulasse invitum et dissimulasse cum dolore, quod praematura denuntiatio boni civis imparati quam periculosa esset ex casu conlegae videbam.
Therefore, I will never deny that, in order to achieve the effect of these plans, I both feigned many things against my will and dissembled with pain, because I saw from the misfortune of my colleague how dangerous was the premature declaration of an unprepared good citizen.
§10.8.5quo nomine etiam C. Furnio legato, viro forti atque strenuo, plura etiam verbo quam scriptura mandata dedimus, ut et tectius ad vos perferrentur et nos essemus tutiores, quibusque rebus et communem salutem muniri et nos armari conveniret praecepimus.
For which reason we gave even more instructions by word of mouth than in writing to our legate C. Furnius, a brave and energetic man, so that they might be conveyed to you more secretly and we might be safer, and we instructed him by what means it was fitting both for the common safety to be fortified and for us to be armed.
ex quo intellegi potest curam rei p. summae defendendae iam pridem apud nos excubare.
From this it can be understood that care for defending the supreme republic has long been on watch among us.
§10.8.6nunc cum deum benignitate ab omni re sumus paratiores, non solum bene sperare de nobis homines sed explorate iudicare volumus.
Now, when by the kindness of the gods we are better prepared in every respect, we wish men not only to hope well of us but to judge with certainty.
legiones habeo quinque sub signis et sua fide virtuteque rei p. coniunctissimas et nostra liberalitate nobis obsequentis, provinciam omnium civitatium consensu paratissimam et summa contentione ad officia certantem, equitatus auxiliorumque tantas copias quantas hae gentes ad defendendam suam salutem libertatemque conficere possunt;
I have five legions under the standards, most closely bound to the republic by their own loyalty and valor, and obedient to us because of our liberality; a province most ready by the consensus of all its states and striving with the greatest effort toward its duties; and such forces of cavalry and auxiliaries as these nations can muster to defend their own safety and liberty.
ipse ita sum animo paratus, ut vel provinciam tueri vel ire quo res p. vocet vel tradere exercitum, auxilia provinciamque vel omnem impetum belli in me convertere non recusem, si modo meo casu aut confirmare patriae salutem aut periculum possim morari.
I myself am so prepared in mind that I would not refuse either to protect the province, or to go wherever the republic calls me, or to hand over the army, auxiliaries, and province, or to turn the whole impact of the war upon myself, if only by my own fate I might either establish the safety of my country or delay its danger.
§10.8.7haec si iam expeditis omnibus rebus tranquilloque statu civitatis polliceor, in damno meae laudis rei p. commodo laetabor; sin ad societatem integerrimorum et maximorum periculorum accedam, consilia mea aequis iudicibus ab obtrectatione invidorum defendenda commendo.
If I promise these things when all matters are already settled and the state of the commonwealth is tranquil, I shall rejoice in the advantage of the republic even at the loss of my own praise; but if I enter into a partnership of the most unimpaired and greatest dangers, I commend my plans to be defended by fair judges against the detraction of the envious.
mihi quidem ipsi fructus meritorum meorum in rei p. incolumitate satis magnus est paratus; eos vero, qui meam auctoritatem et multo magis vestram fidem secuti nec ulla spe decipi nec ullo metu terreri potuerunt, ut commendatos vobis habeatis petendum videtur.
For myself indeed, a sufficiently great fruit of my merits is prepared in the safety of the republic; but those who, following my authority and much more your faith, could neither be deceived by any hope nor terrified by any fear, it seems necessary for me to ask that you hold them commended to you.