§11.14.1mirabiliter, mi Brute, laetor mea consilia measque sententias a te probari de decem viris, de ornando adulescente.
My dear Brutus, I am wonderfully glad that my plans and my opinions are approved of by you concerning the decemviri and concerning the honoring of the young man.
sed quid refert? mihi crede, homini non glorioso, plane iam, Brute, frigeo; o)/rganon enim erat meum senatus; id iam est dissolutum.
But what does it matter? Believe me, a man not given to boasting, I am now utterly cold, Brutus; for the senate was my instrument; that has now been dissolved.
tantam spem attulerat exploratae victoriae tua praeclara Mutina eruptio, fuga Antoni conciso exercitu, †ut omnium animi relaxati sint, meaeque illae vehementes contentiones tamquam skiamaxi/ai esse videantur†.
Your splendid sally from Mutina and the flight of Antony with his army cut to pieces had brought such great hope of an assured victory, †that everyone's minds were relaxed, and those vehement struggles of mine seem to be like shadow-fights†.
§11.14.2sed ut ad rem redeam, legionem Martiam et quartam negant qui illas norunt ulla condicione ad te posse perduci; pecuniae, quam desideras, ratio potest haberi, eaque habebitur.
But to return to the matter, those who know the Martian and the fourth legion deny that they can be brought over to you on any condition; regarding the money, which you desire, an arrangement can be made, and it will be made.
de Bruto arcessendo Caesareque ad Italiae praesidium tenendo valde tibi adsentior; sed, ut scribis, habes obtrectatores; quos equidem facillime sustineo, sed a impediunt tamen.
Concerning the summoning of Brutus and the retaining of Caesar for the defense of Italy, I strongly agree with you; but, as you write, you have detractors; whom indeed I withstand very easily, but they still cause hindrance.
§11.14.3ex Africa legiones exspectantur; sed bellum istuc renatum mirantur homines.
Legions are expected from Africa; but people wonder at that war of yours having broken out anew.
nihil tam praeter spem umquam; nam die tuo natali victoria nuntiata in multa saecula videbamus rem p. liberatam, hi novi timores retexunt superiora.
Never was anything so contrary to expectation; for when victory was announced on your birthday, we saw the republic set free for many generations, but these new fears are undoing what went before.
scripsisti autem ad me litteris iis, quas Idibus. Maus dedisti, modo te accepisse a Planco litteras non recipi Antonium a Lepido.
Moreover, you wrote to me in that letter which you sent on the Ides of May, that you had just received a letter from Plancus stating that Antony is not being received by Lepidus.
id si ita est, omnia faciliora; sin aliter, magnum negotium, cuius exitum non extimesco.
If that is so, everything is easier; but if otherwise, it is a great business, the outcome of which I do not dread.
tuae partes sunt; ego plus quam feci facere non possum.
The role is yours; I cannot do more than I have done.
te tamen, id quod spero, omnium maximum et clarissimum videre cupio.
Nevertheless, I desire to see you, as I hope to do, the greatest and most illustrious of all men.