§11.24.1narro tibi: antea subirascebar brevitati tuarum litterarum, nunc mihi loquax esse videor; te igitur imitabor.
I tell you: previously I was somewhat angry at the brevity of your letters, but now I seem to myself to be talkative; therefore I will imitate you.
quam multa quam paucis! te recte valere operamque dare ut cotidie melius, Lepidum commode sentire, tribus exercitibus quidvis nos oportere confidere.
How much in how few words! That you are well and take care to be better every day, that Lepidus holds favorable opinions, that with three armies we ought to trust in whatever we wish.
si timidus essem, tamen ista epistula mi omnem metum abstersisses; sed, ut mones, 'frenum momordi'; etenim qui te incluso omnem spem habuerim in te, quid nunc putas? cupio iam vigiliam meam, Brute, tibi tradere, sed ita ut ne desim constantiae meae.
Even if I were timid, yet by that letter of yours you would have wiped away all my fear; but, as you advise, 'I have bitten the bridle'; for since I held all hope in you when you were shut up, what do you think now? I desire now, Brutus, to hand over my watch to you, but in such a way that I do not fail my own consistency.
§11.24.2quod scribis in Italia te moraturum dum tibi litterae meae veniant, si per hostem licet, non erraris (multa enim Romae), sin adventu tuo bellum confici potest, nihil sit antiquius.
As for your writing that you will delay in Italy until my letter comes to you, if the enemy permits, you will not go wrong (for there are many things in Rome); but if by your arrival the war can be finished, let nothing be more important.
pecunia expeditissima quae erat tibi decreta est.
The most readily available money which had been decreed for you has been assigned.
habes amantissimum Servium; nos non desumus.
You have Servius, who is most affectionate to you; we are not failing you.
viii Idus Iunias.
June 6.