§11.3.1S. v. b.
If you are well, it is well.
Litteras tuas legimus simillimas edicti tui, contumeliosas, minacis, minime dignas quae a te nobis mitterentur.
We read your letter, which is very similar to your edict, insulting, threatening, and not at all worthy of being sent by you to us.
nos, Antoni, te nulla lacessiimus iniuria neque miraturum credidimus, si praetores et ea dignitate homines aliquid edicto postulassemus a consule.
We, Antonius, have provoked you with no injustice, nor did we believe that you would wonder if praetors, men of such dignity, should have demanded something from a consul by an edict.
quod si indignaris ausos esse id facere, concede nobis ut doleamus ne hoc quidem abs te Bruto et Cassio tribui.
But if you are indignant that we have dared to do this, grant us that we may grieve that not even this much is rendered by you to Brutus and Cassius.
§11.3.2nam de dilectibus habitis et pecuniis imperatis, exercitibus sollicitatis et nuntiis trans mare missis quod te questum esse negas, nos quidem tibi credimus optimo animo te fecisse, sed tamen neque agnoscimus quicquam eorum et te miramur, cum haec reticueris, non potuisse continere iracundiam tuam quin nobis de morte Caesaris obiceres.
For as to what you deny you have complained of—concerning the levies held, the money requisitioned, the armies solicited, and messengers sent across the sea—we indeed believe that you have done this with the best intention, yet we do not acknowledge any of these things, and we wonder that you, while keeping silence on these matters, could not restrain your anger from reproaching us with the death of Caesar.
§11.3.3illud vero quem ad modum ferendum sit tute cogita, non licere praetoribus concordiae ac libertatis causa per edictum de suo iure decedere quin consul arma minetur.
But think yourself how this is to be borne, that praetors are not permitted, for the sake of harmony and liberty, to depart from their own right by an edict without the consul threatening arms.
quorum fiducia nihil est quod nos terreas; neque enim decet aut convenit nobis periculo ulli submittere animum nostrum neque est Antonio postulandum ut iis imperet quorum opera liber est.
In reliance on these, there is no reason why you should terrify us; for it is neither fitting nor suitable for us to submit our spirit to any danger, nor should Antonius demand to command those by whose agency he is free.
nos si alia hortarentur ut bellum civile suscitare vellemus, litterae tuae nihil proficerent; nulla enim minantis auctoritas apud liberos est; sed pulchre intellegis non posse nos quoquam impelli et fortassis ea re minaciter agis ut iudicium nostrum metus videatur.
If other things urged us to wish to stir up civil war, your letter would have availed nothing; for a threatener has no authority among free men; but you understand very well that we cannot be driven in any direction, and perhaps you act threateningly for this reason, so that our judgment may appear to be fear.
§11.3.4nos in hac sententia sumus, ut te cupiamus in libera re p. magnum atque honestum esse, vocemus te ad nullas inimicitias, sed tamen pluris nostram libertatem quam tuam amicitiam aestimemus.
We are of this opinion, that we desire you to be great and honored in a free republic, and we call you to no enmity, but yet we value our liberty more than your friendship.
tu etiam atque etiam vide quid suscipias, quid sustinere possis, neque quam diu vixerit Caesar sed quam non diu regnarit fac cogites.
Do you see again and again what you are undertaking, what you can sustain, and make sure to reflect not on how long Caesar lived, but on how short a time he reigned.
deos quaesumus consilia tua rei p. salutaria sint ac tibi; si minus, ut salva atque honesta re p. tibi quam minimum noceant optamus.
We pray the gods that your counsels may be salutary for the republic and for yourself; if not, we desire that, while the republic remains safe and honored, they may harm you as little as possible.
Pr. non. Sext.
August 4th.