§12.9.1brevitas tuarum litterarum me quoque breviorem in scribendo facit et, vere ut dicam, non satis occurrit quid scribam nostras enim res in actis perferri ad te certo scio, tuas autem ignoramus.
The shortness of your letter makes me also shorter in writing and, to tell the truth, it does not sufficiently occur to me what I should write. For I know for certain that our affairs are reported to you in the public gazettes, but we are ignorant of yours.
' tamquam enim clausa sit Asia, sic nihil perfertur ad nos praeter rumores de oppresso Dolabella satis illos quidem constantis, sed adhuc sine auctore.
For just as if Asia were closed, so nothing is brought to us except rumors about the defeat of Dolabella—rumors which are indeed consistent enough, but as yet without an authority.
§12.9.2nos confectum bellum quom putaremus, repente a Lepido tuo in summam sollicitudinem sumus adducti.
When we were thinking that the war was finished, we were suddenly brought into the greatest anxiety by your Lepidus.
itaque tibi persuade maximam rei p. spem in te et in tuis copiis esse.
Therefore, persuade yourself that the greatest hope of the republic lies in you and in your forces.
firmos omnino exercitus habemus, sed tamen ut omnia, ut spero, prospere procedant multum interest te venire.
We have altogether strong armies, but nevertheless, so that all things may, as I hope, proceed successfully, it is of great importance that you come.
exigua enim spes est rei p. (nam nullam non libet dicere), sed, quaecumque est, ea despondetur anno consulatus tui.
For the hope of the republic is slender (for I do not wish to say there is none), but whatever it is, it is pledged to the year of your consulship.
vale.
Farewell.