§13.26.1L. Mescinius ea mecum necessitudine coniunctus est, quod mihi quaestor fuit; sed hanc causam, quam ego, ut a maioribus accepi, semper gravem duxi, fecit virtute et humanitate sua iustiorem.
L. Mescinius is connected with me by that bond which arises from his having been my quaestor; but this relationship, which I, as I received it from our ancestors, have always regarded as solemn, he has made even more binding by his own virtue and amiability.
itaque eo sic utor ut nec familiarius ullo nec libentius.
Therefore, I live on such terms with him that there is no one with whom I am more intimate or more glad to associate.
is quamquam confidere videbatur te sua causa quae honeste posses libenter esse facturum, magnum esse tamen speravit apud te meas quoque litteras pondus habituras.
Although he seemed to be confident that you would gladly do for his sake whatever you honorably could, he nevertheless hoped that my letter also would have great weight with you.
id cum ipse ita iudicabat tum pro familiari consuetudine saepe ex me audierat quam suavis esset inter nos et quanta coniunctio.
He not only judged so himself, but from our intimate intercourse he had often heard from me how pleasant and how great a connection there was between us.
§13.26.2peto igitur a te tanto scilicet studio, quanto intellegis debere me petere pro homine tam mihi necessario et tam familiari, ut eius negotia, quae sunt in Achaia ex eo quod heres est M. Mindio, fratri suo, qui Elide negotiatus est, explices et expedias cum iure et potestate, quam habes, tum etiam auctoritate et consilio tuo.
I entreat you, therefore, with all the earnestness which you understand I ought to show for a man so closely connected and so intimate with me, that you will adjust and expedite his affairs—which are in Achaia, arising from the fact that he is the heir to his brother M. Mindius, who was in business at Elis—not only with the law and power which you possess, but also with your authority and advice.
sic enim praescripsimus iis, quibus ea negotia mandavimus, ut omnibus in rebus, quae in aliquam controversiam vocarentur, te arbitro et, quod commodo tuo fieri posset, te disceptatore uterentur.
For we have so instructed those to whom we have committed those affairs, that in all matters which might be brought into any controversy, they should employ you as arbitrator, and, so far as may be done with your convenience, as umpire.
id ut honoris mei causa suscipias, vehementer te etiam atque etiam rogo.
That you will undertake this for the sake of my honor, I earnestly entreat you again and again.
§13.26.3illud praeterea, si non alienum tua dignitate putabis a esse, feceris mihi pergratum, si qui difficiliores erunt, ut rem sine controversia confici nolint, si eos, quoniam cum senatore res est, Romam reieceris.
Furthermore, if you do not think it inconsistent with your dignity, you will do me a very great favor if, should any prove rather difficult, so as to be unwilling to settle the matter without a lawsuit, you will refer them to Rome, since the business is with a senator.
quod quo minore dubitatione facere possis, litteras ad te a M. Lepido consule, non quae te aliquid iuberent (neque enim id tuae dignitatis esse arbitramur) sed quodam modo quasi commendaticias sumpsimus.
That you may be able to do this with less hesitation, we have obtained a letter to you from M. Lepidus the consul, not to command you in anything (for we do not think that would be consistent with your dignity), but in some sort as it were a letter of recommendation.
§13.26.4scriberem quam id beneficium bene apud Mescinium positurus esses, nisi et te scire confiderem et mihi peterem.
I would write how well you would be bestowing this favor on Mescinius, did I not both trust that you know it and ask it for myself.
sic enim velim existimes, non minus me de illius re laborare quam ipsum de sua.
For I would have you think that I am no less anxious about his business than he is himself about his own.
sed cum illum studeo quam facillime ad suum pervenire tum illud laboro ut non minimum hac mea commendatibne se consecutum arbitretur.
But while I am eager that he should attain his rights as easily as possible, so also I labor that he may consider himself to have obtained no small advantage by this recommendation of mine.