§13.4.1Cum municipibus Volaterranis mihi summa necessitudo est; magno enim meo beneficio adfecti cumulatissime mihi gratiam rettulerunt nam nec in honoribus meis nec in laboribus umquam defuerunt Cum quibus si mihi nulla causa intercederet, tamen, quod te vehementissime diligo quodque me a te plurimi fieri sentio, et monerem te et hortarer ut eorum fortunis consuleres, praesertim cum prope praecipuam causam haberent ad ius obtinendum, primum quod Sullani temporis acerbitatem deorum immortalium benignitate subterfugerunt, deinde quod summo studio p. R. a me in consulatu meo defensi sunt
I have the closest connection with the citizens of Volaterrae; for, having received a great benefit from me, they have returned gratitude to me most abundantly. Indeed, they have never been wanting to me either in my honors or in my labors. Even if no cause existed between me and them, yet, because I love you most dearly and feel that I am highly valued by you, I would still have advised and exhorted you to consult their fortunes, especially since they have an almost exceptional cause for maintaining their rights: first, because they escaped the cruelty of Sulla's time by the favor of the immortal gods; and secondly, because they were defended by me in my consulship with the greatest zeal of the Roman people.
§13.4.2Cum tribuni plebi legem iniquissimam de eorum agris promulgavissent, facile senatui populoque R. persuasi ut eos civis, quibus fortuna pepercisset, salvos esse vellent.
When the tribunes of the plebs had proposed a most unjust law concerning their lands, I easily persuaded the Senate and the Roman people to wish those citizens, whom fortune had spared, to be safe.
hanc actionem meam C. Caesar primo suo consulatu lege agraria comprobavit agrumque Volaterranum et oppidum omni periculo in perpetuum liberavit, ut mihi dubium non sit quin is, qui novas necessitudines adiungat, vetera sua beneficia conservari velit.
Gaius Caesar, in his first consulship, approved this action of mine by his agrarian law, and freed the territory and town of Volaterrae from all danger forever, so that I have no doubt that he, who is acquiring new connections, would wish his old benefits to be preserved.
quam ob rem est tuae prudentiae aut sequi eius auctoritatem, cuius sectam atque imperium summa cum tua dignitate secutus es, aut certe illi integram omnem causam reservare; illud vero dubitare non debes quin tam grave, tam firmum, tam honestum municipium tibi tuo summo beneficio in perpetuum obligari velis.
Therefore, it is a matter for your wisdom either to follow the authority of him whose faction and power you have followed with your own highest dignity, or at least to reserve the entire matter undecided for him; but you ought not to doubt that you would wish so grave, so firm, and so honorable a municipality to be bound to you forever by your own greatest benefit.
§13.4.3sed haec quae supra scripta sunt eo spectant ut te horter et suadeam; reliqua sunt, quae pertinent ad rogandum, ut non solum tua causa tibi consilium me dare putes sed etiam, quod mihi opus sit, me a te petere et rogare.
But these things which are written above aim at exhorting and persuading you; what remains belongs to entreaty, so that you may think that I am giving you advice not only for your own sake, but also that I am asking and begging of you what is necessary for myself.
gratissimum igitur mihi feceris, si Volaterranos omnibus rebus integros incolumisque esse volueris.
You will therefore have done what is most pleasing to me, if you wish the people of Volaterrae to be untouched and safe in all matters.
Eorum ego domicilia, sedes, rem, fortunas, quae et a dis immortalibus et a praestantissimis in nostra re p. civibus summo senatus populique R. studio conservatae sunt, tuae fidei, iustitiae bonitatique commendo.
I commend to your protection, justice, and goodness their homes, dwellings, property, and fortunes, which have been preserved both by the immortal gods and by the most eminent citizens in our commonwealth, with the greatest zeal of the Senate and Roman people.
§13.4.4si pro meis pristinis opibus facultatem mihi res hoc tempore daret ut ita defendere possem Volaterranos quem ad modum consuevi tueri meos, nullum officium, nullum denique certamen, in quo illis prodesse possem, praetermitterem; sed quoniam apud te nihilo minus hoc tempore valere me confido quam valuerim semper apud omnis, pro nostra summa necessitudine parique inter nos et mutua benevolentia abs te peto ut ita de Volaterranis mereare, ut existiment eum quasi divino consilio isti negotio praepositum esse, apud quem unum nos eorum perpetui defensores plurimum valere possemus.
If circumstances at this time gave me the opportunity, in proportion to my former influence, to defend the people of Volaterrae in the same manner as I have been accustomed to protect my own, I would omit no duty, and indeed no contest, in which I could be of service to them; but since I trust that my influence with you at this time is in no way less than it has always been with everyone, I ask of you, on account of our close connection and our equal and mutual goodwill, to deserve so well of the people of Volaterrae that they may think that he, with whom alone we, their constant defenders, could have the greatest influence, has been set over that business as if by divine counsel.