§13.7.1Cum in Galliam proficiscens pro nostra necessitudine tuaque summa in me observantia ad me domum venisses, locutus sum tecum de agro vectigali municipi Atellani qui esset in Gallia, quantoque opere eius municipi causa laborarem tibi ostendi.
When, setting out for Gaul, you had come to my house because of our close relationship and your supreme respect toward me, I spoke with you about the taxed land of the municipality of Atella which was in Gaul, and I showed you with how much effort I was working for the sake of that municipality.
post tuam autem profectionem is cum et maxima res municipi honestissimi mihique coniunctissimi et summum meum officium ageretur, pro tuo animo in me singulari existimavi me oportere ad te accuratius scribere, etsi non sum nescius et quae temporum ratio et quae tua potestas sit, tibique negotium datum esse a C. Caesare, non iudicium, praeclare intellego.
But after your departure, since that land—affecting both the greatest interest of a most honorable municipality closely linked to me, and my own supreme duty—was being dealt with, I thought that, in accordance with your singular affection toward me, I ought to write to you more in detail, although I am not unaware of what the condition of the times is and what your power is, and I very well understand that a task has been given to you by Gaius Caesar, not a power of judgment.
qua re a te tantum peto, quantum et te facere posse et libenter mea causa facturum esse arbitror.
Therefore, I ask of you only as much as I think you are both able to do and will willingly do for my sake.
§13.7.2et primum velim existimes, quod res est, municipi fortunas omnis in isto vectigali consistere, his autem temporibus hoc municipium maximis oneribus pressum summis adfectum esse difficultatibus.
And first, I would wish you to think, as the fact is, that all the fortunes of the municipality consist in that tax, and that in these times this municipality, pressed by the greatest burdens, is affected by the greatest difficulties.
hoc etsi commune videtur esse cum multis, tamen mihi crede singularis huic municipio calamitates accidisse; quas idcirco non commemoro, ne de miseriis meorum necessariorum conquerens homines quos nolo videar offendere.
Although this seems to be common to many, yet believe me that singular calamities have happened to this municipality; which I do not mention for this reason, lest, by complaining about the miseries of my close friends, I should seem to offend men whom I do not wish to offend.
§13.7.3itaque nisi magnam spem haberem C. Caesari nos causam municipi probaturos, non erat causa cur a te hoc tempore aliquid contenderem; sed quia confido mihique persuasi illum et dignitatis municipi et aequitatis et etiam voluntatis erga se habiturum esse rationem, ideo a te non dubitavi contendere ut hanc causam illi integram conservares.
Therefore, unless I had a great hope that we should prove the cause of the municipality to Gaius Caesar, there was no reason why I should entreat anything from you at this time; but because I trust and have persuaded myself that he will have regard both for the dignity of the municipality, and for equity, and also for its goodwill toward him, for that reason I did not hesitate to entreat from you that you would preserve this cause intact for him.
§13.7.4quod etsi nihilo minus a te peterem, si nihil audivissem te tale fecisse, tamen maiorem spem impetrandi nactus sum, postea quam mihi dictum est hoc idem a te Regiensis impetravisse; qui etsi te aliqua necessitudine attingunt, tamen tuus amor in me sperare me cogit te, quod tuis necessariis tribueris, idem esse tributurum meis, praesertim cum ego pro his unis petam, habeam autem qui simili causa laborent compluris necessarios.
Although I would ask this of you no less even if I had heard nothing of your having done such a thing, yet I obtained a greater hope of succeeding after it was told to me that the people of Regium had obtained this very same thing from you; and though they touch you by some close connection, yet your love for me compels me to hope that you will grant the same to my close friends which you granted to yours, especially since I ask for these alone, while I have several close friends who labor in a similar cause.
hoc me non sine causa facere neque aliqua levi ambitione commotum a te contendere etsi te existimare arbitror, tamen mihi adfirmanti credas velim me huic municipio debere plurimum; nullum umquam fuisse tempus neque honorum nec laborum meorum, in quo non huius municipi studium in me exstiterit singulare.
Although I think you believe that I do not do this without cause, nor entreat it from you moved by any light ambition, yet I would wish you to believe me when I assert that I owe very much to this municipality; for there has never been any time, whether of my honors or of my labors, in which the singular zeal of this municipality toward me did not stand out.
§13.7.5quapropter a te etiam atque etiam pro nostra summa coniunctione proque tua in me perpetua et maxima benevolentia maiorem in modum peto atque contendo ut, cum fortunas agi eius municipi intellegas, quod sit mihi necessitudine, officiis, benevolentia coniunctissimum, id mihi des; quod erit huius modi ut, si a Caesare quod speramus impetrarimus, tuo beneficio nos id consecutos esse iudicemus, sin minus, pro eo tamen id habeamus, quoniam a te data sit opera ut impetraremus.
Wherefore, I ask and entreat of you again and again in a stronger manner, for the sake of our supreme connection and your constant and greatest goodwill toward me, that since you understand that the fortunes of that municipality are at stake, which is most closely linked to me by relationship, duties, and goodwill, you would grant this to me; which will be of such a kind that, if we obtain from Caesar what we hope for, we shall judge that we have attained it through your kindness; but if not, we shall nevertheless hold it as such, since effort was exerted by you so that we might obtain it.
hoc cum mihi gratissimum feceris tum viros optimos homines honestissimos eosdemque gratissimos et tua necessitudine dignissimos summo beneficio in perpetuum tibi tuisque devinxeris.
When you have done this, which will be most pleasing to me, you will at the same time have bound to yourself and yours forever by a supreme benefit these most excellent, honorable, and grateful men, who are thoroughly worthy of your friendship.