§14.2.1noli putare me ad quemquam longiores epistulas scribere, nisi si quis ad me plura scripsit, cui puto rescribi oportere; nec enim habeo quid scribam nec hoc tempore quicquam difficilius facio; ad te vero et ad nostram Tulliolam non queo sine plurimis lacrimis scribere; vos enim video esse miserrimas, quas ego beatissimas semper esse volui, idque praestare debui et, nisi tam timidi fuissemus, praestitissem.
Do not think that I write longer letters to anyone, unless someone has written more to me, to whom I think an answer ought to be written; for I neither have anything to write, nor at this time do I do anything with greater difficulty; but to you indeed and to our little Tulliola I cannot write without very many tears; for I see that you are most miserable, whom I always wished to be most happy, and I ought to have secured that, and, had we not been so timid, I should have secured it.
Pisonem nostrum merito eius amo plurimum.
Our Piso I love exceedingly, as he well deserves.
§14.2.2Eum, ut potui, per litteras cohortatus sum gratiasque egi, ut debui.
Him, as I was able, I encouraged by letter, and expressed my gratitude, as I ought.
in novis tr. pl. intellego spem te habere.
I understand that you have hope in the new tribunes of the plebs.
id erit firmum, si Pompei voluntas erit; sed Crassum tamen metuo.
That will be secure, if Pompey's goodwill is with us; but still I fear Crassus.
A te quidem omnia fieri fortissime et amantissime video nec miror, sed maereo casum eius modi ut tantis tuis miseriis meae miseriae subleventur.
Indeed, I see that everything is being done by you most bravely and lovingly, and I do not wonder at it, but I mourn a lot of such a kind that my miseries are lightened by your so great miseries.
nam ad me P. Valerius, homo officiosus, scripsit, id quod ego maximo cum fletu legi, quem ad modum a Vestae ad tabulam Valeriam ducta esses.
For Publius Valerius, an obliging man, wrote to me—a thing which I read with the greatest weeping—how you had been led from the temple of Vesta to the Valeria board.
hem, mea lux, meum desiderium, unde omnes opem petere solebant! te nunc, mea Terentia, sic vexari, sic iacere in lacrimis et sordibus, idque fieri mea culpa, qui ceteros servavi, ut nos periremus!
Alas, my light, my longing, from whom all used to seek help! That you now, my Terentia, should be so harassed, should lie thus in tears and mourning, and that this should happen by my fault, who saved others that we ourselves might perish!
§14.2.3quod de domo scribis, hoc est de area, ego vero tum denique mihi videbor restitutus, si illa nobis erit restituta.
As to what you write about the house, that is, about the site, I indeed shall think myself restored only then, if that is restored to us.
verum haec non sunt in nostra manu; illud doleo, quae impensa facienda est, in eius partem te miseram et despoliatam venire.
But these things are not in our hands; I grieve at this, that in the expense which must be incurred, you, wretched and despoiled, should come into a part of it.
quod si conficitur negotium, omnia consequemur; sin eadem nos fortuna premet, etiamne reliquias tuas misera proicies? obsecro te, mea vita, quod ad sumptum attinet, sine alios, qui possunt si modo volunt, sustinere et valetudinem istam infirmam, si me amas, noli vexare.
But if the business is settled, we shall attain everything; but if the same fortune presses us, will you, wretched one, throw away even your remaining possessions? I beseech you, my life, as far as expense is concerned, let others bear it, who can if only they will, and do not, if you love me, harass that weak health of yours.
nam mihi ante oculos dies noctesque versaris; omnis labores te excipere video; timeo ut sustineas.
For you are before my eyes day and night; I see that you undergo all labors; I fear that you may not bear up.
sed video in te esse omnia.
But I see that everything rests in you.
qua re, ut id quod speras et quod agis consequamur, servi valetudini.
Therefore, so that we may attain what you hope and what you are doing, look after your health.
§14.2.4ego ad quos scribam nescio, nisi ad eos qui ad me scribunt, aut ad eos de quibus ad me vos aliquid scribitis.
I do not know to whom I should write, except to those who write to me, or to those about whom you write something to me.
longius, quoniam ita vobis placet, non discedam; sed velim quam saepissime litteras mittatis, praesertim si quid est firmius quod speremus.
I will not go further away, since it pleases you so; but I should wish you to send letters as often as possible, especially if there is anything more secure for us to hope.
valete, mea desideria, valete.
Farewell, my darlings, farewell.
D. a. d. iii Non. Oct. Thessalonica.
Dispatched on the third day before the Nones of October, at Thessalonica.