§14.3.1accepi ab Aristocrito tris epistulas, quas ego lacrimis prope delevi; conficior enim maerore, mea Terentia, nec meae me miseriae magis excruciant quam tuae vestraeque; ego autem hoc miserior sum quam tu, quae es miserrima, quod ipsa calamitas communis est utriusque nostrum, sed culpa mea propria est.
I received three letters from Aristocritus, which I almost blotted out with my tears; for I am consumed with grief, my Terentia, nor do my own miseries torture me more than yours and those of you all; but I am more miserable in this respect than you, who are most miserable, because the calamity itself is common to both of us, but the fault is my own.
meum fuit officium vel legatione vitare periculum vel diligentia et copiis resistere vel cadere fortiter.
It was my duty either to avoid the danger by an embassy, or to resist it with diligence and resources, or to fall bravely.
hoc miserius, turpius, indignius nobis nihil fuit.
Nothing has been more miserable, more shameful, or more unworthy of us than this.
§14.3.2qua re cum dolore conficior tum etiam pudore; pudet enim me uxori meae optimae, suavissimis liberis virtutem et diligentiam non praestitisse.
Therefore, I am consumed not only with grief but also with shame; for I am ashamed that I have not shown courage and diligence to my excellent wife and my sweetest children.
nam mi ante oculos dies noctesque versatur squalor vester et maeror et infirmitas valetudinis tuae, spes autem salutis pertenuis ostenditur.
For your mourning, grief, and the weakness of your health are before my eyes day and night, yet the hope of safety is shown to be very thin.
inimici sunt multi, invidi paene omnes; eicere nos magnum fuit, excludere facile est.
The enemies are many, the envious are almost all; to cast us out was a great thing, to keep us out is easy.
sed tamen quam diu vos eritis in spe, non deficiam, ne omnia mea culpa cecidisse videantur.
But yet, as long as you are in hope, I will not fail, lest everything should seem to have fallen by my fault.
§14.3.3ut tuto sim, quod laboras, id mihi nunc facillimum est, a quem etiam inimici volunt vivere in tantis miseriis; ego tamen faciam quae praecipis.
That I should be in safety, for which you labor, is now very easy for me, since even my enemies wish me to live in such great miseries; yet I will do what you direct.
amicis quibus voluisti egi gratias et eas litteras Dexippo dedi meque de eorum officio scripsi a te certiorem esse factum.
I have thanked the friends you wished, and gave those letters to Dexippus, and wrote that I was informed by you of their kindness.
Pisonem nostrum mirifico esse studio in nos et officio et ego perspicio et omnes praedicant.
That our Piso shows wonderful devotion and kindness toward us, I both perceive myself and everyone declares.
di faxint ut tali genero mihi praesenti tecum simul et cum liberis nostris frui liceat! nunc spes reliqua est in novis tr.
May the gods grant that I may be allowed to enjoy such a son-in-law in person, together with you and our children!
pl. et in primis quidem diebus; nam si inveterarit, actum est.
Now the remaining hope is in the new tribunes of the plebs, and indeed in the very first days; for if it drags on, all is over.
§14.3.4ea re ad te statim Aristocritum misi ut ad me continuo initia rerum et rationem totius negoti posses scribere; etsi Dexippo quoque ita imperavi, statim ut recurreret, et ad fratrem misi ut crebro tabellarios mitteret.
For that reason I sent Aristocritus to you at once, so that you might write to me immediately of the beginnings of things and the system of the whole business; though I also ordered Dexippus to return immediately, and sent to my brother to send letter-carriers frequently.
nam ego eo nomine sum Dyrrhachi hoc tempore, ut quam celerrime quid agatur audiam, et sum tuto; civitas enim haec semper a me defensa est.
For I am at Dyrrhachium at this time for this reason, so that I may hear as quickly as possible what is being done, and I am in safety; for this state has always been defended by me.
Cum inimici nostri venire dicentur, tum in Epirum ibo.
When our enemies are said to be coming, then I will go to Epirus.
§14.3.5quod scribis te, si velim, ad me venturam, ego vero, cum sciam magnam partem istius oneris abs te sustineri, te istic esse volo.
As to what you write, that you will come to me if I wish, I indeed, since I know that a great part of that burden is borne by you, wish you to remain there.
si perficitis quod agitis, me ad vos venire oportet; sin autem sed nihil opus est reliqua scribere.
If you accomplish what you are doing, it is proper for me to come to you; but if otherwise—but there is no need to write the rest.
ex primis aut summum secundis litteris tuis constituere poterimus quid nobis faciendum sit tu modo ad me velim omnia diligentissime perscribas;
From your first or at most second letter, we shall be able to determine what we must do.
etsi magis iam rem quam litteras debeo exspectare.
I only wish you to write everything to me most diligently; though I ought now to expect results rather than letters.
cura ut valeas et ita tibi persuadeas, mihi te carius nihil esse nec umquam fuisse.
Take care of your health, and persuade yourself of this, that nothing is or ever was dearer to me than you.
vale, mea Terentia; quam ego videre videor itaque debilitor lacrimis.
Farewell, my Terentia; I seem to see you, and so I am weakened by tears.
vale.
Farewell.
Pr. K. Dec.
November 30.