§15.19.1S. v. b.
If you are well, it is well.
non me hercule in hac mea peregrinatione quicquam libentius facio quam scribo ad te; videor enim, cum praesente loqui et iocari.
By Hercules, in this travel of mine I do nothing more gladly than write to you; for I seem to be talking and joking with you as if you were present.
nec tamen hoc usu venit propter 'spectra Catiana'; pro quo tibi proxima epistula tot rusticos Stoicos regeram, ut Catium Athenis natum esse dicas.
Nor, however, does this happen because of the 'Catian spectra'; in return for which, in my next letter, I will fling back at you so many rustic Stoics that you will say Catius was born in Athens.
§15.19.2Pansam nostrum secunda voluntate hominum paludatum ex urbe exisse cum ipsius causa gaudeo tum me hercule etiam omnium nostrorum; spero enim homines intellecturos quanto sit omnibus odio crudelitas et quanto amori probitas et clementia, atque ea, quae maxime mali petant et concupiscant, ad bonos pervenire.
That our Pansa has set out from the city in military attire with the goodwill of the people is a source of joy to me both for his own sake and, by Hercules, also for the sake of all of us; for I hope that people will understand how much cruelty is hated by all and how much integrity and clemency are loved, and that those things which the wicked especially seek and covet fall to the lot of the good.
difficile est enim persuadere hominibus to\ kalo\n di' au(to\ ai(reto\n? esse; h(donh\n vero et a)taraci/an virtute, iustitia, tw=| kalw=| parari et verum et probabile est; ipse enim Epicurus, a quo omnes Catii et Amafinii, mali verborum interpretes, proficiscuntur, dicit: ou)k e)/stin h(de/ws a)/neu tou= kalw=s kai\ dikai/ws zh=n. §15.19.3itaque et Pansa, qui h(donh\n sequitur, virtutem retinet, et ii, qui a vobis filh/donoi vocantur, sunt filo/kaloi et filodi/kaioi omnisque virtutes et colunt et retinent.
For it is difficult to persuade people that the beautiful is to be chosen for its own sake; but that pleasure and tranquility are procured by virtue, justice, and the beautiful is both true and probable; for Epicurus himself, from whom all the Catiuses and Amafiniuses, bad translators of words, proceed, says: "It is not possible to live pleasantly without living honorably and justly." Therefore both Pansa, who pursues pleasure, retains virtue, and those who are called "pleasure-lovers" by you are "lovers of the beautiful" and "lovers of justice," and they both cultivate and retain all virtues.
itaque Sulla, cuius iudicium probare debemus, cum dissentire philosophos videret, non quaesiit quid bonum esset sed omnia bona coemit.
Therefore Sulla, whose judgment we ought to approve, seeing that philosophers disagreed, did not ask what was good but bought up all goods.
cuius ego mortem forti me hercules animo tuli.
His death, by Hercules, I bore with a brave heart.
nec tamen Caesar diutius nos eum desiderare patietur; nam habet damnatos quos pro illo nobis restituat, nec ipse sectorem desiderabit, cum filium viderit.
Nor, however, will Caesar allow us to miss him for too long; for he has condemned men to restore to us in his place, nor will he himself lack a bidder when he sees the son.
§15.19.4nunc ut ad rem p. redeam, quid in Hispaniis geratur rescribe.
Now to return to the republic, write back to me what is being done in Spain.
peream nisi sollicitus sum ac malo veterem et clementem dominum habere quam novum et crudelem experiri.
May I die if I am not anxious, and I prefer to have an old and merciful master rather than to experience a new and cruel one.
scis Gnaeus quam sit fatuus; scis quo modo crudelitatem virtutem putet; scis quam se semper a nobis derisum putet; vereor ne nos rustice gladio velit a)ntimukthri/sai.
You know how foolish Gnaeus is; you know how he thinks cruelty is a virtue; you know how he thinks he is always mocked by us; I fear he may want to mock us back with the sword in a rustic manner.
quid fiat, si me diligis, rescribe.
Write back what is happening, if you love me.
Hui, quam velim scire utrum ista sollicito animo an soluto legas! sciam enim eodem tempore quid me facere oporteat.
Oh, how I should like to know whether you read these things with an anxious mind or a relaxed one! For I shall know at the same time what I ought to do.
ne longior sim, vale; me, ut facis, ama.
Lest I be too long, farewell; love me, as you do.
si Caesar vicit, celeriter me exspecta.
If Caesar has conquered, expect me quickly.