§15.6.1'laetus sum laudari me,' inquit Hector, opinor, apud Naevium 'abs te, pater, a laudato viro. ' ea est enim profecto iucunda laus, quae ab iis proficiscitur qui ipsi in laude vixerunt.
"I am glad to be praised," says Hector, I believe, in Naevius, "by you, father, a praised man." For that is indeed a delightful praise which proceeds from those who themselves have lived in praise.
ego vero vel gratulatione litterarum tuarum vel testimoniis sententiae dictae nihil est quod me non adsecutum putem, idque mihi cum amplissimum tum gratissimum est, te libenter amicitiae dedisse quod liquido veritati dares.
As for me, whether by the congratulation of your letter or by the testimony of your delivered opinion, there is nothing that I do not think I have attained; and it is both most honorable and most gratifying to me that you have gladly given to friendship what you would clearly give to truth.
et, si non modo omnes verum etiam multi Catones essent in civitate nostra, in qua unum exstitisse mirabile est, quem ego currum aut quam lauream cum tua laudatione conferrem? nam ad meum sensum et ad illud sincerum ac subtile iudicium nihil potest esse laudabilius quam ea tua oratio, quae est ad me perscripta a meis necessariis.
And if, I do not say all, but even many Catos were in our republic, in which it is a wonder that even one has existed, what chariot or what laurel would I compare with your praise? For to my own feeling, and to that sincere and subtle judgment, nothing can be more praiseworthy than that speech of yours, which has been written out to me by my close friends.
§15.6.2sed causam meae voluntatis, non enim dicam 'cupiditatis,' exposui tibi superioribus litteris; quae etiam si parum iusta tibi visa est, hanc tamen habet 0rationem, non ut nimis concupiscendus honos sed tamen, si deferatur a senatu, minime aspernandus esse videatur.
But the reason for my desire—for I will not say "covetousness"—I explained to you in my previous letter; and even if it seemed to you not entirely justified, it nevertheless has this rationale: not that the honor should seem excessively to be lusted after, but yet, if it should be conferred by the senate, it should by no means be rejected.
spero autem illum ordinem pro meis ob rem p. susceptis laboribus me non indignum honore, usitato praesertim, existimaturum.
Moreover, I hope that that order, in consideration of the labors I have undertaken for the republic, will not judge me unworthy of honor, especially one that is customary.
quod si ita erit, tantum ex te peto, quod amicissime scribis, ut, cum tuo iudicio quod amplissimum esse arbitraris mihi tribueris, si id quod maluero acciderit, gaudeas.
But if it should be so, I only ask of you, as you write most friendlily, that, since by your own judgment you have bestowed on me what you consider to be most honorable, if that which I prefer should happen, you will rejoice.
sic enim fecisse te et sensisse et scripsisse video, resque ipsa declarat tibi illum honorem nostrum supplicationis iucundum fuisse, quod scribendo adfuisti; haec enim senatus consulta non ignoro ab amicissimis eius, cuius de honore agitur, scribi solere.
For I see that you have so acted, felt, and written, and the fact itself declares that that honor of our thanksgiving was pleasing to you, because you were present at its drafting; for I am not ignorant that these decrees of the senate are usually drafted by the closest friends of him whose honor is in question.
ego, ut spero, te propediem videbo, atque utinam re p. meliore quam timeo!
I shall, as I hope, see you shortly, and would that it were in a better state of the republic than I fear!