§16.21.1Cum vehementer tabellarios exspectarem cotidie, aliquando venerunt post diem quadragesimum et sextum quam a vobis discesserant.
While I was eagerly expecting letter-carriers every day, they finally arrived forty-six days after they had departed from you.
quorum mihi fuit adventus exoptatissimus; nam cum maximam cepissem laetitiam ex humanissimi et carissimi patris epistula, tum vero iucundissimae tuae litterae cumulum mihi gaudi attulerunt.
Their arrival was most longed for by me; for while I had received the greatest joy from the letter of my most kind and dear father, then indeed your most pleasant letter brought a crown to my joy.
itaque me iam non paenitebat intercapedinem scribendi fecisse sed potius laetabar; fructum enim magnum humanitatis tuae capiebam ex silentio mearum litterarum.
Therefore, I did not now regret having made an interval in writing, but rather rejoiced; for I was reaping a great fruit of your kindness from the silence of my letters.
vehementer igitur gaudeo te meam sine dubitatione accepisse excusationem.
I rejoice exceedingly, therefore, that you have accepted my excuse without hesitation.
§16.21.2gratos tibi optatosque esse qui de me rumores adferuntur non dubito, mi dulcissime Tiro, praestaboque et enitar ut in dies magis magisque haec nascens de me duplicetur opinio.
I do not doubt, my sweetest Tiro, that the rumors brought concerning me are pleasing and welcome to you, and I will warrant and strive that day by day this rising opinion of me may be doubled.
qua re, quod polliceris te bucinatorem fore existiluationis meae, firmo id constantique animo facias licet; tantum enim mihi dolorem cruciatumque attulerunt errata aetatis meae, ut non solum animus a factis sed aures quoque a commemoratione abhorreant.
Wherefore, as to your promise to be the trumpeter of my reputation, you may do so with a firm and constant mind; for the errors of my youth have brought me such pain and torment that not only does my mind shrink from the deeds, but my ears also from the mention of them.
cuius te sollicitudinis et doloris participem fuisse notum exploratumque est mihi, nec id mirum; nam cum omnia mea causa velles mihi successa tum etiam tua; socium enim te meorum commodorum semper esse volui.
That you have been a sharer of this anxiety and pain is known and assured to me, nor is that surprising; for you wished all things to turn out well for me for my sake, and also for yours; for I have always wished you to be a partner in my advantages.
§16.21.3quoniam igitur tum ex me doluisti, nunc ut duplicetur a tuum ex me gaudium praestabo.
Since, therefore, you then grieved because of me, I will now see to it that your joy because of me is doubled.
Cratippo me scito non ut discipulum sed ut filium esse coniunctissimum; nam cum audio illum libenter tum etiam propriam eius suavitatem vehementer amplector.
Know that I am most closely joined to Cratippus, not as a disciple, but as a son; for I not only listen to him gladly, but also embrace exceedingly his own sweetness of character.
sum totos dies cum eo noctisque saepe numero partem; exoro enim ut mecum quam saepissime cenet.
I am with him whole days and often a part of the nights; for I beg him to dine with me as often as possible.
hac introducta consuetudine saepe inscientibus nobis et cenantibus obrepit sublataque severitate philosophiae humanissime nobiscum iocatur.
This custom being introduced, he often creeps in upon us when we are unaware and dining, and, laying aside the severity of philosophy, jokes with us in the most genial manner.
qua re da operam ut hunc talem, tam iucundum, tam excellentem virum videas quam primum.
Wherefore, see to it that you see this such, so pleasant, so excellent a man as soon as possible.
§16.21.4nam quid ego de Bruttio dicam? quem nullo tempore a me patior discedere; cuius cum frugi severaque est vita tum etiam iucundissima convictio non est enim seiunctus iocus a filologi/a| et cotidiana suzhth/sei.
For what shall I say of Bruttius? whom I suffer at no time to depart from me; whose life is indeed frugal and severe, and yet his companionship is most pleasant; for jesting is not separated from study and daily discussion.
huic ego locum in proximo conduxi et, ut possum, ex meis angustiis illius sustento tenuitatem.
For him I have rented a lodging close by, and, as far as I can, I support his poverty out of my narrow means.
§16.21.5praeterea declamitare Graece apud Cassium institui, Latine autem apud Bruttium exerceri volo.
Besides, I have resolved to declaim in Greek with Cassius, but in Latin I wish to be exercised with Bruttius.
utor familiaribus et cotidianis convictoribus, quos secum Mitylenis Cratippus adduxit, hominibus et doctis et illi probatissimis.
I have as familiar and daily companions those whom Cratippus brought with him from Mitylene, men both learned and highly approved by him.
multum etiam mecum est Epicrates, princeps Atheniensium, et Leonides et horum ceteri similes.
Epicrates, the chief of the Athenians, is also much with me, and Leonides, and others like them.
ta\ me\n ou)=n kaq' h(ma=s ta/de.
These, then, are our affairs.
§16.21.6de Gorgia autem quod mihi scribis, erat quidem ille in cotidiana declamatione utilis, sed omnia postposui, dum modo praeceptis patris parerem; diarrh/dhn enim scripserat ut eum dimitterem statim.
But as to what you write to me about Gorgias, he was indeed useful in daily declamation, but I put everything else aside, provided only that I might obey my father's precepts; for he had written in express terms that I should dismiss him at once.
tergiversari nolui, ne mea nimia modo praeceptis patris parerem; diarrh/dhn spoudh\ suspicionem ei aliquam importaret; deinde illud etiam mihi succurrebat, grave esse me de iudicio patris iudicare.
I did not wish to shuffle, lest my excessive zeal should bring some suspicion upon him; then this also occurred to me, that it was a grave matter for me to pass judgment on my father's judgment.
§16.21.7tuum tamen studium et consilium gratum acceptumque est mihi.
Yet your zeal and advice are pleasing and acceptable to me.
excusationem angustiarum tui temporis accipio; scio enim quam soleas esse occupatus.
I accept your excuse of the narrowness of your time; for I know how busy you are wont to be.
emisse te praedium vehementer gaudeo feliciterque tibi rem istam evenire cupio (hoc loco me tibi gratulari noli mirari; eodem enim fere loco tu quoque emisse te fecisti me certiorem).
I rejoice exceedingly that you have bought an estate, and I wish that this business may turn out happily for you (do not wonder that I congratulate you at this place; for at almost the same place you also informed me that you had bought it).
habes; deponendae tibi sunt urbanitates; rusticus Romanus factus es, quo modo ego mihi nunc ante oculos tuum iucundissimum conspectum propono; videor enim videre ementem te rusticas res, cum vilico loquentem, in lacinia servantem ex mensa secunda semina.
You have it; you must lay aside your city ways; you have become a Roman rustic, even as I now present to my eyes your most pleasant appearance; for I seem to see you buying rustic things, talking with your bailiff, and saving seeds from the dessert in the hem of your garment.
sed quod ad rem pertinet, me tum tibi defuisse aeque ac tu doleo.
But as to what pertains to the matter, I grieve as much as you that I was absent from you then.
sed noli dubitare, mi Tiro, quin te sublevaturus sim, si modo fortuna me, praesertim cum sciam communem nobis emptum esse istum fundum.
But do not doubt, my Tiro, that I am going to assist you, if only fortune assists me, especially since I know that this farm has been bought as common to us.
§16.21.8de mandatis quod tibi curae fuit est mihi gratum; sed peto a te ut quam celerrime mihi librarius mittatur, maxime quidem Graecus; multum enim mihi eripitur operae in exscribendis hypomnematis.
That you had a care for my commissions is pleasing to me; but I beg of you that a copyist may be sent to me as quickly as possible, especially indeed a Greek one; for much of my labor is snatched away in transcribing lecture notes.
tu velim in primis cures ut valeas, ut una sumfilologei=n possimus.
I would have you take care of your health above all, so that we may be able to study together.
Anterum tibi commendo.
I recommend Anterus to you.