§2.11.1putaresne umquam accidere posse, ut mihi verba dessent, neque solum ista vestra oratoria, sed haec etiam levia nostratia? desunt autem propter hanc causam, quod mirifice sum sollicitus, quidnam de provinciis decernatur.
Would you ever have thought it possible that words should fail me—and not only that oratorical style of yours, but even this light, domestic style of ours? But they fail me for this reason, because I am wonderfully anxious as to what is being decided about the provinces.
mirum me desiderium tenet urbis, incredibile meorum atque in primis tui, satietas autem provinciae, vel quia videmur eam famam consecuti ut non tam accessio quaerenda quam fortuna metuenda sit, vel quia totum negotium non est dignum viribus nostris, qui maiora onera in re publica sustinere et possim et soleam, vel quia belli magni timor impendet, quod videmur effugere, si ad constitutam diem decedemus.
A wonderful longing for the city holds me, an incredible one for my loved ones and especially for you, and on the other hand a satiety with the province: either because we seem to have attained such a reputation that an addition is not so much to be sought as a change of fortune is to be feared; or because the whole business is not worthy of my strength, since I am both able and accustomed to bear greater burdens in the republic; or because the fear of a great war impends, which we seem likely to escape if we depart on the appointed day.
§2.11.2de pantheris per eos, qui venari solent, agitur mandatu meo diligenter; sed mira paucitas est, et eas, quae sunt, valde aiunt queri, quod nihil cuiquam insidiarum in mea provincia nisi sibi fiat.
Concerning the panthers, active measures are being taken by my order through those who are accustomed to hunt; but there is a wonderful scarcity of them, and those that are there, they say, complain bitterly because no traps are set for anyone in my province except for themselves.
itaque constituisse dicuntur in Cariam ex nostra provincia decedere.
Therefore, they are said to have resolved to depart from our province into Caria.
sed tamen sedulo fit et in primis a Patisco.
But nevertheless, it is being done industriously, and especially by Patiscus.
quicquid erit, tibi erit, sed quid esset plane nesciebamus.
Whatever there is will be for you, but what it would be we did not clearly know.
mihi me hercule magnae curae est aedilitas tua; ipse dies me admonebat; scripsi enim haec ipsis Megalensibus.
By Hercules, your aedileship is of great concern to me; the day itself reminded me of it, for I wrote this on the very day of the Megalensia.
tu velim ad me de omni rei publicae statu quam diligentissime perscribas; ea enim certissima putabo, quae ex te cognoro.
I would wish you to write to me as diligently as possible about the entire state of the republic; for I shall consider those things most certain which I learn from you.