§2.12.1sollicitus equidem eram de rebus urbanis; ita tumultuosae contiones, ita molestae Quinquatrus adferebantur (nam citeriora nondum audiebamus); sed tamen nihil me magis sollicitabat quam in iis molestiis non me, si quae ridenda essent, ridere tecum; sunt enim multa, sed ea non audeo scribere.
I was indeed anxious about urban affairs; such tumultuous assemblies, such troublesome Quinquatrus were reported (for we had not yet heard of more recent events); but yet nothing was more worrying to me than, in those troubles, not being able to laugh with you if there was anything to laugh at; for there are many things, but I do not dare to write them.
illud moleste fero, nihil me adhuc his de rebus habere tuarum litterarum.
I take it ill that I have as yet no letter of yours concerning these matters.
qua re etsi, cum tu haec leges, ego iam annuum munus confecero, tamen obviae mihi velim sint tuae litterae, quae me erudiant de omni re publica, ne hospes plane veniam.
Therefore, although when you read this I shall already have finished my year's duty, yet I would wish your letters to meet me, to instruct me on the whole state of the republic, so that I may not arrive as a complete stranger.
hoc melius quam tu facere nemo potest.
No one can do this better than you.
§2.12.2Diogenes tuus, homo modestus, a me cum Philone Pessinunte discessit.
Your Diogenes, a modest man, departed from me with Philo from Pessinus.
iter habebant ad Adiatorigem, quamquam omnia nec benigna nec copiosa cognorant.
They were making their way to Adiatorix, although they knew that everything there was neither favorable nor abundant.
urbem, urbem, mi Rufe, cole et in ista luce vive; omnis peregrinatio, quod ego ab adulescentia iudicavi, obscura et sordidast iis, quorum industria Romae potest inlustris esse.
Cultivate the city, the city, my Rufus, and live in that light; all travel abroad, as I have judged from my youth, is obscure and mean for those whose industry can be illustrious at Rome.
quod cum probe scirem, utinam in sententia permansissem! cum una me hercule ambulatiuncula atque uno sermone nostro omnis fructus provinciae non confero.
Since I knew this full well, would that I had remained in my opinion! By Hercules, I do not compare all the fruits of the province with even one little walk and one conversation of ours.
§2.12.3spero me integritatis laudem consecutum; non erat minor ex contemnenda quam est ex conservata provincia.
I hope that I have obtained the praise of integrity; it was no less from despising the province than it is from preserving it.
'spem triumphi?' inquis. satis gloriose triumpharem; non essem quidem tam diu in desiderio rerum mihi carissimarum. sed, ut spero, propediem te videbo; tu mihi obviam mitte epistulas te dignas.
"A hope of a triumph?