§2.13.1raras tuas quidem (fortasse enim non perferuntur), sed suavis accipio litteras;
I receive your letters, rare indeed (for perhaps they are not delivered), but sweet; or those which I had received most recently, how wise, how full of both duty and counsel!
vel quas proxime acceperam, quam prudentis, quam multi et offici et consili! etsi omnia sic constitueram mihi agenda, ut tu admonebas tamen conio firmantur nostra consilia, cum sentimus prudentibus fideliterque suadentibus idem videri.
Although I had determined that everything should be done by me just as you advised, yet our plans are strengthened by conio, when we feel that the same seems best to those who advise us wisely and faithfully.
§2.13.2ego Appium, ut saepe tecum locutus sum, valde diligo meque ab eo diligi statim coeptum esse, ut simultatem deposuimus, sensi; nam et honorificus in me cos. fuit et suavis amicus et studiosus studiorum etiam meorum; mea vero officia ei non defuisse tu es testis, quoi iam kwmiko\s martu/s ut opinor, accedit Phania, et me hercule etiam pluris eum feci, quod te amari ab eo sensi.
I highly esteem Appius, as I have often spoken with you, and I felt that I began to be esteemed by him immediately, as soon as we laid aside our enmity; for he was both respectful toward me as consul, and a sweet friend, and supportive of even my studies; indeed, that my services to him were not lacking, you are a witness, to whom now, as I think, Phania is added as a 'comic witness,' and by Hercules, I valued him even more because I felt that you were loved by him.
iam me Pompei totum esse scis; Brutum a me amari intellegis.
Now you know that I am entirely Pompey's; you understand that Brutus is loved by me.
quid est causae cur mihi non in optatis sit complecti hominem florentem aetate, opibus, honoribus, ingenio, liberis, propinquis, adfinibus, amicis, conlegam meum praesertim et in ipsa collegi laude et scientia studiosum mei? haec eo pluribus scripsi, quod non nihil significabant tuae litterae subdubitare, qua essem erga illum voluntate.
What reason is there why it should not be among my wishes to embrace a man flourishing in age, wealth, honors, talent, children, relatives, relations by marriage, and friends, especially my colleague, and one who, in the very praise and knowledge of our college, is supportive of me? I have written these things at greater length for this reason, because your letter indicated not a little that you were in doubt as to what my disposition was toward him.
credo te audisse aliquid.
I believe you have heard something.
falsum est, mihi crede, si quid audisti.
It is false, believe me, if you have heard anything.
genus institutorum et rationum mearum dissimilitudinem non nullam habet cum illius administratione provinciae; ex eo quidam suspicati fortasse sunt animorum contentione, non opinionum dissensione me ab eo discrepare; nihil autem feci umquam neque dixi, quod contra illius existimationem esse vellem, post hoc negotium autem et temeritatem nostri Dolabellae deprecatorem me pro illius periculo praebeo.
The nature of my institutions and methods has some dissimilarity with his administration of the province; from this, some have perhaps suspected that I differ from him due to a conflict of minds, not a disagreement of opinions; but I have never done or said anything that I wished to be against his reputation, and after this business and the rashness of our Dolabella, I present myself as an intercessor for him in his danger.
§2.13.3erat in eadem epistula 'veternus civitatis. ' gaudebam sane et congelasse nostrum amicum laetabar otio.
In the same letter was 'the lethargy of the state.' I was indeed glad, and rejoiced that our friend had frozen up in leisure.
extrema pagella pupugit me tuo chirographo.
The end of the page in your own handwriting pricked me.
quid ais? Caesarem nunc defendit 'Curio? quis hoc putaret praeter me? nam, ita vivam, putavi.
What do you say? 'Is Curio now defending Caesar?' Who would have thought this except me? For, as I live, I did think so.
di immortales, quam ego risum nostrum desidero! mihi erat in animo, quoniam iuris dictionem confeceram, civitates locupletaram, publicanis etiam superioris lustri reliqua sine sociorum ulla querela conservaram, privatis, summis infimis, fueram iucundus, proficisci in Ciliciam Nonis Mais et, cum prima aestiva attigissem militemque conlocassem, decedere ex senatus consulto.
Ye immortal gods, how I miss our laughter! It was my intention—since I had finished judicial administration, enriched the cities, preserved the arrears of the previous five-year period for the tax collectors without any complaint from the allies, and had been agreeable to private citizens, from the highest to the lowest—to set out for Cilicia on the Nones of May, and, when I had reached the first summer quarters and stationed the soldiery, to depart in accordance with the decree of the senate.
cupio te aedilem videre, miroque desiderio me urbs adficit et omnes mei tuque in primis.
I desire to see you as aedile, and the city affects me with a wonderful longing, as do all my friends and you in the first place.