§2.8.1quid? tu me hoc tibi mandasse existimas, ut mihi gladiatorum compositiones, ut vadimonia dilata et Chresti compilationem mitteres et ea, quae nobis, cum Romae sumus, narrare nemo audeat? vide, quantum tibi meo iudicio tribuam (nec me hercule iniuria; politikw/teron enim te adhuc neminem cognovi).
What? Do you think that I gave you this commission, to send me the pairings of gladiators, the postponements of court dates, the robbery of Chrestus, and such things as no one would dare to tell us when we are in Rome? See how much I attribute to you in my judgment (and by Hercules, not without reason; for I have known no one so far more politically-minded than you).
ne illa quidem curo mihi scribas, quae maximis in rebus rei publicae geruntur cotidie, nisi quid ad me ipsum pertinebit; scribent alii, multi nuntiabunt, perferet multa etiam ipse rumor.
I do not even care that you should write to me of those things which are done daily in the greatest affairs of the state, unless something shall pertain to myself; others will write, many will announce them, rumor itself will also bring many things.
qua re ego nec praeterita nec praesentia abs te, sed ut ab homine longe in posterum prospiciente futura exspecto, ut, ex tuis litteris cum formam rei publicae viderim, quale aedificium futurum sit scire possim.
Therefore I expect from you neither the past nor the present, but, as from a man looking far into the future, the things to come, so that, when I have seen the shape of the state from your letters, I may be able to know what kind of building it is going to be.
§2.8.2neque tamen adhuc habeo quod te accusem; neque enim fuit quod tu plus providere posses quam quivis nostrum in primisque ego, qui cum Pompeio compluris dies nullis in aliis nisi de re publica sermonibus versatus sum; quae nec possunt scribi nec scribenda sunt; tantum habeto, civem egregium esse Pompeium et ad omnia, quae providenda sunt in re publica, et animo et consilio paratum.
And yet, I have no reason so far to accuse you; for there was nothing that you could foresee more than any of us, and especially myself, who spent several days with Pompey in no other conversations than about the state; which can neither be written nor ought to be written; only hold this, that Pompey is an excellent citizen and prepared both in mind and counsel for all things that must be foreseen in the state.
qua re da te homini; complectetur, mihi crede.
Therefore, commit yourself to the man; believe me, he will embrace you.
iam idem illi et boni et mali cives videntur, qui nobis videri solent.
Now those same citizens, both good and bad, seem to him as they are accustomed to seem to us.
§2.8.3ego cum Athenis decem ipsos dies fuissem multumque mecum Gallus noster Caninius, proficiscebar inde pridie Nonas Quintilis, cum hoc ad te litterarum dedi.
When I had been in Athens for exactly ten days, and our Gallus Caninius was much with me, I was setting out from there on the day before the Nones of July, when I gave this letter to you.
tibi cum omnia mea commendatissima esse cupio tum nihil magis quam ne tempus nobis provinciae prorogetur; in eo mihi sunt omnia.
Just as I desire all my affairs to be most highly commended to you, so I desire nothing more than that our time in the province may not be extended; in that is everything for me.
quod quando et quo modo et per quos agendum sit, tu optime constitues.
When, how, and through whom this must be managed, you will best determine.