§3.3.1A. d. xi K. Iun. Brundisium cum venissem, Q. Fabius Vergilianus, legatus tuus, mihi praesto fuit eaque me ex tuis mandatis monuit, quae non mihi, ad quem pertinebant, sed universo senatui venerant in mentem, praesidio firmiore opus esse ad istam provinciam;
When I had come to Brundisium on the eleventh day before the Kalends of June, Quintus Fabius Vergilianus, your legate, met me and, according to your instructions, advised me of those things which had occurred not to me, whom they concerned, but to the entire senate: that there was need of a stronger garrison for that province of yours.
censebant enim omnes fere, ut in Italia supplementum meis et Bibuli legionibus scriberetur.
For almost everyone was of the opinion that a reinforcement should be enrolled in Italy for my legions and those of Bibulus.
id cum Sulpicius consul passurum se negaret, multa nos quidem questi sumus, sed tantus consensus senatus fuit ut mature proficisceremur, parendum ut fuerit, itaque fecimus.
When the consul Sulpicius said he would not allow this, we indeed made many complaints, but so great was the consensus of the senate that we should set out early, that it had to be obeyed, and so we did.
nunc, quod a te petii litteris iis, quas Romae tabellariis tuis dedi, velim tibi curae sit ut, quae successori coniunctissimo et amicissimo commodare potest is, qui provinciam tradit, ut ea pro nostra consociatissima voluntate cura ac diligentia tua complectare, ut omnes intellegant nec me benevolentiori cuiquam succedere nec te amiciori potuisse provinciam tradere.
Now, as for what I requested of you in those letters which I gave to your messengers at Rome, I would like you to make it your care that, with your attention and diligence, you embrace those things which he who hands over a province can provide to a most closely joined and friendly successor, in accordance with our closely united goodwill, so that everyone may understand that neither did I succeed anyone more well-disposed, nor could you have handed over the province to anyone more friendly.
§3.3.2ex iis litteris, quarum ad me exemplum misisti, quas in senatu recitari voluisti, sic intellexeram, permultos a te milites esse dimissos; sed mihi Fabius idem demonstravit te id cogitasse facere, sed, cum ipse a te discederet, integrum militum numerum fuisse.
From those letters, of which you sent me a copy and which you wished to be read aloud in the senate, I had understood that very many soldiers had been discharged by you; but the same Fabius pointed out to me that you had thought of doing that, but that when he himself departed from you, the number of soldiers was intact.
id si ita est, pergratum mihi feceris, si istas exiguas copias, quas habuisti, quam minime imminueris.
If this is so, you will do me a very great favor if you diminish as little as possible those small forces which you have had.
qua de re senatus consulta quae facta sunt, ad te missa esse arbitror.
Concerning which matter, I think the decrees of the senate which were made have been sent to you.
equidem pro eo, quanti te facio, quicquid feceris, approbabo, sed te quoque confido ea facturum, quae mihi intelleges maxime esse accommodata.
Indeed, in proportion to how highly I value you, whatever you do, I will approve, but I trust that you also will do those things which you understand to be most suitable for me.
ego C. Pomptinum, legatum meum, Brundisi exspectabam eumque ante K. Iun. Brundisium venturum arbitrabar.
I was expecting Gaius Pomptinus, my legate, at Brundisium, and I thought he would come to Brundisium before the Kalends of June.
qui cum venerit, quae primum navigandi nobis facultas data erit, utemur.
When he has arrived, we shall use the first opportunity for sailing that is given to us.