§3.9.1vix tandem legi litteras dignas Ap. Claudio, plenas humanitatis, offici, diligentiae.
\nAt last I have read a letter worthy of Appius Claudius, full of kindness, duty, and diligence.
aspectus videlicet urbis tibi tuam pristinam urbanitatem reddidit; nam quas ex itinere ante quam ex Asia egressus es ad me litteras misisti, unas de legatis a me prohibitis proficisci, alteras de Appianorum aedificatione impedita, legi perinvitus; itaque conscientia meae constantis erga te voluntatis rescripsi tibi subiratus.
The sight of the city, it seems, has restored to you your former urbanity; for the letters which you sent to me on your journey, before you departed from Asia—one about my forbidding your legates to set out, the other about the interruption of the building-works of the Appians—I read with great reluctance; and so, conscious of my constant goodwill toward you, I wrote back to you somewhat angry.
Iis vero litteris lectis, quas Philotimo, liberto meo, dedisti, cognovi intellexique in provincia multos fuisse, qui nos, quo animo inter nos sumus, esse nollent, ad urbem vero ut accesseris vel potius ut primum tuos videris, cognosse te ex iis, qua in te absentem fide, qua in omnibus officiis tuendis erga te observantia et constantia fuissem.
But having read that letter which you gave to Philotimus, my freedman, I recognized and understood that there were many in the province who did not wish us to be of such a mind toward one another as we are; but that as soon as you approached the city, or rather as soon as you first saw your own people, you learned from them with what fidelity toward you in your absence, and with what respect and constancy in maintaining all duties toward you, I had behaved.
itaque quanti illud me aestimare putas, quod est in tuis litteris scriptum, si quid inciderit, quod ad meam dignitatem pertineat, etsi vix fieri possit, tamen te parem mihi gratiam relaturum? tu vero facile facies;
Therefore, how highly do you think I value what is written in your letter, that if anything should happen which concerns my dignity, even though it could scarcely occur, you will yet return equal gratitude to me?
nihil est enim quod studio et benevolentia vel amore potius effici non possit. §3.9.2ego, etsi ipse ita iudicabam et fiebam crebro a meis per litteras certior, tamen maximam laetitiam cepi ex tuis litteris de spe minime dubia et plane explorata triumphi tui, neque vero ob eam causam, quo ipse facilius consequerer (nam id quidem *)epikou/reion est), sed mehercule quod tua dignitas atque amplitudo mihi est ipsa cara per se.
Indeed, you will easily do so; for there is nothing which cannot be accomplished by zeal and goodwill, or rather by love.\n\nI myself, although I was already of this opinion and was frequently informed by my people through letters, yet received the greatest joy from your letter concerning the by no means doubtful and clearly assured hope of your triumph; and not indeed for this reason, that I might more easily attain it myself (for that indeed is epicurean), but, by Hercules, because your dignity and greatness are dear to me for their own sake.
qua re, quoniam pluris tu habes quam ceteri, quos scias in hanc provinciam proficisci, quod te adeunt fere omnes, si quid velis, gratissimum mihi feceris, si ad me, simulatque adeptus eris quod et tu confidis et ego opto, litteras miseris.
Therefore, since you have more than others whom you know to be setting out for this province, because almost everyone visits you, if you wish for anything, you will do me a most agreeable favor if, as soon as you have obtained what you trust and I hope for, you send me a letter.
'longi subselli,' ut noster Pompeius appellat, iudicatio et mora si quem tibi item unum alterumve diem abstulerit (quid enim potest amplius?), tua tamen dignitas suum locum obtinebit; sed, si me diligis, si a me diligi vis, ad me litteras, ut quam primum laetitia adficiar, mittito. §3.9.3et velim, reliquum quod est promissi ac muneris tui, mihi persolvas.
If the deliberation and delay of the 'long bench,' as our Pompey calls it, should likewise snatch one or two days from you (for what more can it do?), your dignity will nevertheless maintain its place; but if you love me, if you wish to be loved by me, send a letter to me so that I may be affected by joy as soon as possible.\n\nAnd I would wish you to pay me the remainder of what is your promise and gift.
Cum ipsam cognitionem iuris auguri consequi cupio tum mehercule tuis incredibiliter studiis erga me muneribusque delector.
For not only do I desire to obtain the knowledge of augural law itself, but, by Hercules, I am incredibly delighted by your zeal and gifts toward me.
quod autem a me tale quiddam desideras, sane mihi considerandum est, quonam te remunerer potissimum genere.
As to your desiring some such thing from me, I must indeed consider in what class of writing I may best repay you.
nam profecto non est meum, qui in scribendo, ut soles admirari, tantum industriae ponam, committere ut neglegens in scribendo fuisse videar, praesertim cum id non modo neglegentis, sed etiam ingrati animi crimen futurum sit.
For indeed, it is not my way, who put so much industry into writing as you are accustomed to admire, to commit the error of appearing to have been negligent in writing, especially since that would be a charge not only of negligence but also of an ungrateful mind.\n\nBut we shall see to these things.
§3.9.4verum haec videbimus. illud, quod polliceris, velim pro tua fide diligentiaque et pro nostra non instituta, sed iam inveterata amicitia cures, enitare, ut supplicatio nobis quam honorificentissime quam primumque decernatur.
As to that which you promise, I would wish you, for the sake of your fidelity and diligence, and for our friendship, which is not newly established but now of long standing, to take care and strive that a thanksgiving be decreed to us as honorably and as soon as possible.
omnino serius misi litteras quam vellem (in quo cum difficultas navigandi fuit odiosa, tum in ipsum discessum senatus incidisse credo meas litteras), sed id feci adductus auctoritate et consilio tuo idque a me recte factum puto, quod non statim, ut appellatus imperator sim, sed aliis rebus additis aestivisque confectis litteras miserim.
On the whole, I sent the letter later than I would have wished (in which matter, while the difficulty of sailing was annoying, I also believe my letter coincided with the very adjournment of the senate), but I did this led by your authority and advice, and I think it was rightly done by me, because I sent the letter not immediately after I was hailed as imperator, but after other things were added and the summer campaigns were completed.
haec igitur tibi erunt curae, quem ad modum ostendis, meque totum et mea et meos commendatos habebis.
These things, therefore, will be your care, as you show, and you will hold myself entirely, my affairs, and my people as commended to you.