§4.14.1binas a te accepi litteras Corcyrae datas; quarum alteris mihi gratulabare, quod audisses me meam pristinam dignitatem obtinere, alteris dicebas te velle, quae egissem, bene et feliciter evenire.
I received two letters from you, sent from Corcyra; in one of which you congratulated me, because you had heard that I retain my former dignity, and in the other you said that you wished that what I had done might turn out well and fortunately.
ego autem, si dignitas est bene de re publica sentire et bonis viris probare quod sentias, obtineo dignitatem meam; sin autem in eo dignitas est, si, quod sentias, aut re efficere possis aut denique libera oratione defendere, ne vestigium quidem ullum est reliquum nobis dignitatis, agiturque praeclare, si nosmet ipsos regere possumus, ut ea, quae partim iam adsunt, partim impendent, moderate feramus; quod est difficile in eius modi bello, cuius exitus ex altera parte caedem ostentet, ex altera servitutem.
But for my part, if dignity consists in thinking well of the republic and having what you think approved by good men, I do retain my dignity; but if, on the other hand, dignity consists in this: if you can either effect by action what you think, or at least defend it with free speech, not even any vestige of dignity is left to us, and it is treated as a great success if we can rule ourselves, so that we may bear moderately those things, some of which are already present, and others of which are impending; which is difficult in a war of such a kind, whose end on one side shows slaughter, and on the other, slavery.
§4.14.2quo in periculo non nihil me consolatur, cum recordor haec me tum vidisse, cum secundas etiam res nostras, non modo adversas pertimescebam videbamque, quanto periculo de iure publico disceptaretur armis quibus si ii vicissent, ad quos ego pacis spe, non belli cupiditate adductus accesseram, tamen intellegebam, et iratorum hominum et cupidorum et insolentium quam crudelis esset futura victoria, sin autem victi essent, quantus interitus esset futurus civium partim amplissimorum, partim etiam optimorum, qui me haec praedicentem atque optime consulentem saluti suae malebant nimium timidum quam satis prudentem existimari.
In this danger, it is no small consolation to me when I recall that I foresaw these things at the time when I was dreading even our prosperity, not only adversity, and was seeing with how great danger the public right was being disputed by arms. Even if those had conquered by these arms, to whom I had joined myself, led by the hope of peace, not by the desire for war, I nevertheless understood how cruel would have been the victory of angry, greedy, and arrogant men; but if, on the other hand, they should be defeated, how great a ruin was to fall upon the citizens, partly of the highest rank, partly also the best, who preferred that I, when foretelling these things and giving the best advice for their safety, should be thought too timid rather than sufficiently prudent.
§4.14.3quod autem mihi de eo, quod egerim, gratularis, te ita velle certo scio; sed ego tam misero tempore nihil novi consili cepissem, nisi in reditu meo nihilo meliores res domesticas quam rem publicani offendissem.
Now, as to your congratulating me on what I have done, I know for certain that you wish it to be so; but I would have taken no new counsel in so miserable a time, if upon my return I had not found my domestic affairs to be in no way better than the republic.
quibus enim pro meis immortalibus beneficiis carissima mea salus et meae fortunae esse debebant, cum propter eorum scelus nihil mihi intra meos parietes tutum, nihil insidiis vacuum viderem, novarum me necessitudinum fidelitate contra veterum perfidiam muniendum putavi.
For since, owing to the crime of those for whom my dearest safety and fortunes ought to have been of greatest concern in return for my immortal benefits, I saw nothing safe within my own walls, nothing free from treachery, I thought that I must fortify myself by the fidelity of new connections against the perfidy of the old.
sed de nostris rebus satis vel etiam nimium multa.
But enough, or even too much, about our affairs.
§4.14.4de tuis velim ut eo sis animo, quo debes esse, id est ut ne quid tibi praecipue timendum putes.
As to your affairs, I would wish you to be of that mind in which you ought to be, that is, that you should not think there is anything for you to fear in particular.
si enim status erit aliquis civitatis, quicumque erit, te omnium periculorum video expertem fore; nam alteros tibi iam placatos' esse intellego, alteros numquam iratos fuisse.
For if there is to be any status of the state, whatever it shall be, I see that you will be free from all dangers; for I understand that the one party has already been appeased to you, and the other has never been angry.
de mea autem in ite voluntate sic velim iudices, me, quibuscumque rebus opus esse intellegam, quamquam videam, qui sini hoc tempore et quid possim, opera tamen et consilio, studio quidem certe rei, famae, saluti tuae praesto futurum.
But concerning my goodwill towards you, I would wish you to judge in this way: that whatever things I understand to be necessary, although I see who I am at this time and what I am capable of, I will nevertheless be ready with my work and counsel, and certainly with my zeal for your property, reputation, and safety.
tu velim, et quid agas et quid acturum te putes, facias me quam diligentissime certiorem.
I would wish you to make me informed as carefully as possible both of what you are doing and what you think you will do.
vale.
Farewell.