§4.2.1A. d. iii K. Maias cum essem in Cumano, accepi tuas litteras;
On the third day before the Kalends of May, while I was at my Cuman villa, I received your letter.
quibus lectis cognovi non satis prudenter fecisse Philotimum, qui, cum abs te mandata haberet, ut scribis de omnibus rebus, ipse ad me non venisset, litteras tuas misisset, quas intellexi breviores fuisse, quod eum perlaturum putasses.
Having read it, I realized that Philotimus had not acted prudently enough; for although he had instructions from you on all matters, as you write, he did not come to me himself but merely sent your letter, which I understood was rather brief because you thought he would deliver the details in person.
sed tamen, postquam tuas litteras legi, Postumia tua me convenit et Servius noster.
Nevertheless, after I read your letter, your Postumia and our Servius met with me.
his placuit ut tu in Cumanum venires, quod etiam mecum ut ad te scriberem egerunt
They thought it best that you should come to Cumanum, and they even urged me to write to you to this effect.
§4.2.2quod meum consilium exquiris, id est tale, ut capere facilius ipse possim quam alteri dare.
As for your seeking my advice, it is of such a nature that I can more easily make a decision myself than give one to another.
quid enim est quod audeam suadere tibi, homini summa auctoritate summaque prudentia? si quid rectissimum sit quaerimus, perspicuum est, si quid maxime expediat, obscurum; sin ii sumus, qui profecto esse debemus, ut nihil arbitremur expedire nisi quod rectum honestumque sit, non potest esse dubium, quid faciendum nobis sit.
For what is there that I would dare to advise you, a man of the highest authority and the greatest prudence? If we ask what is most right, it is clear; if what is most expedient, it is obscure; but if we are the kind of men we certainly ought to be, so as to think nothing expedient unless it is right and honorable, there can be no doubt as to what we must do.
§4.2.3quod existimas meam causam coniunctam esse cum tua, certe similis in utroque nostrum, cum optime sentiremus, error fuit.
As for your thinking that my cause is joined with yours, there was indeed a similar error in both of us, although our intentions were of the best.
nam omnia utriusque consilia ad concordiam spectaverunt; qua quom ipsi Caesari nihil esset utilius, gratiam quoque nos mire ab eo defendenda pace arbitrabamur.
For all the plans of both of us looked toward harmony; since nothing would have been more useful to Caesar himself than this, we thought that by defending peace we would also win great favor from him.
quantum nos fefellerit et quem in locum res deducta sit, vides.
How much this expectation has deceived us and to what a pass affairs have been brought, you see.
neque solum ea perspicis, quae geruntur quaeque iam gesta sunt, sed etiam qui cursus rerum, qui exitus futurus sit.
And you perceive not only what is being done and what has already been done, but also what the course of events and what the outcome will be.
ergo aut probare oportet ea, quae fiunt, aut interesse, etiam si non probes; quorum altera mihi turpis, altera etiam periculosa ratio videtur.
Therefore, we must either approve of what is happening or take part in it, even if we do not approve; of which the former course seems to me base, and the latter even dangerous.
§4.2.4restat, ut discedendum putem; in quo reliqua videtur esse deliberatio, quod consilium in discessu, quae loca sequamur.
It remains that I think we must depart; in which matter there seems to remain the deliberation of what plan we should adopt in our departure and what places we should head for.
omnino cum miserior res numquam accidit tum ne deliberatio quidem difficilior; nihil enim constitui potest, quod non incurrat in magnam aliquam difficultatem.
Altogether, as no more miserable event has ever occurred, so no deliberation is more difficult; for no decision can be made that does not run into some great difficulty.
tu, si videbitur, ita censeo facias, ut, si habes iam statutum, quid tibi agendum putes, in quo non sit coniunctum consilium tuum cum meo, supersedeas hoc labore itineris.
I propose that you do as follows, if it seems best to you: if you have already determined what you think you ought to do, in which your plan is not joined with mine, you should spare yourself the labor of this journey.
sin autem est quod mecum communicare velis, ego te exspectabo; tu, quod tuo commodo fiat, quam primum velim venias, sicut intellexi et Servio et Postumiae placere.
But if, on the other hand, there is something you wish to confer on with me, I will wait for you; and I would wish you to come as soon as possible, as far as it may be done at your convenience, just as I understood was pleasing both to Servius and to Postumia.
vale.
Farewell.