§4.9.1etsi perpaucis ante diebus dederam Q. Mucio litteras ad te pluribus verbis scriptas, quibus declaraveram, quo te animo censerem esse oportere et quid tibi faciendum arbitrarer, tamen, cum Theophilus, libertus tuus, proficisceretur, cuius ego fidem erga te benevolentiamque perspexeram, sine meis litteris eum ad te venire nolui.
Although only a few days ago I had given Quintus Mucius a letter to you written in greater detail, in which I had declared with what mind I thought you ought to be and what I judged you should do, yet, when Theophilus, your freedman, was setting out—whose fidelity and goodwill toward you I had clearly perceived—I did not want him to come to you without a letter from me.
isdem igitur te rebus etiam atque etiam hortor, quibus superioribus litteris hortatus sum, ut in ea re publica, quaecumque est, quam primum velis esse.
Therefore, by the very same things by which I exhorted you in my previous letter, I exhort you again and again to wish to be as soon as possible in that republic, whatever it is.
multa videbis fortasse, quae nolis, non plura tamen, quam audis cotidie.
You will see perhaps many things which you do not wish, yet not more than you hear daily.
non est porro tuum uno sensu solum oculorum moveri, cum idem illud auribus percipias, quod etiam maius videri solet, minus laborare.
Furthermore, it is not like you to be moved only by the single sense of the eyes, when you perceive that very same thing with your ears—which is even accustomed to seem greater—and yet trouble yourself less.
§4.9.2at tibi ipsi dicendum erit aliquid, quod non sentias, aut faciendum, quod non probes.
But you may say that you yourself will have to say something you do not feel, or do what you do not approve.
primum tempori cedere, id est necessitati parere, semper. sapientis est habitum; deinde non habet, ut nunc quidem est, id viti res.
First, to yield to the time, that is, to obey necessity, has always been held to be the part of a wise man; second, as things indeed are now, the situation does not have that disadvantage.
dicere fortasse quae sentias non licet, tacere plane licet.
To speak perhaps what you feel is not permitted; to keep silent is plainly permitted.
omnia enim delata ad unum sunt; is utitur consilio ne suorum quidem, sed suo.
For all things have been deferred to one man; he uses not even the counsel of his own people, but his own.
quod non multo secus fieret, si is rem publicam teneret, quem secuti sumus.
This would not be much otherwise if he whom we followed held the republic.
an, qui in bello, cum omnium nostrum coniunctum esset periculum, suo et certorum hominum minime prudentium consilio uteretur, eum magis communem censemus in victoria futurum fuisse, quam incertis in rebus fuisset? et, qui nec te consule tuum sapientissimum consilium secutus esset nec fratre tuo consulatum ex auctoritate tua gerente vobis auctoribus uti voluerit, nunc omnia tenentem nostras sententias desideraturum censes fuisse?
Or do we think that he who in war, when the danger of all of us was joined, used his own counsel and that of certain men who were least prudent, would have been more communicative in victory than he had been in uncertain affairs? And do you think that he who neither followed your most wise counsel when you were consul, nor wished to use you as advisers when your brother was holding the consulship under your authority, would now, when holding all things, have desired our opinions?
§4.9.3omnia sunt misera in bellis civilibus, quae maiores nostri ne semel quidem, nostra aetas saepe iam sensit, sed miserius nihil quam ipsa victoria;
All things are wretched in civil wars, which our ancestors did not experience even once, but our age has already felt often; yet nothing is more wretched than victory itself.
quae, etiam si ad meliores venit, tamen eos ipsos ferociores impotentioresque reddit, ut etiam si natura tales non sint, necessitate esse cogantur; multa enim victori eorum arbitrio, per quos vicit, etiam invito facienda sunt.
This, even if it comes to the better side, nevertheless renders those very men more fierce and powerless, so that even if they are not such by nature, they are compelled to be so by necessity; for many things must be done by the victor at the pleasure of those through whom he conquered, even against his will.
an tu non videbas mecum simul, quam illa crudelis esset futura victoria? igitur tunc quoque careres patria, ne quae nolles videres? 'non,' inquies;
Or did you not see with me at the same time how cruel that victory was going to be? Would you, then, even at that time have lacked your country, so that you might not see what you did not wish?
'ego enim ipse tenerem opes et dignitatem meam. at erat tuae virtutis in minimis tuas res ponere, de re publica vehementius laborare.
"No," you will say, "for I myself would have held my resources and my dignity." But it was of your virtue to place your own affairs among the least, and to trouble yourself more vehemently about the republic.
deinde qui finis istius consili est? nam adhuc et factum tuum probatur, et ut in tali re etiam fortuna laudatur, factum, quod et initium belli necessario secutus sis et extrema sapienter persequi nolueris, fortuna, quod honesto otio tenueris et statum et famam dignitatis tuae.
Next, what is the end of that plan of yours? For up to this point both your deed is approved, and as in such a matter even your fortune is praised—your deed, because you followed the beginning of the war by necessity and wisely refused to pursue it to its extremes; your fortune, because in honorable leisure you have kept both the status and the reputation of your dignity.
nunc vero nec locus tibi ullus dulcior esse debet patria, nec eam diligere minus debes, quod deformior est, sed misereri potius nec eam multis claris viris orbatam privare etiam aspectu tuo.
But now indeed no place ought to be sweeter to you than your country, nor ought you to love her less because she is uglier, but rather pity her, and not deprive her, bereaved of many illustrious men, of your presence also.
§4.9.4denique, si fuit magni animi non esse supplicem victori, vide ne superbi sit aspernari eiusdem liberalitatem et, si sapientis est carere patria, duri non desiderare; et, si re publica non possis frui, stultum est nolle privata.
Finally, if it was of a great mind not to be a suppliant to the victor, see to it lest it be of a proud mind to reject his liberality; and if it is of a wise man to lack his country, of a hard man not to long for her; and if you cannot enjoy the republic, it is foolish to refuse private things.
caput illud est, ut, si ista vita tibi commodior esse videatur, cogitandum tamen sit, ne tutior non sit.
The chief point is that, even if that life seems more convenient to you, yet it must be considered lest it be not safer.
Magna gladiorum est licentia, sed in externis locis minor etiam ad facinus verecundia.
Great is the license of swords, but in foreign places there is even less shame for crime.
mihi salus tua tantae cura est, ut Marcello, fratri tuo, aut par aut certe proximus sini; tuum est consulere temporibus et incolumitati et vitae et fortunis tuis
Your safety is of such concern to me that I am either equal or certainly next to Marcus, your brother; it is your part to consult the times and your safety, life, and fortunes.