§6.22.1non ea res me deterruit quo minus, postea quam in Italiam venisti, litteras ad te mitterem, quod tu ad me nullas miseras, sed quia nec quid tibi pollicerer ipse egens rebus omnibus nec quid suaderem, cum mihimet ipsi consilium desset, nec quid consolationis adferrem in tantis malis reperiebam.
It was not that fact which deterred me from sending a letter to you after you arrived in Italy—namely, that you had sent none to me—but rather because, being myself in need of everything, I could not find what to promise you, nor what to advise when I myself lacked counsel, nor what consolation to bring in such great evils.
haec quamquam nihilo meliora sunt nunc etiam atque etiam multo desperatiora, tamen inanis esse meas litteras quam nullas malui.
Although these circumstances are now not a bit better, but even much more desperate, yet I preferred that my letter be empty rather than none at all.
§6.22.2ego si te intellegerem plus conatum esse suscipere rei p. causa muneris quam quantum praestare potuisses, tamen, quibuscumque rebus possem, ad eam condicionem te vivendi, quae daretur quaeque esset, hortarer; sed cum consili tui bene fortiterque suscepti eum tibi finem statueris quem ipsa fortuna terminum nostrarum contentionum esse voluisset, oro obtestorque te pro vetere nostra coniunctione ac necessitudine proque summa mea in te benevolentia et tua in me pari, te ut nobis, parenti, coniugi tuisque omnibus quibus es fuistique semper carissimus, salvum conserves, incolumitati tuae tuorumque, qui ex te pendent, consulas, quae didicisti quaeque ab adulescentia pulcherrime a sapientissimis viris tradita memoria et scientia comprehendisti, iis hoc tempore utare, quos coniunctos summa benevolentia plurimisque officiis amisisti, eorum desiderium, si non aequo animo, at forti feras.
If I understood that you had attempted to undertake more of a duty for the sake of the state than what you could have performed, I would still, by whatever means I could, urge you to that condition of living which was given and which existed; but since, for your well and bravely undertaken plan, you have established for yourself that end which fortune itself had wished to be the limit of our struggles, I beg and entreat you, by our old connection and intimacy, and by my greatest goodwill toward you and yours equally toward me, that you preserve yourself safe for us, for your parent, your wife, and all your people to whom you are and always have been most dear; that you consult the safety of yourself and of your family who depend on you; that you use at this time those things which you learned and which from your youth you comprehended in memory and knowledge as most beautifully handed down by the wisest men; and that you bear the loss of those whom you, bound by the greatest goodwill and numerous kindnesses, have lost, if not with an even mind, yet with a brave one.
§6.22.3ego quid possim nescio vel potius me parum posse sentio; illud tamen tibi polliceor, me, quaecumque saluti dignitatique tuae conducere arbitrabor, tanto studio esse facturum, quanto semper tu et studio et officio in meis rebus fuisti.
I do not know what I can do, or rather I feel that I can do too little; yet I promise you this, that whatever I shall judge to lead to your safety and dignity, I will do with as much zeal as you always showed in my affairs both with zeal and duty.
hanc meam voluntatem ad matrem tuam, optimam feminam tuique amantis simam, detuli.
This will of mine I have conveyed to your mother, an excellent woman and most loving of you.
si quid ad me scripseris, ita faciam, ut te velle intellexero; sin autem tu minus scripseris, ego tamen omnia quae tibi utilia esse arbitrabor summo studio diligenterque curabo.
If you write anything to me, I will act as I understand you to wish; but if you write less, I will nevertheless take care of all things which I shall judge useful to you with the greatest zeal and diligence.
vale.
Farewell.