§6.4.1Novi quod ad te scriberem nihil erat, et tamen, si quid esset, sciebam te a tuis certiorem fieri solere; de futuris autem rebus etsi semper difficile est dicere, tamen interdum coniectura possis propius accedere, cum est res eius modi cuius exitus provideri possit.
There was no news for me to write to you, and yet, if there were any, I knew that you were accustomed to be informed by your own people; but as for future events, although it is always difficult to speak of them, yet sometimes you might come closer by conjecture, when the matter is of such a kind that its outcome can be foreseen.
nunc tantum videmur intellegere, non diuturnum bellum; etsi id ipsum non nullis videmur secus.
At present we seem to understand only this, that the war will not be long; although this itself seems otherwise to some.
equidem, cum haec scribebam, aliquid iam actum putabam, †non quo, sed quod difficilis erat coniectura.
For my part, when I was writing this, I thought that something had already been done, not because of some specific reason, but because conjecture was difficult.
nam cum omnis belli Mars communis et cum semper incerti exitus proeliorum sunt, tum hoc tempore ita magnae utrimque copiae, ita paratae ad depugnandum esse dicuntur, ut, utercumque vicerit, non sit mirum futurum.
For while the Mars of all war is common and the outcomes of battles are always uncertain, yet at this time the forces on both sides are said to be so great, and so prepared for a decisive struggle, that whichever of the two wins, it will be no wonder.
illa in dies singulos magis magisque opinio hominum confirmatur, etiam si inter causas armorum aliquantum intersit, tamen inter victorias non multum interfuturum.
Day by day that opinion of people is confirmed more and more, that even if there is some considerable difference between the causes of their arms, yet there will not be much difference between their victories.
alteros prope modum iam sumus experti, de altero nemo est quin cogitet quam sit metuendus iratus victor armatus.
One side we have already almost experienced; as for the other, there is no one who does not think how much an armed, angry victor is to be feared.
§6.4.2hoc loco si videor augere dolorem tuum, quem consolando levare debeam, fateor me communium malorum consolationem nullam invenire praeter illam, quae tamen, si possis eam suscipere, maxima est, quaque ego cotidie magis utor, conscientiam rectae voluntatis maximam consolationem esse rerum incommodarum nec esse ullum magnum malum praeter culpam.
At this point, if I seem to increase your grief, which I ought to alleviate by consoling you, I confess that I find no consolation for our common evils except that one, which, however, if you can receive it, is the greatest, and which I myself use more and more daily: that the consciousness of a right will is the greatest consolation in adverse circumstances, and that there is no great evil except guilt.
A qua quoniam tantum absumus, ut etiam optime senserimus eventusque magis nostri consili quam consilium reprehendatur, et quoniam praestitimus quod debuimus, moderate quod evenit feramus.
Since we are so far from this guilt that we have even felt in the best possible way, and the results of our counsel are blamed rather than the counsel itself, and since we have performed what we owed, let us bear what has happened with moderation.
sed hoc mihi tamen non sumo, ut te consoler de communibus miseriis, quae ad consolandum maioris ingeni et ad ferendum singularis virtutis indigent; illud cuivis facile est docere cur praecipue tu dolere nihil debeas.
Yet I do not take this upon myself, to console you concerning our common miseries, which stand in need of a greater talent to console and of singular virtue to bear; but it is easy for anyone to show why you in particular ought to grieve not at all.
eius enim, qui tardior in te levando fuit quam fore putaremus, non est mihi dubia de tua salute sententia, de illis autem non arbitror te exspectare quid sentiam.
For concerning the mind of him who was slower in raising you up than we thought he would be, I have no doubt regarding your safety; as for those others, I do not suppose you expect what I think.
§6.4.3reliquum est ut te angat, quod absis a tuis tam diu.
It remains that you are vexed by being away from your family for so long.
res molesta, praesertim ab iis pueris, quibus nihil potest esse festivius; sed, ut ad te scripsi antea, tempus est huius modi ut suam quisque condicionem miserrimam putet et, ubi quisque sit, ibi esse minime velit.
A troublesome thing, especially from those children than whom nothing can be more delightful; but, as I wrote to you before, the times are of such a kind that everyone thinks his own condition most miserable and least wishes to be where he is.
equidem nos, qui Romae sumus, miserrimos esse duco, non solum quod in malis omnibus acerbius est videre quam audire, sed etiam quod ad omnis casus subitorum periculorum magis obiecti sumus quam si abessemus.
For my part, I consider us who are in Rome to be the most miserable, not only because in all evils it is more bitter to see than to hear, but also because we are more exposed to all hazards of sudden dangers than if we were away.
etsi me ipsum consolatorem tuum non tantum litterae, quibus semper studui, quantum longinquitas temporis mitigavit.
Although time has mitigated me myself, your consoler, not so much through literature, to which I have always been devoted, as through the long duration of time.
§6.4.4quanto fuerim dolore meministi.
You remember with how great grief I was.
in quo prima illa consolatio est, vidisse me plus quam ceteros, cum cupiebam quamvis iniqua condicione pacem; quod etsi casu, non divinatione mea factum est, tamen in hac mani prudentiae laude delector.
In which that first consolation is, that I saw more than the others, when I desired peace on any terms, however unequal; and although this happened by chance and not by my divination, yet I delight in this empty praise of foresight.
deinde, quod mihi ad consolationem commune tecum est, si iam vocer ad exitum vitae, non ab ea re p. avellar, qua carendum esse doleam, praesertim cum id sine ullo sensu futurum sit.
Next, which is common to me and you for consolation, if I should now be called to the end of life, I shall not be torn from such a republic as I should grieve to be without, especially since this will be without any sensation.
adiuvat etiam aetas et acta iam vita, quae cum cursu suo bene confecto delectat tum vetat in eo vim timere, quo nos iam natura ipsa paene perduxerit.
Age also helps, and a life already lived, which, while it delights with its course well completed, also forbids us to fear violence in that to which nature itself has now almost led us.
postremo is vir vel etiam ii viri hoc bello occiderunt, ut impudentia videatur eandem fortunam, si res cogat, recusare.
Finally, that man or indeed those men have fallen in this war, so that it would seem shameless to refuse the same fortune, if circumstances compel.
equidem mihi omnia propono, nec ullum est tantum malum quod non putem impendere.
For my part, I set all things before my mind, nor is there any evil so great that I do not think it is impending.
sed, cum plus in metuendo mali sit quam in ipso illo, quod timetur, desino, praesertim cum id impendeat, in quo non modo dolor nullus, verum finis etiam doloris futurus sit.
But since there is more evil in fearing than in that very thing which is feared, I cease; especially since that is impending in which there will be not only no pain, but even the end of pain.
sed haec satis multa, vel plura potius quam necesse fuit; facit autem non loquacitas mea, sed benevolentia longiores epistulas.
But these things are enough, or rather more than was necessary; but it is not my loquacity, but my goodwill that makes my letters rather long.
§6.4.5Servium discessisse Athenis moleste tuli; non enim dubito quin magnae tibi levationi solitus sit esse cotidianus congressus et sermo cum familiarissimi hominis tum optimi et prudentissimi viri.
I was sorry to hear that Servius had departed from Athens; for I do not doubt that the daily meeting and conversation with a man who is both a most intimate friend and an excellent and most wise man was accustomed to be a great relief to you.
tu velim te, ut debes et soles, tua virtute sustentes.
I would have you support yourself by your own virtue, as you ought and are accustomed to do.
ego, quae te velle quaeque ad te et ad tuos pertinere arbitrabor, omnia studiose diligenterque curabo.
I will zealously and diligently care for all those things which I shall think you wish and which pertain to you and yours.
quae cum faciam, benevolentiam tuam erga me imitabor, merita non adsequar.
In doing which, I shall imitate your goodwill towards me, though I shall not attain to your merits.
vale.
Farewell.