§6.6.8notantur autem mihi ad divinandum signa duplici quadam via; quarum alteram duco e Caesare ipso, alteram e temporum civilium natura atque ratione.
But signs for divining are observed by me in a certain double way; one of which I derive from Caesar himself, the other from the nature and circumstances of the civil times.
in Caesare haec sunt: mitis clemensque natura, qualis exprimitur praeclaro illo libro 'querelarum' tuarum.
In Caesar there are these: a mild and clement nature, such as is expressed in that illustrious book of your 'complaints'.
accedit quod mirifice ingeniis excellentibus, quale est tuum, delectatur.
Added to this is the fact that he is wonderfully delighted with excellent talents, such as yours is.
praeterea cedit multorum iustis et officio incensis, non inanibus aut ambitiosis voluntatibus; §6.6.9in quo vehementer eum consentiens Etruria movebit.
Furthermore, he yields to the just and duty-inspired wishes of many, not to empty or ambitious ones; in which matter a united Etruria will move him strongly.
'cur haec igitur adhuc parum profecerunt?' quia non putat se sustinere causas posse multorum, si tibi, cui iustius videtur irasci posse, concesserit.
"Why then have these things so far profited so little?" because he does not think he can support the causes of many, if he yields to you, to whom he seems to be able to be angry with more justice.
'quae est igitur' inquies 'spes ab irato?' eodem fonte se hausturum intelleget laudes suas, e quo sit leviter aspersus.
"What then," you will say, "is the hope from an angry man?" He will understand that he will draw his own praises from the same fountain from which he was lightly sprinkled.
postremo homo valde est acutus et multum providens; intellegit te, hominem in parte Italiae minime contemnenda facile omnium nobilissimum et in communi re p. cuivis summorum tuae aetatis vel ingenio vel gratia vel fama populi R. parem non posse prohiberi re publica diutius.
Finally, the man is extremely sharp and very far-seeing; he understands that you, a man easily the most noble of all in a part of Italy by no means to be despised, and in the common republic equal to any of the highest of your age in talent, influence, or the reputation among the Roman people, cannot be kept from the republic any longer.
nolet hoc temporis potius esse aliquando beneficium quam iam suum.
He will not wish this to be sometime a benefit of time rather than already his own.
§6.6.10dixi de Caesare; nunc dicam de temporum rerumque natura.
I have spoken of Caesar; now I will speak of the nature of the times and affairs.
nemo est tam inimicus ei causae, quam Pompeius animatus melius quam paratus susceperat, qui nos malos civis dicere aut homines improbos audeat.
There is no one so hostile to that cause, which Pompey had undertaken with a mind better than prepared, who would dare to call us bad citizens or wicked men.
in quo admirari soleo gravitatem et iustitiam et sapientiam Caesaris.
In this matter I am accustomed to admire the weight, justice, and wisdom of Caesar.
numquam nisi honorificentissime Pompeium appellat.
He never speaks of Pompey except most honorably.
at in eius persona multa fecit asperius.
Yet in his political persona he did many things rather harshly.
armorum ista et victoriae sunt facta, non Caesaris;
Those were actions of arms and victory, not of Caesar; but how he embraced us!
at nos quem ad modum est complexus! Cassium sibi legavit, Brutum Galliae praefecit, Sulpicium Graeciae, Marcellum, cui maxime suscensebat, cum summa illius dignitate restituit.
He made Cassius his lieutenant, placed Brutus in charge of Gaul, Sulpicius of Greece, and restored Marcellus, with whom he was most angry, with his highest dignity.
§6.6.11quo igitur haec spectant? rerum hoc natura et civilium temporum non patietur, nec manens nec mutata ratio feret, primum ut non in causa pari eadem sit et condicio et fortuna omnium, deinde ut in eam civitatem boni viri et boni cives nulla ignominia notati non revertantur, in quam tot nefariorum scelerum condemnati reverterunt.
Where then do these things point? The nature of things and of the civil times will not allow this, nor will any logic, whether remaining or changed, tolerate it: first, that in an equal cause the condition and fortune of all should not be the same; second, that good men and good citizens, marked by no ignominy, should not return to that state into which so many condemned of heinous crimes have returned.
§6.6.12habes augurium meum; quo, si quid addubitarem non potius uterer quam illa consolatione, qua facile fortem virum sustentarem, te, si explorata victoria arma sumpsisses pro re p. (ita enim tum putabas), non nimis esse laudandum, sin propter incertos exitus eventusque bellorum posse accidere ut vinceremur putasses, non debere te ad secundam fortunam bene paratum fuisse, adversam ferre nullo modo posse.
You have my augury; with which, if I had any doubt, I would not use it rather than that consolation by which I might easily sustain a brave man: that, if you had taken up arms for the republic with certain victory in view (for so you then thought), you were not to be praised too much; but if, because of the uncertain outcomes and events of wars, you had thought it could happen that we should be defeated, you ought not, having been well prepared for good fortune, to be unable by any means to bear adversity.
disputarem etiam quanto solacio tibi conscientia tui facti, quantae delectationi in rebus adversis litterae esse deberent; commemorarem non solum veterum, sed horum etiam recentium vel ducum vel comitum tuorum gravissimos casus etiam externos multos claros viros nominarem; levat enim dolorem communis quasi legis et humanae condicionis recordatio; §6.6.13exponerem etiam quem ad modum hic et quanta in turba quantaque in confusione rerum omnium viveremus; necesse est enim minore desiderio perdita re p.
I would also dispute how great a consolation the consciousness of your deed, how great a delight in adversity letters ought to be to you; I would recall the most heavy downfalls not only of the ancients, but also of these recent leaders or companions of yours; I would even name many famous foreign men; for the remembrance of a common law and, as it were, of the human condition lightens grief; I would also explain in what manner and in how great a crowd and in how great a confusion of all things we live here; for it is necessary to miss a ruined republic with less regret than a good one.
carere quam bona. sed hoc genere nihil opus est.
But there is no need of this kind of consolation.
incolumem te cito, ut spero, vel potius ut perspicio, videbimus.
We shall see you safe soon, as I hope, or rather as I perceive.
interea tibi absenti et huic, qui adest, imagini animi et corporis tui, constantissimo atque optimo filio tuo, studium, officium, operam, laborem meum iam pridem et pollicitus sum et detuli, nunc hoc amplius, quod me amicissime cotidie magis Caesar amplectitur, familiares quidem eius sicuti neminem.
Meanwhile, to you in your absence and to this image of your mind and body who is present, your most constant and excellent son, I have long since both promised and rendered my zeal, duty, effort, and labor; now so much the more, because Caesar daily embraces me more amicably, and his intimates indeed like no one else.
apud quem quicquid valebo vel auctoritate vel gratia, valebo tibi.
With whom, whatever power I shall have either by authority or by influence, I shall have it for you.
tu cura ut cum firmitudine te animi tum etiam spe optima sustentes.
Take care to sustain yourself both with firmness of mind and also with the best hope.