§7.11.1Nisi ante Roma profectus esses, nunc eam certe relinqueres; quis enim tot interregnis iure consultum desiderat? ego omnibus, unde petitur, hoc consili dederim, ut a singulis interregibus binas advocationes postulent.
If you had not set out from Rome beforehand, you would certainly be leaving it now; for who desires a lawyer in the midst of so many interregnums? I would give this advice to all those from whom a claim is made, that they demand two postponements from each of the interreges.
satisne tibi videor abs te ius civile didicisse?
Do I seem to you to have learned the civil law sufficiently from you?
§7.11.2sed heus tu! quid agis? ecquid fit? video enim te iam iocari per litteras haec signa meliora sunt quam in meo Tusculano.
But hey you! What are you doing? Is anything happening? For I see that you are now joking in your letters; these signs are better than when you were in my Tusculan villa.
sed quid sit scire cupio.
But I desire to know what it is.
consuli quidem te a Caesare scribis; sed ego tibi ab illo consuli mallem.
You write indeed that you are consulted by Caesar; but I would prefer that you be consulted for by him.
quod si aut fit aut futurum putas, perfer istam militiam et permane; ego enim desiderium tui spe tuorum commodorum consolabor;
But if this is either happening or you think it will happen, endure that military service of yours and remain; for I shall console my longing for you with the hope of your advantages.
sin autem ista sunt inaniora, recipe te ad nos.
But if those things are rather empty, return to us.
nam aut erit hic aliquid aliquando aut, si minus, una me hercule conlocutio nostra pluris erit quam omnes Samarobrivae.
For either there will be something here sometime, or, if not, by Hercules, our single conversation will be worth more than all Samarobriva.
denique, si cito te rettuleris, sermo nullus erit; si diutius frustra afueris, non modo Laberium sed etiam sodalem nostrum Valerium pertimesco; mira enim persona induci potest Britannici iure consulti.
In short, if you return quickly, there will be no talk; if you are absent longer in vain, I fear not only Laberius but also our companion Valerius; for a strange character of a "British lawyer" can be introduced.
§7.11.3haec ego non rideo, quamvis tu rideas, sed de re severissima tecum, ut soleo, iocor.
I do not laugh at these things, although you may laugh, but I joke with you, as I am accustomed to do, about a most serious matter.
remoto ioco tibi hoc amicissimo animo praecipio, ut, si istic mea commendatione tuam dignitatem obtinebis, perferas nostri desiderium, honestatem et facultates tuas augeas, sin autem ista frigebunt, recipias te ad nos.
Joking aside, I advise you with a most friendly mind that, if you maintain your dignity there through my recommendation, you should endure your longing for us, and increase your honor and resources; but if those things are cold, return to us.
omnia tamen quae vis et tua virtute profecto et nostro summo erga te studio consequere.
Nevertheless, you will achieve all things that you wish, both by your own virtue surely and by our greatest zeal toward you.