§7.5.1vide quam mihi persuaserim te me esse alterum non modo in iis rebus, quae ad me ipsum, sed etiam in iis, quae ad meos pertinent.
See how thoroughly I have persuaded myself that you are my second self, not only in those matters which concern me personally, but even in those which relate to my friends.
C. Trebatium cogitaram, quocumque exirem, mecum ducere, ut eum meis omnibus studiis, beneficus quam ornatissimum domum reducerem;
I had intended, wherever I should go, to take C.
sed, postea quam et Pompei commoratio diuturnior erat quam putaram, et mea quaedam tibi non ignota dubitatio aut impedire profectionem meam videbatur aut certe tardare (vide quid mihi sumpserim), coepi velle ea Trebatium exspectare a te, quae sperasset a me, neque me hercule minus ei prolixe de tua voluntate promisi quam eram solitus de mea polliceri.
Trebatius with me, so that I might bring him back home as highly honored as possible through all my zeal and kindness; but, after my stay at Pompeii turned out to be longer than I had expected, and a certain hesitation of mine, not unknown to you, seemed either to prevent my departure or at least to delay it (see what a liberty I am taking!), I began to wish that Trebatius should expect from you those things which he had hoped for from me. And, by Hercules, I promised him no less generously regarding your goodwill than I was accustomed to promise regarding my own.
§7.5.2Casus vero mirificus quidam intervenit quasi vel testis opinionis meae vel sponsor humanitatis tuae.
Indeed, a certain wonderful chance intervened, as if to be either a witness of my opinion or a guarantor of your humanity.
nam cum de hoc ipso Trebatio cum Balbo nostro loquerer accuratius domi meae, litterae mihi dantur a te, quibus in extremis scriptum erat: M. †itfiuium, quem mihi commendas, vel regem Galliae faciam, vel hunc† Leptae delega, si vis.
For while I was talking rather particularly at my house about this very Trebatius with our Balbus, a letter from you was delivered to me, at the end of which was written: "As for M. †itfiuium, whom you recommend to me, I will either make him king of Gaul, or hand him over† to Lepta, if you wish.
tu ad me alium mitte quem ornem. sustulimus manus et ego et Balbus.
Send me someone else whom I may advance." Both Balbus and I raised our hands.
tanta fuit opportunitas, ut illud nescio quid non fortuitum, sed divinum videretur.
The opportunity was so opportune that this something seemed not accidental, but divine.
Mitto igitur ad te Trebatium atque ita mitto ut initio mea sponte, post autem invitatu tuo mittendum duxerim.
I send Trebatius to you, therefore, and I send him in such a way that, while at first I thought of sending him of my own accord, I now feel he must be sent at your invitation.
§7.5.3hunc, mi Caesar, sic velim omni tua comitate complectare, ut omnia, quae per me possis adduci ut in meos conferre velis, in unum hunc conferas.
My dear Caesar, I would wish you to embrace this man with all your courtesy, so that you may bestow upon this one individual all the favors which you could be induced through me to wish to bestow upon my friends.
de quo tibi homine haec spondeo non illo vetere verbo meo, quod cum ad te de Milone scripsissem, iure lusisti, sed more Romano, quo modo homines non inepti loquuntur, probiorem hominem, meliorem virum, pudentiorem esse neminem;
Concerning this man, I promise you, not with that old word of mine, which you justly ridiculed when I wrote to you about Milo, but in the Roman fashion, in the way that men of sense speak, that there is no more honest man, no better citizen, no more modest person.
accedit etiam, quod familiam ducit in iure civili singulari memoria, summa scientia.
Furthermore, he is the leader in the civil law, possessing an extraordinary memory and the greatest knowledge.
huic ego neque tribunatum neque praefecturam neque ullius benefici certum nomen peto, benevolentiam tuam et liberalitatem peto neque impedio quo minus, si tibi ita placuerit, etiam hisce eum ornes gloriolae insignibus;
For him, I ask neither a tribuneship nor a prefecture, nor any specific title of benefit; I ask for your goodwill and liberality, though I do not prevent you, if it should so please you, from honoring him with these badges of minor glory.
totum denique hominem tibi ita trado, 'de manu,' ut aiunt, 'in manum' tuam istam et victoria et fide praestantem.
In short, I hand the whole man over to you, "from hand to hand," as they say, into that hand of yours which is pre-eminent in both victory and loyalty.
simus enim putidiusculi, quamquam per te vix licet; verum, ut video, licebit.
For let us be a little importunate, although you scarcely allow it; yet, as I see, it will be allowed.
cura ut valeas, et me, ut amas, ama.
Take care of your health, and love me as you do.