§8.3.1estne? vici et tibi saepe, quod negaras discedens curaturum tibi, litteras mitto? est, si quidem perferuntur, quas do.
Is it not so? Have I won, and am I sending letters to you frequently—something you denied as you were leaving that you would take care to do for me? It is indeed so, if only those which I dispatch are delivered.
atque hoc eo diligentius facio quod, cum otiosus sum, plane ubi delectem otiolum meum non habeo.
And I do this all the more diligently because, when I am at leisure, I have absolutely no place where I may delight my little leisure.
tu cum Romae eras, hoc mihi certum ac iucundissimum vacanti negotium erat, tecum id oti tempus consumere idque non mediocriter desidero, ut mihi non modo solus esse sed Romae te profecto solitudo videatur facta, et, qui, quae mea neglegentia est, multos saepe dies ad te, cum hic eras, non accedebam, nunc cotidie non esse te ad quem cursitem discrucior.
When you were in Rome, this was my fixed and most pleasant occupation when I was free, to spend that leisure time with you; and I miss that in no ordinary degree, so that not only do I seem to be alone, but, now that you have departed, a veritable solitude seems to have been made of Rome itself. And I, who—such is my negligence—often did not visit you for many days when you were here, am now tortured every day because you are not here for me to run to.
maxime vero ut te dies noctesque quaeram competitor Hirrus curat.
But it is especially my competitor Hirrus who sees to it that I seek you day and night.
quo modo illum putas auguratus tuum competitorem dolere et dissimulare me certiorem quam se candidatum? de quo ut quem optas quam primum nuntium accipias, tua medius fidius magis quam mea causa cupio; nam mea, si fio, forsitan cum locupletiore referam; sed hoc usque eo suave est ut, si acciderit, tota vita risus nobis desse non possit.
How do you think he, once your competitor for the augurship, grieves and conceals the fact that I am a more certain candidate than himself? Regarding him, by heaven, I desire more for your sake than for my own that you receive as soon as possible the news you wish for; for as for me, if I am elected, I shall perhaps settle accounts with a wealthier man; but this is so delightful that, if it happens, laughter cannot fail us for our whole lives.
†sed tanti sed me hercules non multum M. Octavius eorum odia quae Hirrum premunt, quae permulta sunt, sublevat.
But it is worth that much. Yet, by Hercules, Marcus Octavius does not do much to lighten the hatred that presses upon Hirrus, which is very great.
§8.3.2quod ad Philotimi liberti officium et bona Milonis attinet, dedimus operam ut et Philotimus quam honestissime Miloni absenti eiusque necessariis satis faceret et secundum eius fidem et sedulitatem existimatio tua conservaretur.
As to the duty of the freedman Philotimus and the property of Milo, we have taken care both that Philotimus should satisfy the absent Milo and his relatives in the most honorable manner, and that your reputation should be preserved in accordance with his fidelity and diligence.
§8.3.3illud nunc a te peto, si eris, ut spero, otiosus, aliquod ad nos, ut intellegamus nos tibi curae esse, su/ntagma conscribas.
What I now ask of you is that, if you are, as I hope, at leisure, you would write some treatise (suntagma) for us, so that we may understand that we are a care to you.
'qui tibi istuc,' inquis, 'in mentem venit, homini non inepto?' opto aliquod ex tam multis tuis monumentis exstare quod nostrae amicitiae memoriam posteris quoque prodat.
"How did that come into your mind," you will say, "to a man not lacking in wit?" I desire that some monument from among your many works should exist which may hand down the memory of our friendship to posterity as well.
cuius modi velim, puto, quaeris.
What kind I would like, I suppose you ask.
tu citius, qui omnem nosti disciplinam, quod maxime convenit excogitabis, genere tamen quod et ad nos pertineat et didaskali/an quandam, ut versetur inter manus, habeat.
You, who know all learning, will more quickly devise what is most suitable; yet it should be of a genre that both pertains to us and possesses a certain instruction (didaskalian), so that it may be handled constantly.