§9.13.1C. Subernius Calenus et meus est familiaris et Leptae nostri familiarissimi pernecessarius.
Gaius Subernius Calenus is both a friend of mine and a very close connection of our dearest friend Lepta.
is cum vitandi belli causa profectus esset in Hispaniam cum M. Varrone ante bellum, ut in ea provincia esset, in qua nemo nostrum post Afranium superatum bellum ullum fore putaret, incidit in ea ipsa mala, quae summo studio vitaverat; oppressus est enim bello repentino, quod bellum commotum a Scapula ita postea confirmatum est a Pompeio, ut nulla ratione ab illa miseria se eripere posset.
When he had set out for Spain with Marcus Varro before the war in order to avoid the war, so that he might be in that province in which none of us thought there would be any war after the defeat of Afranius, he fell into those very evils which he had avoided with the greatest care; for he was overwhelmed by a sudden war, which war, started by Scapula, was afterwards so strengthened by Pompey that he could by no means rescue himself from that misery.
§9.13.2eadem causa fere est M. Plani heredis, qui est item Calenus, Leptae nostri familiarissimus.
The case of Marcus Planus Heres is almost the same, who is likewise a Calenian, and a very close friend of our Lepta.
hosce igitur ambos tibi sic commendo, ut maiore cura, studio, sollicitudine animi commendare non possim.
I therefore commend both of these men to you in such a way that I could not commend them with greater care, zeal, and anxiety of mind.
volo ipsorum causa, meque in eo vehementer et amicitia movet et humanitas; Lepta vero cum ita laboret, ut eius fortunae videantur in discrimen venire, non possum ego non aut proxime atque ille aut etiam aeque laborare.
I wish it for their own sakes, and in this matter both friendship and humanity move me vehemently; but since Lepta indeed is in such distress that his fortunes seem to come into danger, I cannot fail to be in distress either almost as much as he, or even equally.
quapropter, etsi saepe expertus sum quantum me amares, tamen sic velim tibi persuadeas, id me in hac re maxime iudicaturum.
Wherefore, although I have often experienced how much you love me, yet I would wish you to persuade yourself of this: that I shall judge of it most of all in this matter.
§9.13.3peto igitur a te vel, si pateris, oro ut homines miseros et fortuna, quam vitare nemo potest, magis quam culpa calamitosos conserves incolumis velisque per te me hoc muneris cum ipsis amicis hominibus, cum municipio Caleno,. quocum mihi magna necessitudo est, tum Leptae, quem omnibus antepono, dare.
I ask of you therefore, or, if you permit, I entreat you, to preserve unharmed these wretched men, who are disastrous more by fortune (which no one can avoid) than by fault; and that you should wish me, through your agency, to grant this favor both to those friendly men themselves, and to the municipality of Cales, with which I have a great connection, and especially to Lepta, whom I prefer to all others.
§9.13.4quod dicturus sum, puto equidem non valde ad rem pertinere, sed tamen nihil obest dicere: res familiaris alteri eorum valde exigua est, a_eri vix equestris.
What I am about to say, I think indeed does not greatly pertain to the matter, but yet there is no harm in saying it: the private property of one of them is extremely small, and that of the other is scarcely up to the equestrian standard.
quapropter, quoniam iis Caesar vitam sua liberalitate concessit nec est quod iis praeterea magno opere possit adimi, reditum, si me tantum amas quantum certe amas, hominibus confice; in quo nihil est praeter viam longam, quam idcirco non fugiunt, ut et vivant cum suis et moriantur domi.
Therefore, since Caesar by his generosity has granted them life, and there is nothing besides that can be greatly taken away from them, accomplish the return for these men, if you love me as much as you certainly do; in which there is nothing except a long journey, which they do not avoid for this reason, that they may both live with their own people and die at home.
quod ut enitare contendasque vel potius ut perficias (posse enim te mihi persuasi), vehementer te etiam atque etiam rogo.
That you may strive and endeavor to do this, or rather that you may accomplish it (for I have persuaded myself that you are able), I vehemently ask you again and again.