§9.25.1summum me ducem litterae tuae reddiderunt.
Your letter has made me a consummate general.
plane nesciebam te tam peritum esse rei militaris; Pyrrhi te libros et Cineae video lectitasse.
I really did not know that you were so skilled in military matters; I see that you have been reading and re-reading the books of Pyrrhus and of Cineas.
itaque obtemperare cogito praeceptis tuis, hoc amplius, navicularum habere aliquid in ora maritima.
And so I intend to obey your instructions, and even to go further, to have some small boats on the sea coast.
contra equitem Parthum negant ullam armaturam meliorem inveniri posse.
Against the Parthian cavalry they say no better equipment can be found.
sed quid ludimus? nescis quo cum imperatore tibi. negotium sit.
But why are we joking? You do not know what kind of general you have to deal with.
*paidei/an *ku/rou quam contrieram legendo, totam in hoc imperio explicavi.
The *Education of Cyrus*, which I had worn out with reading, I have fully displayed in this command.
§9.25.2sed iocabimur alias coram, ut spero, brevi tempore; nunc ades ad imperandum vel ad parendum potius; sic enim antiqui loquebantur.
But we shall joke at another time in person, as I hope, before long; now assist me in giving orders, or rather in obeying them; for so the ancients used to speak.
Cum M. Fadio, quod scire te arbitror, mihi summus usus est valdeque eum diligo cum propter summam probitatem eius ac singularem modestiam, tum quod in iis controversiis, quas habeo cum tuis combibonibus Epicuriis, optima opera eius uti soleo.
With Marcus Fadius, which I think you know, I have the closest intimacy, and I love him dearly, both because of his extreme honesty and singular modesty, and also because in those controversies which I have with your Epicurean drinking-companions, I am accustomed to employ his excellent assistance.
§9.25.3is cum ad me Laudiceam venisset mecumque ego eum esse vellem, repente percussus est atrocissimis litteris, in quibus scriptum erat fundum Herculanensem a Q. Fadio fratre proscriptum esse, qui fundus cum eo communis esset.
When he had come to me at Laodicea, and I wished him to be with me, he was suddenly struck by a most cruel letter, in which it was written that the Herculaneum estate had been advertised for sale by his brother Quintus Fadius, which estate was held in common with him.
id M. Fadius pergraviter tulit existimavitque fratrem suum, hominem non sapientem, is impulsu inimicorum suorum eo progressum esse.
Marcus Fadius took this very hard, and thought that his brother, a foolish man, had gone to such lengths at the instigation of his own enemies.
nunc si me amas, mi Paeto, negotium totum suscipe; molestia Fadium libera.
Now, if you love me, my dear Paetus, undertake the whole business; free Fadius from this trouble.
auctoritate tua nobis opus est et consilio et etiam gratia.
We have need of your authority, your advice, and also your influence.
noti pati litigare fratres et iudiciis turpibus conflictari.
Do not allow brothers to go to law and to be harassed by shameful lawsuits.
Matonem et Pollionem inimicos habet Fadius.
Fadius has Mato and Pollio as enemies.
quid multa? non me hercule tam perscribere possum quam mihi gratum feceris, si otiosum Fadium reddideris.
Why say more? By Hercules, I cannot write down fully how grateful you will make me if you restore Fadius to peace of mind.
id ille in te positum esse putat mihique persuadet.
He thinks that this depends on you, and convinces me of it.