§1.10.1cum essem in Tusculano (erit hoc tibi pro illo tuo:
"cum essem in Ceramico"
) verum tamen cum ibi essem, Roma puer a sorore tua missus epistulam mihi abs te adlatam dedit nuntiavitque eo ipso die post meridiem iturum eum qui ad te proficisceretur.
When I was at my Tusculan villa (this will be for you in place of that saying of yours: "When I was in the Ceramicus") yet, however, when I was there, a slave sent from Rome by your sister gave me a letter delivered from you, and announced that on that very day, after midday, the person who was to set out to you would be leaving.
eo factum est ut epistulae tuae rescriberem aliquid, brevitate temporis tam pauca cogerer scribere.
Thus it came about that I wrote some reply to your letter, though forced by the shortness of time to write so little.
§1.10.2primum tibi de nostro amico placando aut etiam plane restituendo polliceor.
First, I promise you regarding our friend's pacification or even complete reconciliation.
quod ego etsi mea sponte ante faciebam, eo nunc tamen et agam studiosius et contendam ab illo vehementius, quod tantam ex epistula voluntatem eius rei tuam perspicere videor.
Although I was doing this of my own accord before, I will now, however, both act more zealously and press him more earnestly, because I seem to perceive from your letter your great desire for this matter.
hoc te intellegere volo, pergraviter illum esse offensum; sed quia nullam video gravem subesse causam, magno opere confido illum fore in officio et in nostra potestate.
I want you to understand this, that he has been very heavily offended; but because I see no serious cause underlying it, I am highly confident that he will return to his duty and be in our power.
§1.10.3signa nostra et Hermeraclas, ut scribis, cum commodissime poteris velim imponas, et si quod aliud οἰκεῖον eius loci quem non ignoras reperies et maxime quae tibi palaestrae gymnasique videbuntur esse.
Our statues and the Hermeraclae, as you write, I should like you to ship as soon as you can most conveniently, and if you find any other ornament suitable for that place which you know well, and especially those which seem to you to belong to a palaestra and a gymnasium.
etenim ibi sedens haec ad te scribebam ut me locus ipse admoneret.
For indeed, sitting there, I was writing this to you so that the place itself might prompt me.
praeterea typos tibi mando quos in tectorio atrioli possim includere et putealia sigillata duo.
Besides, I commission you to get bas-reliefs which I can insert into the plaster of the small atrium, and two figured well-curbs.
§1.10.4bibliothecam tuam cave cuiquam despondeas, quamvis acrem amatorem inveneris; nam ego omnis meas vindemiolas eo reservo ut illud subsidium senectuti parem.
Mind you do not promise your library to anyone, however eager a lover of it you may find; for I am keeping all my little savings for that purpose, so that I may prepare that resource for my old age.
§1.10.5de fratre confido ita esse ut semper volui et elaboravi.
Regarding my brother, I trust that things are as I have always wished and laboured for.
multa signa sunt eius rei, non minimum quod soror praegnas est.
There are many signs of this, not least that your sister is pregnant.
§1.10.6de comitiis meis et tibi me permisisse memini et ego iam pridem hoc communibus amicis qui te exspectant praedico, te non modo non arcessi a me sed prohiberi, quod intellegam multo magis interesse tua te agere quod agendum est hoc tempore quam mea te adesse comitiis.
Concerning my consular election, I remember both that I left it to you, and I have long been declaring this to our common friends who expect you, that you are not only not summoned by me but even forbidden to come, because I understand that it is of much more concern to your interest that you do what must be done at this time, than to mine that you be present at my election.
proinde eo animo te velim esse quasi mei negoti causa in ista loca missus esses; me autem eum et offendes erga te et audies quasi mihi si quae parta erunt non modo te praesente sed per te parta sint.
Therefore, I should like you to be of such a mind as if you had been sent to those parts for the sake of my business; moreover, you will find my attitude towards you, and hear of it, as though if anything shall be won by me, it has been won not only in your presence but through your agency.
Tulliola tibi diem dat, sponsorem me appellat.
Tulliola gives you a date, and calls upon me as surety.