§1.12.1Teucris illa lentum sane negotium, neque Cornelius ad Terentiam postea rediit.
\nThat Teucris is indeed a slow business, and Cornelius has not since returned to Terentia.
opinor ad Considium, Axium, Selicium confugiendum est; nam a Caecilio propinqui minore centesimis nummum movere non possunt.
I think we must have recourse to Considius, Axius, and Selicius; for from Caecilius even his relatives cannot move a single penny at less than twelve percent.
sed ut ad prima illa redeam, nihil ego illa impudentius, astutius, lentius vidi. "libertum mitto, Tito mandavi. "
σκήψεισ atque ἀναβολαί; sed nescio an ταὐτόματον.
But to return to those first matters, I have never seen anything more impudent, more cunning, or slower than she.\n"I am sending a freedman, I have commissioned Titus."\nExcuses and delays; but perhaps it is a stroke of fortune.
nam mihi Pompeiani prodromi nuntiant aperte Pompeium acturum Antonio succedi, oportere eodemque tempore aget praetor ad populum.
For Pompey's messengers of the vanguard report to me that Pompey will openly urge that a successor be appointed to Antonius, and at the same time the praetor will bring a proposal before the people.
res eius modi est ut ego nec per bonorum nec per popularem existimationem honeste possim hominem defendere, nec mihi libeat, quod vel maximum est.
The matter is of such a nature that I can neither honorably defend the man, whether by the estimation of the conservative citizens or by that of the populace, nor does it please me to do so, which is indeed the most important thing.
etenim accidit hoc, quod totum cuius modi sit mando tibi ut perspicias. §1.12.2libertum ego habeo sane nequam hominem, Hilarum dico, ratiocinatorem et clientem tuum.
For this has happened, the whole nature of which I commission you to investigate.\n\nI have a freedman who is a thoroughly worthless fellow, I mean Hilarus, an accountant and your client.
de eo mihi Valerius interpres nuntiat Thyillusque se audisse scribit haec, esse hominem cum Antonio; Antonium porro in cogendis pecuniis dictitare partem mihi quaeri et a me custodem communis quaestus libertum esse missum.
Concerning him, Valerius the interpreter reports to me, and Thyillus writes that he has heard this: that the fellow is with Antonius; and furthermore, that Antonius, in collecting money, repeatedly says that a share is being sought for me, and that a freedman has been sent by me as a guardian of our joint profit.
non sum mediocriter commotus neque tamen credidi, sed certe aliquid sermonis fuit.
I was not moderately disturbed, yet I did not believe it; but certainly there has been some talk.
totum investiga, cognosce, perspice et nebulonem illum, si quo pacto potes, ex istis locis amove.
Investigate, learn, and look into the whole matter, and remove that scoundrel from those parts if you can do so by any means.
huius sermonis Valerius auctorem Cn.
Valerius named Cn.
Plancium nominabat.
Plancius as the author of this talk.
mando tibi plane totum ut videas cuius modi sit. §1.12.3Pompeium nobis amicissimum constat esse.
I commission you plainly to see the whole affair, of what sort it is.\n\nIt is established that Pompey is very friendly to us.
divortium Muciae vehementer probatur.
The divorce of Mucia is highly approved.
P. Clodium Appi f.
P.
, credo te audisse cum veste muliebri deprehensum domi C. Caesaris cum pro populo fieret, eumque per manus servulae servatum et eductum;
Clodius, son of Appius, I believe you have heard, was caught in female attire at the house of C.
rem esse insigni infamia.
Caesar when sacrifice was being made for the people, and that he was saved and led out by the hands of a young maidservant; and that the matter is one of signal infamy.
quod te moleste ferre certo scio. §1.12.4quid praeterea ad te scribam non habeo, et me hercule eram in scribendo conturbatior.
I am sure you take this hard.\n\nI have nothing else to write to you, and indeed, by Hercules, I was rather troubled while writing.
nam puer festivus anagnostes noster Sositheus decesserat meque plus quam servi mors debere videbatur commoverat.
For our charming reader-boy Sositheus had died, and his death has moved me more than the death of a slave seemed to deserve.
tu velim saepe ad nos scribas.
I should like you to write to us often.
si rem nullam habebis, quod in buccam venerit scribito.
If you have nothing to write about, write whatever comes into your head.
Kal.
On the Kalends of January, in the consulship of M.
Ianuariis M. Messalla, M. Pisone coss.
Messalla and M. Pisone.