§1.17.6vidi enim, vidi penitusque perspexi in meis variis temporibus et sollicitudines et laetitias tuas.
For I saw, indeed I saw and thoroughly perceived in my various times of fortune both your anxieties and your joys.
fuit mihi saepe et laudis nostrae gratulatio tua iucunda et timoris consolatio grata.
Often was your congratulation on my praise delightful to me, and your consolation in my fear welcome.
quin mihi nunc te absente non solum consilium quo tu excellis, sed etiam sermonis communicatio quae mihi suavissima tecum solet esse, maxime deest—quid dicam? in publicane re, quo in genere mihi neglegenti esse non licet, an in forensi labore, quem antea propter ambitionem sustinebam, nunc ut dignitatem tueri gratia possim, an in ipsis domesticis negotiis, in quibus ego cum antea tum vero post discessum fratris te sermonesque nostros desidero? postremo non labor meus, non requies, non negotium, non otium, non forenses res, non domesticae, non publicae, non privatae carere diutius tuo suavissimo atque amantissimo consilio ac sermone possunt.
Indeed, now in your absence, not only your counsel, in which you excel, but also the communication of conversation, which is accustomed to be most sweet to me with you, is greatly lacking to me—what shall I say? Is it in public affairs, in which field it is not permitted for me to be negligent? Or is it in the labor of the forum, which I formerly sustained because of ambition, but now so that I may be able to protect my dignity through gratitude? Or is it in domestic affairs themselves, in which I, both formerly and especially after the departure of my brother, miss you and our conversations? Finally, neither my labor, nor my rest, nor my business, nor my leisure, nor affairs of the forum, nor domestic, nor public, nor private, can any longer do without your most sweet and loving counsel and conversation.
§1.17.7atque harum rerum commemorationem verecundia saepe impedivit utriusque nostrum; nunc autem ea fuit necessaria propter eam partem epistulae tuae, per quam te ac mores tuos mihi purgatos ac probatos esse voluisti.
And modesty often prevented each of us from mentioning these things; but now it was necessary because of that part of your letter, in which you wished yourself and your character to be cleared and approved to me.
atque in ista incommoditate alienati illius animi et offensi illud inest tamen commodi, quod et mihi et ceteris amicis tuis nota fuit et abs te aliquanto ante testificata tua voluntas omittendae provinciae, ut quod una non estis non dissensione ac discidio vestro sed voluntate ac iudicio tuo factum esse videatur.
And in that inconvenience of his alienated and offended mind, there is yet this much of convenience: that your intention of declining the province was known both to me and to the rest of your friends, and testified by you some time before, so that the fact that you are not together may seem to have happened not because of your dissension and rupture, but by your own will and judgment.
qua re et illa quae violata expiabuntur, et haec nostra quae sunt sanctissime conservata suam religionem obtinebunt.
Therefore, both those things which have been violated will be atoned for, and these bonds of ours, which have been most sacredly preserved, will retain their sanctity.
§1.17.8nos hic in re publica infirma misera commutabilique versamur.
We are living here in a weak, wretched, and changeable state of public affairs.
credo enim te audisse nostros equites paene a senatu esse diiunctos; qui primum illud valde graviter tulerunt, promulgatum ex senatus consulto fuisse ut de eis qui ob iudicandum accepissent quaereretur.
For I believe you have heard that our knights are almost separated from the senate; who at first took it very heavily that it had been published by a decree of the senate that an inquiry should be made concerning those who had accepted bribes for judicial decisions.
qua in re decernenda cum ego casu non adfuissem sensissemque id equestrem ordinem ferre moleste neque aperte dicere, obiurgavi senatum, ut mihi visus sum, summa cum auctoritate et in causa non verecunda admodum gravis et copiosus fui.
In deciding which matter, since I by chance had not been present and had perceived that the equestrian order took it ill but did not speak openly, I rebuked the senate, as I thought, with the greatest authority, and was very solemn and copious in a cause that was not very easy to defend with a straight face.
§1.17.9ecce aliae deliciae equitum vix ferendae! quas ego non solum tuli sed etiam ornavi.
Behold another, hardly tolerable whim of the knights! Which I not only endured but even adorned.
Asiam qui de censoribus conduxerunt questi sunt in senatu se cupiditate prolapsos nimium magno conduxisse, ut induceretur locatio postulaverunt.
Those who farmed Asia from the censors complained in the senate that, carried away by eagerness, they had farmed it at too high a price, and demanded that the contract be canceled.
ego princeps in adiutoribus atque adeo secundus; nam ut illi auderent hoc postulare Crassus eos impulit.
I was a leader among their supporters, and indeed the second; for Crassus impelled them to dare to demand this.
invidiosa res, turpis postulatio et confessio temeritatis.
It was an invidious matter, a shameful demand, and a confession of rashness.
summum erat periculum ne, si nihil impetrassent, plane alienarentur a senatu.
There was the greatest danger lest, if they obtained nothing, they should be completely alienated from the senate.
huic quoque rei subventum est maxime a nobis perfectumque ut frequentissimo senatu et liberalissimo uterentur, multaque a me de ordinum dignitate et concordia dicta sunt Kal. Decembr. et postridie.
This matter also was relieved chiefly by us, and it was brought about that they met with a very full and very generous senate; and many things were said by me on the 1st of December and the following day concerning the dignity and harmony of the orders.
neque adhuc res confecta est, sed voluntas senatus perspecta; unus enim contra dixerat Metellus consul designatus, atque erat dicturus, ad quem propter diei brevitatem perventum non est, heros ille noster Cato.
Nor is the matter yet settled, but the will of the senate is clear; for only one had spoken against it, Metellus the consul-elect, and our hero Cato was about to speak, though owing to the shortness of the day he was not reached.
§1.17.10sic ego conservans rationem institutionemque nostram tueor, ut possum, illam a me conglutinatam concordiam.
Thus I, preserving our method and plan, defend as far as I can that harmony cemented by me.
sed tamen quoniam ista sunt tam infirma, munitur quaedam nobis ad retinendas opes nostras tuta, ut spero, via; quam tibi litteris satis explicare non possum, significatione parva ostendam tamen.
But yet, since those things are so weak, a certain safe path, as I hope, is being fortified for us to retain our influence; which I cannot sufficiently explain to you by letter, but I will show it by a small hint.
utor Pompeio familiarissime.
I am on very familiar terms with Pompey.
video quid dicas.
I see what you say.
cavebo quae sunt cavenda, ac scribam alias ad te de meis consiliis capessendae rei publicae plura.
I will beware of what must be beware of, and I will write more to you at another time about my plans for conducting public affairs.
§1.17.11Lucceium scito consulatum habere in animo statim petere.
Know that Lucceius has it in mind to stand for the consulship immediately.
duo enim soli dicuntur petituri; Caesar cum eo coire per Arrium cogitat et Bibulus cum hoc se putat per C. Pisonem posse coniungi.
For only two are said to be going to stand; Caesar thinks of coalescing with him through Arrius, and Bibulus thinks he can be joined with this man through Gaius Piso.
rides? non sunt haec ridicula, mihi crede.
Are you laughing? These are not laughing matters, believe me.
quid aliud scribam ad te, quid? multa sunt, sed in aliud tempus. †exspectare velis, cures ut sciam.
What else shall I write to you, what? There are many things, but for another time. [If you wish to wait], take care that I know.
iam illud modeste rogo, quod maxime cupio, ut quam primum venias.
Now I ask moderately for that which I most desire, that you come as soon as possible.
Nonis Decembribus.
On the Nones of December.