§1.19.7itaque primum, eum qui nimium diu de rebus nostris tacuerat, Pompeium adduxi in eam voluntatem ut in senatu non semel sed saepe multisque verbis huius mihi salutem imperi atque orbis terrarum adiudicarit; quod non tam interfuit mea (neque enim illae res aut ita sunt obscurae ut testimonium, aut ita dubiae ut laudationem desiderent) quam rei publicae, quod erant quidam improbi qui contentionem fore aliquam mihi cum Pompeio ex rerum illarum dissensione arbitrarentur.
Therefore, first of all, I have brought Pompey—who had kept silence about our affairs for too long—to such a state of mind that in the senate, not once but often and with many words, he has attributed the safety of this empire and of the whole world to me; which was not so much of importance to me (for those deeds of mine are neither so obscure as to need testimony, nor so doubtful as to require praise) as to the republic, because there were certain wicked men who thought that there would be some contention between me and Pompey arising from our disagreement on those matters.
cum hoc ego me tanta familiaritate coniunxi ut uterque nostrum in sua ratione munitior et in re publica firmior hac coniunctione esse possit.
I have joined myself with this man in such great intimacy that each of us, through this connection, can be more fortified in his own policy and firmer in the republic.
§1.19.8odia autem illa libidinosae et delicatae iuventutis quae erant in me incitata sic mitigata sunt comitate quadam mea me unum ut omnes illi colant; nihil iam denique a me asperum in quemquam fit nec tamen quicquam populare ac dissolutum, sed ita temperata tota ratio est ut rei publicae constantiam praestem, privatis meis rebus propter infirmitatem bonorum, iniquitatem malevolorum, odium in me improborum adhibeam quandam cautionem et diligentiam atque ita, tametsi his novis amicitiis implicati sumus, ut crebro mihi vafer ille Siculus insusurret Epicharmus cantilenam illam suam; "
νᾶφε καὶ μέμνασ' ἀπιστεῖν: ἄρθρα ταῦτα τᾶν φρενῶν
"
ac nostrae quidem rationis ac vitae quasi quandam formam, ut opinor, vides.
Furthermore, those hatreds of the wanton and luxurious youth which had been excited against me have been so mitigated by a certain affability of mine that they all court me alone; in short, nothing harsh is now done by me toward anyone, nor yet is anything done in a popular or lax manner, but my whole conduct is so tempered that I exhibit steadfastness to the republic, while for my private affairs, on account of the weakness of the good, the unfairness of the malevolent, and the hatred of the wicked toward me, I employ a certain caution and diligence, and that in such a way, although we are involved in these new friendships, that that crafty Sicilian Epicharmus frequently whispers in my ear his famous refrain: "νᾶφε καὶ μέμνασ' ἀπιστεῖν: ἄρθρα ταῦτα τᾶν φρενῶν "And indeed you see, as I think, a sort of outline of my policy and life.
§1.19.9de tuo autem negotio saepe ad me scribis.
But concerning your business you often write to me.
cui mederi nunc non possumus; est enim illud senatus consultum summa pedariorum voluntate nullius nostrum auctoritate factum.
We cannot cure it now; for that decree of the senate was made with the utmost enthusiasm of the backbenchers and by the authority of none of us.
nam quod me esse ad scribendum vides, ex ipso senatus consulto intellegere potes aliam rem tum relatam, hoc autem de populis liberis sine causa additum.
For as to your seeing that I was present at the writing of it, you can understand from the decree of the senate itself that another matter was then brought forward, and this clause about free peoples was added without reason.
et ita factum est a P. Servilio filio qui in postremis sententiam dixit, sed immutari hoc tempore non potest.
And it was so done by P. Servilius the son, who spoke his opinion among the last, but it cannot be changed at this time.
itaque conventus qui initio celebrabantur iam diu fieri desierunt.
Therefore, the meetings which at first were crowded have now for a long time ceased to be held.
tu si tuis blanditiis tamen a Sicyoniis nummulorum aliquid expresseris, velim me facias certiorem.
If you, however, by your blandishments should squeeze some small coins out of the Sicyonians, I should like you to let me know.
§1.19.10commentarium consulatus mei Graece compositum misi ad te.
I have sent to you a memoir of my consulship composed in Greek.
in quo si quid erit quod homini Attico minus Graecum eruditumque videatur, non dicam quod tibi, ut opinor, Panhormi Lucullus de suis historiis dixerat, se quo facilius illas probaret Romani hominis esse idcirco barbara quaedam et σόλοικα dispersisse; apud me si quid erit eius modi, me imprudente erit et invito.
In which, if there is anything that seems to an Attic ear less Greek and less scholarly, I will not say what Lucullus, as I think, had said to you at Panhormus concerning his own histories, namely, that he had scattered some barbarisms and solecisms in them so that he might more easily prove that they were the work of a Roman; in my case, if there is anything of that kind, it will be without my knowledge and against my will.
Latinum si perfecero, ad te mittam.
If I finish the Latin version, I will send it to you.
tertium poema exspectato, ne quod genus a me ipso laudis meae praetermittatur.
Look forward to a third poem, lest any kind of my praise should be passed over by myself.
hic tu cave dicas: τίσ πατέρ' αἰνήσει; si est enim apud homines quicquam quod potius sit, laudetur, nos vituperemur qui non potius alia laudemus; quamquam non ἐγκωμιαστικὰ sunt haec sed ἱστορικὰ quae scribimus.
At this point, beware of saying: "Who will praise his father?" For if there is anything among men which is preferable, let it be praised, and let us be blamed for not praising other things instead; although these things which we are writing are not panegyrics but histories.
§1.19.11Quintus frater purgat se mihi per litteras et adfirmat nihil a se cuiquam de te secus esse dictum.
My brother Quintus clears himself to me by letter and asserts that nothing has been said by him to anyone about you otherwise than it should be.
verum haec nobis coram summa cura et diligentia sunt agenda; tu modo nos revise aliquando.
But these matters must be dealt with by us in person with the greatest care and diligence; only do visit us again sometime.
Cossinius hic, cui dedi litteras, valde mihi bonus homo et non levis et amans tui visus est et talis qualem esse eum tuae mihi litterae nuntiarant.
This Cossinius, to whom I gave the letter, seemed to me a very good man, not light-minded, and fond of you, and such a man as your letters had announced to me that he was.
Idibus Martiis.
On the Ides of March.