§10.17.1Pr. Idus Hortensius ad me venit scripta epistula. †vellem cetera eius†, quam in me incredibilem ἐκτένειαν! qua quidem cogito uti.
On May 12th, after I had written this letter, Hortensius came to me. †I wish his other conduct were like this†—what an incredible zeal toward me! I certainly intend to make use of it.
deinde Serapion cum epistula tua.
Then Serapion came with your letter.
quam prius quam aperuissem, dixi ei te ad me de eo scripsisse antea, ut feceras.
Before I had opened it, I told him that you had written to me about him before, just as you had done.
deinde epistula †scripta† cumulatissime cetera.
Then, in the letter, all the rest was written †most abundantly†.
et hercule hominem probo; nam et doctum et probum existimo; quin etiam navi eius me et ipso convectore usurum puto.
And indeed I like the man; for I consider him both learned and honest; nay, I even think I shall make use of his ship and of himself as a fellow-traveler.
§10.17.2crebro refricat lippitudo non illa quidem perodiosa sed tamen quae impediat scriptionem meam.
My inflammation of the eyes frequently recurs, not indeed very troublesome, but yet such as to hinder my writing.
valetudinem tuam iam confirmatam esse et a vetere morbo et a novis temptationibus gaudeo.
I am glad that your health is now established, both from your old disease and from the new attacks.
§10.17.3Ocellam vellem haberemus; videntur enim esse haec paulo faciliora futura.
I wish we had Ocella with us; for these things seem likely to be a little easier.
nunc quidem aequinoctium nos moratur quod valde perturbatum erat. †id si cras† erit, utinam idem maneat Hortensius! si quidem, ut adhuc erat, liberalius esse nihil potest.
At present, indeed, the equinoctial gale, which was very turbulent, detains us. †If that is tomorrow†, I wish Hortensius may remain the same! If indeed, as he has been so far, nothing can be more generous.
§10.17.4de diplomate admiraris quasi nescio cuius te flagiti insimularim.
About the passport, you wonder as if I had accused you of some crime.
negas enim te reperire qui mihi id in mentem venerit.
For you say you cannot find how that came into my mind.
ego autem, quia scripseras te proficisci cogitare (etenim audieram nemini aliter licere), eo te habere censebam et quia pueris diploma sumpseras.
But I, because you had written that you were thinking of setting out (for indeed I had heard that it was not permitted to anyone otherwise), thought that you had one for that reason, and also because you had taken a passport for your servants.
habes causam opinionis meae.
You have the reason for my opinion.
et tamen velim scire quid cogites in primisque si quid etiam nunc novi est.
And yet I should like to know what you are thinking of, and especially if there is any news even now.
xvii K. Iun.
May 16th.