§11.16.1non meo vitio fit hoc quidem tempore (ante enim est peccatum) ut me ista epistula nihil consoletur.
It is indeed not through my fault at this time (for the mistake was made beforehand) that I am not at all consoled by that letter.
nam et exigue scripta est et suspiciones magnas habet non esse ab illo; quas animadvertisse te existimo.
For it is both scantly written and gives rise to great suspicions that it is not from him; which I think you have noticed.
de obviam itione ita faciam ut suades.
Concerning the going to meet him, I will do as you advise.
neque enim ulla de adventu eius opinio est neque si qui ex Asia veniunt quicquam auditum esse dicunt de pace; cuius ego spe in hanc fraudem incidi.
For neither is there any expectation of his arrival, nor do those who come from Asia say that anything has been heard of peace; by the hope of which I fell into this delusion.
nihil video quod sperandum putem, nunc praesertim cum ea plaga in Asia sit accepta, in Illyrico, in Cassiano negotio, in ipsa Alexandrea, in urbe, in Italia.
I see nothing which I think should be hoped for, especially now when that blow has been received in Asia, in Illyricum, in the business of Cassius, in Alexandria itself, in the city, in Italy.
ego vero etiam si rediturus ille est qui adhuc bellum gerere dicitur tamen ante reditum eius negotium confectum iri puto.
But I indeed, even if he is about to return who is still said to be waging war, yet I think that before his return the business will be finished.
§11.16.2quod autem scribis quandam laetitiam bonorum esse commotam ut sit auditum de litteris, tu quidem nihil praetermittis in quo putes aliquid solaci esse, sed ego non adducor quemquam bonum ullam salutem putare mihi tanti fuisse ut eam peterem ab illo, et eo minus quod huius consili iam ne socium quidem habeo quemquam.
As to what you write, however, that a certain joy of the good citizens was aroused when it was heard about the letter, you indeed pass over nothing in which you think there is any consolation, but I am not induced to think that any good citizen thinks that any safety was of such value to me that I should seek it from him, and so much the less because of this plan I now do not have even any companion.
qui in Asia sunt rerum exitum exspectant, Achaici etiam Fufio spem deprecationis adferunt.
Those who are in Asia await the outcome of events, those in Achaia even bring hope of intercession to Fufius.
Horum et timor idem fuit primo qui meus et constitutum; mora Alexandrina causam illorum correxit, meam evertit.
Of these, both the fear was at first the same as mine, and the decision; the Alexandrian delay corrected their cause, overturned mine.
§11.16.3quam ob rem idem a te nunc peto quod superioribus litteris, ut, si quid in perditis rebus dispiceres quod mihi putares faciendum, me moneres.
Wherefore I now ask the same of you as in my previous letter, that, if you should discern anything in these desperate affairs which you thought I ought to do, you would advise me.
si recipior ab his, quod vides non fieri, tamen quoad bellum erit quid agam aut ubi sim non reperio; sin iactor, eo minus.
If I am received by these men—which you see does not happen—yet as long as there is war, I do not find what I should do or where I should be; but if I am cast out, so much the less.
itaque tuas litteras exspecto easque ut ad me sine dubitatione scribas rogo.
And so I await your letters, and I ask that you write them to me without hesitation.
§11.16.4quod suades ut ad Quintum scribam de his litteris, facerem, si me quicquam istae litterae delectarent.
As to your advising that I should write to Quintus about this letter, I would do so, if that letter delighted me at all.
etsi quidam scripsit ad me his verbis,
"ego ut in his malis Patris sum non invitus; essem libentius, si frater tuus ea de te loqueretur quae ego audire vellem. "
quod ais illum ad te scribere me sibi nullas litteras remittere, semel ab ipso accepi.
Although someone wrote to me in these words: "I, as in these evils, am at Patrae not unwillingly; I would be more willingly, if your brother spoke those things about you which I would wish to hear." As to your saying that he writes to you that I return no letters to him, I have received once from him.
ad eas Cephalioni dedi qui multos mensis tempestatibus retentus est.
To those I gave a reply to Cephalio, who was detained for many months by storms.
Quintum filium ad me acerbissime scripsisse iam ante ad te scripsi.
I have already written to you before that Quintus the son wrote to me most bitterly.
§11.16.5extremum est quod te orem, si putas rectum esse et a te suscipi posse, cum Camillo communices ut Terentiam moneatis de testamento.
The last thing is that I would pray you, if you think it is right and can be undertaken by you, to communicate with Camillus so that you may warn Terentia about her will.
tempora monent ut videat ut satis faciat quibus debeat.
The times warn that she should see that she satisfies those to whom she owes.
auditum ex Philotimo est eam scelerate quaedam facere.
It has been heard from Philotimus that she is doing certain things wickedly.
credibile vix est, sed certe, si quid est quod fieri possit, providendum est.
It is scarcely credible, but certainly, if there is anything that can be done, precautions must be taken.
de omnibus rebus velim ad me scribas et maxime quid sentias de ea in qua tuo consilio egeo etiam si nihil excogitas.
Concerning all things I would like you to write to me, and especially what you think about that in which I need your advice, even if you think of nothing.
id enim mihi erit pro desperato.
For that will be to me as a sign of despair.
iii Non. Iun.
June 3rd.