§12.21.1legi Bruti epistulam eamque tibi remisi sane non prudenter rescriptum ad ea quae requisieras.
I read Brutus's letter and have sent it back to you; it is certainly not a very sensible reply to the questions you asked.
sed ipse viderit.
But let him look to that himself.
quamquam illud turpiter ignorat. Catonem primum sententiam putat de animadversione dixisse quam omnes ante dixerant praeter Caesarem et, cum ipsius Caesaris tam severa fuerit qui tum praetorio loco dixerit, consularium putat leniores fuisse, Catuli, Servili, Lucullorum, Curionis, Torquati, Lepidi, Gelli, Volcaci, Figuli, Cottae, L. Caesaris, C. Pisonis, M'.
Though he is shamefully ignorant on this point: he thinks Cato was the first to deliver an opinion on the punishment, which everyone had already delivered before him except Caesar; and, although the opinion of Caesar himself was so severe, delivered as it was when he spoke from his position as praetor, Brutus thinks that the consulars' opinions were milder—those of Catulus, Servilius, the Luculli, Curio, Torquatus, Lepidus, Gellius, Volcacius, Figulus, Cotta, L. Caesar, C. Piso, M'.
Glabrionis, etiam Silani, Murenae designatorum consulum.
Glabrio, and even Silanus and Murena, the consuls-elect.
cur ego in sententiam Catonis? quia verbis luculentioribus et pluribus rem eandem comprehenderat.
Why then did I vote for Cato's motion? Because he had comprehended the same matter in clearer and more abundant words.
me autem hic laudat quod rettulerim, non quod patefecerim, quod cohortatus sim, quod denique ante quam consulerem ipse iudicaverim.
Yet this man praises me here for bringing the matter forward, not for exposing it, nor for encouraging the others, nor, finally, for deciding on it myself before consulting the Senate.
quae omnia quia Cato laudibus extulerat in caelum perscribendaque censuerat, idcirco in eius sententiam est facta discessio.
Because Cato had extolled all these things to the skies with praises and had judged that they should be fully recorded, it was for that very reason that the division was made in favor of his motion.
hic autem se etiam tribuere multum mi putat quod scripserit
"optimum consulem.
Yet Brutus thinks he is even paying me a great compliment by writing 'excellent consul.' For what enemy has ever spoken more dryly?
"
quis enim ieiunius dixit inimicus? ad cetera vero tibi quem ad modum rescripsit! tantum rogat de senatus consulto ut corrigas.
But as for the rest, how indeed has he replied to you! He only asks you to correct the decree of the Senate.
hoc quidem fecisset, etiam si a librano admonitus esset.
He would have done this much even if he had been reminded of it by a copyist.
sed haec iterum ipse viderit.
But again, let him look to these things himself.
§12.21.2de hortis quoniam probas, effice aliquid.
As for the gardens, since you approve, do make some progress.
rationes meas nosti.
You know my financial situation.
si vero etiam a Faberio aliquid recedit nihil negoti est.
If indeed something also comes back from Faberius, there is no trouble.
sed etiam sine eo posse videor contendere.
But even without that, I think I can make an effort to purchase.
venales certe sunt Drusi, fortasse etiam Lamiani et Cassiani.
Certainly Drusus's are for sale, perhaps also those of Lamia and Cassius.
sed coram.
But we shall talk in person.
§12.21.3de Terentia non possum commodius scribere quam tu scribis.
Concerning Terentia, I cannot write more suitably than you write.
officium sit nobis antiquissimum.
Let our duty be our first consideration.
si quid nos fefellerit, illius malo me quam mei paenitere.
If anything should deceive us, I would rather regret on her account than on my own.
§12.21.4Oviae C. Lolli curanda sunt HS C. negat Eros posse sine me, credo, quod accipienda aliqua sit et danda aestimatio.
One hundred thousand sesterces must be paid to Ovia, the wife of C. Lollius. Eros says he cannot manage without me, I suppose because some valuation of property must be accepted and given.
vellem tibi dixisset.
I wish he had told you.
si enim res est ut mihi scripsit parata nec in eo ipso mentitur, per te confici potuit.
For if the matter is ready, as he wrote to me, and he is not lying in that very point, it could have been finished through you.
id cognoscas et conficias velim.
I should like you to look into this and settle it.
§12.21.5quod me in forum vocas, eo vocas unde etiam bonis meis rebus fugiebam.
In calling me to the Forum, you call me to a place from which I used to flee even in my prosperous days.
quid enim mihi foro sine iudiciis, sine curia, in oculos incurrentibus iis quos animo aequo videre non possum? quod autem a me homines postulare scribis ut Romae sim neque mihi ut absim concedere †aut quatenus† eos mihi concedere, iam pridem scito esse, cum unum te pluris quam omnis illos putem.
For what is the Forum to me without courts, without the Senate house, with those men running into my sight whom I cannot behold with an easy mind? As for what you write, that men demand of me that I should be in Rome, and do not allow me to be absent, or †to what extent† they allow it, know that this was decided long ago, since I value you alone more than all of them.
ne me quidem contemno meoque iudicio multo stare malo quam omnium reliquorum.
Nor do I despise myself, and I much prefer to stand by my own judgment than by that of all the rest.
neque tamen progredior longius quam mihi doctissimi homines concedunt; quorum scripta omnia quaecumque sunt in eam sententiam non legi solum, quod ipsum erat fortis aegroti, accipere medicinam, sed in mea etiam scripta transtuli, quod certe adflicti et fracti animi non fuit.
Yet I do not go further than the most learned men allow; all of whose writings, whatever they are on that subject, I have not only read—which itself was the act of a strong patient, taking his medicine—but have even transferred into my own writings, which certainly was not the act of a crushed and broken spirit.
ab his me remediis noli in istam turbam vocare, ne recidam.
Do not call me away from these remedies into that crowd, lest I relapse.