§12.28.1de Silio nilo plura cognovi ex praesente Sicca quam ex litteris eius.
As to Silius, I learned nothing more from Sicca in person than from his letter.
scripserat enim diligenter.
For he had written in detail.
si igitur tu illum conveneris, scribes ad me si quid videbitur.
If therefore you meet him, you will write to me if anything seems appropriate.
de quo putas ad me missum esse, sit missum necne nescio; dictum quidem mihi certe nihil est.
As to the matter about which you think a messenger was sent to me, whether one was sent or not I do not know; at least nothing certainly has been said to me.
tu igitur, ut coepisti, et si quid ita conficies, quod equidem non arbitror fieri posse, ut illi probetur, Ciceronem, si tibi placebit, adhibebis.
You therefore, as you have begun, and if you settle anything in such a way that he approves—which indeed I do not think can be done—will associate Cicero with you, if you please.
eius aliquid interest videri illius causa voluisse, mea quidem nihil nisi quod tu scis, quod ego magni aestimo.
It is of some importance to him to seem to have wished to act for his sake; to me indeed it matters nothing except for that which you know, which I value highly.
§12.28.2quod me ad meam consuetudinem revocas, fuit meum quidem iam pridem rem publicam lugere, quod faciebam, sed mitius; erat enim ubi acquiescerem.
As to your recalling me to my old habits, it was indeed my part long ago to mourn for the republic, which I was doing, but more gently; for there was a place where I could find rest.
nunc plane nec ego victum nec vitam illam colere possum nec in ea re quid aliis videatur mihi puto curandum; mea mihi conscientia pluris est quam omnium sermo.
Now clearly I can neither cultivate that way of living nor that life, nor do I think I need care in this matter what seems right to others; my own conscience is worth more to me than the talk of all.
quod me ipse per litteras consolatus sum, non paenitet me quantum profecerim.
As to my having consoled myself through writing, I do not regret how much progress I have made.
maerorem minui, dolorem nec potui nec, si possem, vellem.
I have lessened my mourning; my pain I have not been able to lessen, nor, if I could, would I wish to.
§12.28.3de Triario bene interpretaris voluntatem meam.
Concerning Triarius, you interpret my wishes well.
tu vero nihil nisi ut illi volent.
But you should do nothing except as they wish.
amo illum mortuum, tutor sum liberis, totam domum diligo.
I love him though dead, I am the guardian of his children, and I love his whole house.
de Castriciano negotio, si Castricius pro mancipiis pecuniam accipere volet eamque †ei† solvi ut nunc solvitur, certe nihil est commodius.
Concerning the business of Castricius, if Castricius wishes to receive money for the slaves and that it be paid to him as it is now being paid, certainly nothing is more convenient.
sin autem ita actum est ut ipsa mancipia abduceret, non mihi videtur esse aequum (rogas enim me ut tibi scribam quid mihi videatur); nolo enim negoti Quintum fratrem quicquam habere; quod videor mihi intellexisse tibi videri idem.
But if indeed it is handled in such a way that he takes away the slaves themselves, it does not seem to me to be fair (for you ask me to write to you what seems best to me); for I do not wish my brother Quintus to have any trouble; in which indeed I think I have understood that you think the same.
Publilius, si aequinoctium exspectat, ut scribis Aledium dicere, navigaturus videtur.
Publilius, if he is waiting for the equinox, as you write Aledius says, seems about to sail.
mihi autem dixerat per Siciliam.
But to me he had said he would go by way of Sicily.
utrum et quando velim scire.
I should like to know which of the two and when.
et velim aliquando, cum erit tuum commodum, Lentulum puerum visas eique de mancipiis quae tibi videbitur attribuas.
And I should like you sometime, when it is convenient for you, to visit the boy Lentulus and assign to him such of the slaves as you think fit.
Piliae, Atticae salutem.
My greetings to Pilia and Attica.