§12.29.1Silius, ut scribis, hodie.
Silius, as you write, is coming today.
cras igitur vel potius cum poteris scribes, si quid erit cum videris.
Therefore tomorrow, or rather when you can, you will write if there is anything when you have seen him.
nec ego Brutum vito nec tamen ab eo levationem ullam exspecto; sed erant causae cur hoc tempore istic esse nollem.
I am not avoiding Brutus, nor yet do I expect any comfort from him; but there were reasons why I did not wish to be there at this time.
quae si manebunt, quaerenda erit excusatio ad Brutum et, ut nunc est, mansurae videntur.
If these reasons persist, an excuse to Brutus must be sought, and, as things now stand, they seem likely to persist.
§12.29.2de hortis, quaeso, explica.
Concerning the gardens, please settle the matter.
caput illud est quod scis.
That which you know is the main point.
sequitur ut etiam mihi ipsi quiddam opus sit; nec enim esse in turba possum nec a vobis abesse.
It follows that there is need of something for myself as well; for I can neither be in a crowd nor be away from you.
huic meo consilio nihil reperio isto loco aptius et de hac re quid tui consili sit.
For this plan of mine, I find nothing more suitable than that place of yours, and (I would like to know) what your advice is on this matter.
mihi persuasum est et eo magis quod idem intellexi tibi videri me ab Oppio et Balbo valde diligi.
I am convinced of this, and all the more because I understood that you think the same—that I am highly esteemed by Oppius and Balbus.
cum his communices quanto opere et qua re velim hortos; sed id ita posse, si expediatur illud Faberianum; sint ne igitur auctores futuri.
Please communicate with them how greatly and for what reason I want the gardens; but that this is possible only if that business of Faberius is settled; and whether they will be our backers in this.
si qua etiam iactura facienda sit in repraesentando, quoad possunt adducito; totum enim illud desperatum.
Even if some loss must be incurred in getting cash, bring them as far as they can go; for that whole matter is desperate.
denique intelleges ecquid inclinent ad hoc meum consilium adiuvandum.
In short, you will perceive whether they incline at all to helping this plan of mine.
si quid erit, magnum est adiumentum; si minus, quacumque ratione contendamus.
If there is anything, it is a great help; if not, let us strive by whatever means we can.
vel tu illud
"ἐγγήραμα,"
quem ad modum scripsisti, vel ἐντάφιον putato.
You may regard it either as an "ἐγγήραμα", as you wrote, or as an "ἐντάφιον".
de illo Ostiensi nihil est cogitandum.
Concerning that Ostian estate, nothing is to be thought of.
si hoc non adsequimur (a Lamia non puto posse), Damasippi experiendum est.
If we do not attain this (I do not think it can be done from Lamia), we must try Damasippus's.