§13.21A.1dic mihi, placetne tibi primum edere iniussu meo? hoc ne Hermodorus quidem faciebat, is qui Platonis libros solitus est divulgare, ex quo
"λόγοισιν. "
quid? illud rectumne existimas quoiquam ante quam Bruto, cui te auctore προσφωνῶ? scripsit enim Balbus ad me se a te quintum
"de finibus"
librum descripsisse; in quo non sane multa mutavi sed tamen quaedam.
Tell me, does it please you to publish first without my order? Not even Hermodorus used to do this, he who was accustomed to circulate Plato's books, from which comes the saying "in words." What? Do you think it is right for anyone to have it before Brutus, to whom, on your recommendation, I dedicate (προσφωνῶ) it? For Balbus wrote to me that he had copied the fifth book of "De Finibus" from your place; in which indeed I did not change many things, but yet some.
tu autem commode feceris si reliquos continueris, ne et ἀδιόρθωτα habeat Balbus et ἕωλα Brutus.
But you will do well if you keep back the rest, lest Balbus have them uncorrected (ἀδιόρθωτα) and Brutus have them stale (ἕωλα).
sed haec hactenus, ne videar περὶ.
But so much for these things, lest I seem to be speaking about (περὶ) myself.
etsi nunc quidem maxima mihi sunt haec; quid est enim aliud? Varroni quidem quae scripsi te auctore ita propero mittere ut iam Romam miserim describenda.
Although indeed now these are of the greatest importance to me; for what else is there? As for what I wrote to Varro, on your recommendation, I am in such a hurry to send it that I have already sent it to Rome to be copied.
ea si voles, statim habebis.
If you wish, you shall have them immediately.
scripsi enim ad librarios ut fieret tuis, si tu velles, describendi potestas.
For I wrote to the copyists that, if you wished, your people should have the opportunity of copying them.
ea vero continebis quoad ipse te videam; quod diligentissime facere soles cum a me tibi dictum est.
But you will keep them back until I see you myself; which you are accustomed to do most diligently when I have told you so.
§13.21A.2quo modo autem fugit me tibi dicere? mirifice Caerellia studio videlicet philosophiae flagrans describit a tuis istos ipsos
"de finibus"
habet.
But how did it escape me to tell you? Wonderfully, Caerellia, burning, of course, with zeal for philosophy, is copying those very books of "De Finibus" from your people and has them.
ego autem tibi confirmo (possum falli ut homo) a meis eam non habere; numquam enim ab oculis meis afuerunt.
But I assure you (I may be mistaken as a human being) that she does not have them from mine; for they have never been out of my sight.
tantum porro aberat ut binos scriberent; vix singulos confecerunt.
Far from writing two copies each, they have scarcely finished one.
tuorum tamen ego nullum delictum arbitror itemque te volo existimare; a me enim praetermissum est ut dicerem me eos exire nondum velle.
Yet I think there is no fault of your people, and I want you to think the same; for it was omitted by me to say that I did not yet want them to go out.
hui, quam diu de nugis! de re enim nihil habeo quod loquar.
Oh, how long on trifles! For on the main matter I have nothing to say.
§13.21A.3de Dolabella tibi adsentior.
About Dolabella I agree with you.
coheredes, ut scribis, in Tusculano.
The co-heirs, as you write, at the Tusculan villa.
de Caesaris adventu scripsit ad me Balbus non ante Kal. Sextilis.
About Caesar's arrival Balbus wrote to me that it would not be before the Kalends of Sextilis.
de Attica optime, quod levius ac lenius et quod fert εὐκόλωσ.
About Attica, excellent, because she is better and gentler, and because she bears it cheerfully (εὐκόλως).
§13.21A.4quod autem de illa nostra cogitatione scribis in qua nihil tibi cedo, ea quae novi valde probo, hominem, domum, facultates.
But what you write about that project of ours, in which I yield nothing to you, those things which I know I highly approve of—the man, the family, the resources.
quod caput est, ipsum non novi sed audio laudabilia, de Scrofa etiam proxime.
As for what is chief, I do not know the man himself, but I hear praiseworthy things, also very recently from Scrofa.
accedit, si quid hoc ad rem, εὐγενέστεροσ est etiam quam pater.
In addition, if this is of any relevance, he is even more noble (εὐγενέστερος) than his father.
coram igitur et quidem propenso animo ad probandum.
Therefore in person, and indeed with a mind inclined to approval.
accedit enim quod patrem, ut scire te puto plus etiam quam non modo tu sed quam ipse scit, amo idque et merito et iam diu.
For there is the additional fact that I love his father, as I think you know even better not only than you but than he himself knows, and that both deservedly and for a long time.