§13.23.1ante meridianis tuis litteris heri statim rescripsi; nunc respondeo vespertinis.
I replied immediately yesterday to your morning letter; now I answer your evening one.
Brutus mallem me arcesseret.
I would prefer that Brutus had summoned me.
et aequius erat, cum illi iter instaret et subitum et longum, et me hercule nunc, cum ita simus adfecti ut non possimus plane simul vivere (intellegis enim profecto in quo maxime posita sit συμβίωσισ), facile patiebar nos potius Romae una esse quam in Tusculano.
And it was fairer, since a sudden and long journey was pressing upon him, and, by Hercules, now when we are so affected that we cannot plainly live together (for you understand indeed in what social intercourse (συμβίωσισ) is chiefly placed), I would easily have allowed us to be together in Rome rather than in Tusculanum.
§13.23.2libri ad Varronem non morabantur, sunt enim †deffecti†, ut vidisti; tantum librariorum menda tolluntur.
The books for Varro were not being delayed, for they are completed, as you saw; only the errors of the copyists are being corrected.
de quibus libris scis me dubitasse, sed tu videris.
Concerning which books you know that I hesitated, but you will see to it.
item quos Bruto mittimus in manibus habent librarii.
Likewise, those which we are sending to Brutus are in the hands of the copyists.
§13.23.3mea mandata, scribis, explica.
"Settle my commissions," you write.
quamquam ista retentione omnis ait uti Trebatius; quid tu istos putas? nosti domum.
Although Trebatius says that everyone uses that retention; what do you think of those people? You know the house.
qua re confice εὐγαγώγωσ.
Therefore finish it smoothly (εὐγαγώγωσ).
incredibile est quam ego ista non curem.
It is incredible how I do not care about those things.
omni tibi adseveratione adfirmo, quod mihi credas velim, mihi maiori offensioni esse quam delectationi possessiunculas meas.
I affirm to you with every assertion—and I wish you to believe me—that my little possessions are a greater source of annoyance than of pleasure to me.
magis enim doleo me non habere quoi tradam quam habere qui utar laetor.
For I grieve more that I have no one to whom to hand them down than I rejoice that I have them to use.
atque illud Trebatius se tibi dixisse narrabat; tu autem veritus es fortasse ne ego invitus audirem.
And Trebatius was telling me that he had said that to you; but you perhaps feared lest I should hear it unwillingly.
fuit id quidem humanitatis, sed, mihi crede, iam ista non curo.
That indeed was a mark of humanity, but, believe me, I no longer care about those things.
qua re da te in sermonem et perseca et confice et ita cum Polla loquere ut te cum illo Scaeva loqui putes nec existimes eos qui non debita consectari soleant quod debeatur remissuros.
Therefore enter into discussion, cut through, and finish, and speak with Polla in such a way that you think you are speaking with that Scaeva, and do not think that those who are accustomed to pursue what is not owed will remit what is owed.
de die tantum videto et id ipsum bono modo.
Only see to the day, and that itself in a proper manner.