§13.38.1ante lucem cum scriberem contra Epicureos, de eodem oleo et opera exaravi nescio quid ad te et ante lucem dedi.
Before dawn, while I was writing against the Epicureans, with the same oil and labor I scribbled something to you and sent it off before dawn.
deinde cum somno repetito simul cum sole experrectus essem, datur mi epistula a sororis tuae filio quam ipsam tibi misi; cuius est principium non sine maxima contumelia.
Then, having fallen asleep again and woken up with the sun, a letter was delivered to me from your sister's son, which very letter I have sent to you; the beginning of which is not without the greatest insolence.
sed fortasse οὐκ ἐπέστησεν.
But perhaps he did not pay attention.
est autem sic,
"ego enim quicquid non belle in te dici potest—. "
posse vult in me multa dici non belle sed ea se negat approbare.
It runs like this: "For I, whatever can be said not nicely against you—" He wishes it to be possible that many things can be said not nicely against me, but says he does not approve of them.
hoc quicquam pote impurius? iam cetera leges (misi enim ad te) iudicabisque.
Could anything be more offensive than this? You will soon read the rest (for I have sent it to you) and judge.
Bruti nostri cotidianis adsiduisque laudibus quas ab eo de nobis haberi permulti mihi renuntiaverunt commotum istum aliquando scripsisse aliquid ad me credo et ad te, idque ut sciam facies.
I believe that, moved by the daily and constant praises of our Brutus, which very many have reported to me as being made by him concerning us, that fellow has at last written something to me and probably to you; and you will let me know this.
nam ad patrem de me quid scripserit nescio, de matre quam pie!
"volueram,"
inquit
"ut quam plurimum tecum essem, conduci mihi domum et id ad te scripseram.
For what he wrote to his father about me I do not know; about his mother, how dutifully! "I had wished," he says, "to be with you as much as possible; I had written to you to have a house hired for me.
neglexisti.
You neglected it.
ita minus multum una erimus.
So we shall be together much less.
nam ego istam domum videre non possum; qua de causa scis. " §13.38.2hanc autem causam pater odium matris esse dicebat.
For I cannot bear to see that house; you know the reason why." But his father used to say that the reason for this was his hatred of his mother.
nunc me iuva, mi Attice, consilio,
"πότερον"
id est utrum aperte hominem asperner et respuam,
"ἢ σκολιαῖσ ἀπάταις. "
ut enim Pindaro sic
"δίχα μοι νόοσ ἀτρέκειαν εἰπεῖν. "
omnino moribus meis illud aptius sed hoc fortasse temporibus.
Now help me, my Atticus, with your advice: "whether"—that is, whether I should openly despise and reject the fellow—"or with crooked deceptions." For as with Pindar, so "my mind is divided to speak the truth." On the whole, the former is more suited to my character, but the latter, perhaps, to the times.
tu autem quod ipse tibi suaseris idem mihi persuasum putato.
But whatever you advise yourself, consider me persuaded of the same.
equidem vereor maxime ne in Tusculano opprimar.
Indeed, I fear most that I may be caught by surprise in my Tusculan villa.
in turba haec essent faciliora.
In a crowd, these things would be easier.
utrum igitur Asturae? quid si Caesar subito? iuva me, quaeso, consilio.
Shall I go to Astura, then? What if Caesar suddenly arrives? Help me, I beg you, with your advice.
utar eo quod tu decreveris.
I will follow what you decide.