§13.46.1Pollex quidem, ut dixerat ad Idus Sextilis, ita mihi Lanuvi pridie Idus praesto fuit, sed plane pollex, non index.
Pollex indeed, just as he had said by the Ides of August, presented himself to me at Lanuvium on the day before the Ides, but plainly a thumb (Pollex), not a pointer (index).
§13.46.2cognosces igitur ex ipso.
You will therefore learn [the news] from him himself.
Balbum conveni—Lepta enim de sua munerum curatione laborans me ad eum perduxerat—in eo autem Lanuvino quod Lepido tradidit.
I met Balbus—for Lepta, worrying about his superintendence of the games, had brought me to him—in that estate of Lanuvium which he handed over to Lepidus.
ex eo hoc primum,
"Paulo ante acceperam eas litteras in quibus magno opere confirmat ante ludos Romanos. "
legi epistulam.
From him [I learned] this first: "A little while ago I received those letters in which he strongly confirms that he will arrive before the Roman games." I read the letter.
multa de meo Catone, quo saepissime legendo se dicit copiosiorem factum, Bruti Catone lecto se sibi visum disertum.
There was much about my "Cato," by reading which very often he says he has become more fluent, and that after reading Brutus's "Cato" he seemed eloquent to himself.
§13.46.3tum ex eo cognovi cretionem Cluvi Vestorium neglegentem!) liberam cretionem testibus praesentibus sexaginta diebus.
Then from him I learned of the inheritance-acceptance of Cluvius—(negligent Vestorius!)—that it was an unconditional acceptance, with witnesses present, within sixty days.
metuebam ne ille arcessendus esset.
I was fearing lest he had to be summoned.
nunc mittendum est ut meo iussu cernat.
Now someone must be sent so that he may accept by my order.
idem igitur Pollex.
Therefore, the same Pollex [will go].
etiam de hortis Cluvianis egi cum Balbo.
I also discussed the Cluvian gardens with Balbus.
nil liberalius.
Nothing could be more generous.
se enim statim ad Caesarem scripturum, Cluvium autem a T. Hordeonio legare et Terentiae HS iↃↃↃ et sepulcro multisque rebus, nihil a nobis.
For [he said] he would write immediately to Caesar; and that Cluvius, moreover, was leaving legacies to T. Hordeonius, and to Terentia fifty thousand sesterces, and for a tomb, and for many things, but nothing from us.
subaccusa, quaeso, Vestorium.
Do gently chide, I pray, Vestorius.
quid minus probandum quam Plotium unguentarium per suos pueros omnia tanto ante Balbo, illum mi ne per meos quidem? de Cossinio doleo;
What is less to be approved than that Plotius the perfumer, through his own slaves, [reported] everything so long beforehand to Balbus, while he [Vestorius] did not to me even through my own?
dilexi hominem.
I grieve for Cossinius; I loved the man.
§13.46.4Quinto delegabo si quid aeri meo alieno superabit et emptionibus ex quibus mi etiam aes alienum faciendum puto.
I shall delegate to Quintus if any of my debt remains, and for the purchases from which I think I must even incur debt.
de domo Arpini nil scio.
Of the house at Arpinum I know nothing.
Vestorium nil est quod accuses.
There is no reason for you to chide Vestorius.
iam enim obsignata hac epistula noctu tabellarius noster venit et ab eo litteras diligenter scriptas attulit et exemplum testamenti.
For already, when this letter was sealed, our courier arrived at night and brought from him a carefully written letter and a copy of the will.