§14.21.1cum paulo ante dedissem ad te Cassi tabellario litteras, v Idus venit noster tabellarius et quidem, portenti simile, sine tuis litteris.
Although I had sent a letter to you by Cassius's messenger a little while before, on the fifth day before the Ides our messenger arrived and indeed, like a portent, without any letter from you.
sed cito conieci Lanuvi te fuisse.
But I quickly guessed that you had been at Lanuvium.
Eros autem festinavit, ut ad me litterae Dolabellae perferrentur non de re mea (nondum enim meas acceperat) sed rescripsit ad eas quarum exemplum tibi miseram sane luculente.
Eros, however, made haste so that Dolabella's letter might be delivered to me—not about my own business (for he had not yet received mine), but he wrote back, quite splendidly indeed, to that letter of which I had sent you a copy.
§14.21.2ad me autem, cum Cassi tabellarium dimisissem, statim Balbus.
Furthermore, as soon as I had dismissed Cassius's messenger, Balbus came to me immediately.
o dei boni, quam facile perspiceres timere otium! et nosti virum quam tectus.
O good gods, how easily you could have seen how much he fears peace! And you know how guarded the man is.
sed tamen Antoni consilia narrabat; illum circumire veteranos ut acta Caesaris sancirent idque se facturos esse iurarent, ut castra omnes haberent eaque duoviri omnibus mensibus inspicerent.
Yet he was telling me of Antony's plans: that he is going round the veterans so that they may ratify Caesar's acts and swear that they will do so, so that they may all have arms and the duoviri may inspect them every month.
questus est etiam de sua invidia eaque omnis eius oratio fuit ut amare videretur Antonium.
He also complained about the unpopularity he himself faces, and his whole discourse was of such a kind that he seemed to support Antony.
quid quaeris? nihil sinceri.
What more do you want? There is nothing sincere in him.
§14.21.3mihi autem non est dubium quin res spectet ad castra.
For my part, I have no doubt that things are looking toward an armed conflict.
acta enim illa res est animo virili, consilio puerili.
For that deed was done with a manly spirit, but with a childish plan.
quis enim hoc non vidit, regni heredem relictum? quid autem absurdius?
"hoc métuere, alterum ín metu non pónere!"
quin etiam hoc ipso tempore multa ὑποσόλοικα.
For who did not see that an heir to the kingdom was left behind? What could be more absurd than "to fear this, and not to place the other in fear!" Nay, even at this very time there are many solecisms.
Ponti Neapolitanum a matre tyrannoctoni possideri! legendus mihi saepius est
"Cato maior"
ad te missus.
That Pontus's villa at Naples is possessed by the mother of the tyrannicide! I must read more often the "Cato Major" which was sent to you.
amariorem enim me senectus facit.
For old age is making me more bitter.
stomachor omnia.
I am vexed at everything.
sed mihi quidem βεβίωται; viderint iuvenes.
But for my part, "life has been lived"; let the young men see to it.
tu mea curabis, ut curas.
You will take care of my affairs, as you are doing.
§14.21.4haec scripsi seu dictavi apposita secunda mensa apud Vestorium.
I wrote or dictated this at Vestorius's house when the dessert was served.
postridie apud Hirtium cogitabam et quidem πεντέλοιπον. sic hominem traducere ad optimatis paro.
Tomorrow I intend to be at Hirtius's, and indeed as "one of the remaining five." In this way I am preparing to win the man over to the optimates.
λῆροσ πολύσ.
A lot of nonsense!
nemo est istorum qui otium non timeat.
There is none of those men who does not fear peace.
qua re talaria videamus.
Therefore, let us look to our winged sandals.
quidvis enim potius quam castra.
For anything indeed rather than the camp.
Atticae salutem plurimam velim dicas.
I would like you to give my best health to Attica.
exspecto Octavi contionem et si quid aliud, maxime autem ecquid Dolabella tinniat an in meo nomine tabulas novas fecerit.
I am waiting for Octavius's speech and if there is anything else, but especially whether Dolabella is clinking any cash, or if he has made new account-books in my name.