§15.18.1xvii Kal.
Seventeen days before the Kalends.
etsi satis videbar scripsisse ad te quid mihi opus esset et quid te facere vellem, si tibi commodum esset, tamen cum profectus essem et in lacu navigarem, Tironem statui ad te esse mittendum, ut iis negotiis quae agerentur interesset, atque etiam scripsi ad Dolabellam me, si ei videretur, velle proficisci petiique ab eo de mulis vecturae.
Although I seemed to have written to you sufficiently about what I needed and what I wanted you to do, if it were convenient for you, nevertheless when I had set out and was sailing on the lake, I decided that Tiro must be sent to you, so that he might take part in those affairs which were being transacted; and I also wrote to Dolabella that I wished to set out, if it seemed good to him, and I asked him for mules for transport.
§15.18.2ut in his (quoniam intellego te distentissimum esse qua de Buthrotiis qua de Bruto, cuius etiam ludorum sumptuosorum curam et administrationem suspicor ex magna parte ad te pertinere) ut ergo in eius modi re tribues nobis paulum operae; nec enim multum opus est.
So in these matters (since I understand that you are extremely busy, both concerning the Buthrotians and concerning Brutus, whose sumptuous games' care and administration, I suspect, belong for the most part to you)—so in an affair of this kind you will bestow a little attention on us; for not much is needed.
mihi res ad caedem et eam quidem propinquam spectare videtur.
To me, matters seem to look towards a massacre, and a near one at that.
vides homines, vides arma.
You see the men, you see the arms.
prorsus non mihi videor esse tutus.
I do not seem to myself to be safe at all.
sin tu aliter sentis, velim ad me scribas.
But if you feel otherwise, I would like you to write to me.
domi enim manere, si recte possum, multo malo.
For to remain at home, if I can do so rightly, I much prefer.