§15.20.1egi gratias Vettieno; nihil enim potuit humanius.
I thanked Vettienus; for nothing could have been more obliging.
Dolabellae mandata sint quaelibet, mihi aliquid, vel quod Niciae nuntiem.
Let Dolabella's commissions be what they will, if only I have something, even if it is only what I may report to Nicias.
quis enim haec, ut scribis, †anteno†? nunc dubitare quemquam prudentem quin meus discessus desperationis sit, non legationis? quod ais extrema quaedam iam homines de re publica loqui et eos quidem viros bonos, ego quo die audivi illum tyrannum in contione
"clarissimum virum"
appellari subdiffidere coepi.
For who, as you write, †can bear† these things? Now, would any prudent man doubt that my departure is due to despair, not to a legation? As for your saying that men, and indeed good men, are now speaking of certain extreme things concerning the republic, on the day I heard that tyrant called a "most illustrious man" in the assembly, I began to have doubts.
postea vero quam tecum Lanuvi vidi nostros tantum spei habere ad vivendum quantum accepissent ab Antonio, desperavi.
But after I saw with you at Lanuvium that our friends had only as much hope of living as they had received from Antony, I despaired.
itaque, mi Attice, (fortiter hoc velim accipias, ut ego scribo), genus illud interitus †quo causurus† est foedum ducens et quasi denuntiatum nobis ab Antonio ex hac nassa exire constitui non ad fugam sed ad spem mortis melioris.
Therefore, my Atticus (I would wish you to take this bravely, just as I write it), considering that kind of death †which is to fall† upon us as foul and as if pronounced upon us by Antony, I have resolved to escape from this fish-trap, not for flight, but for the hope of a better death.
haec omnis culpa Bruti.
This is all Brutus's fault.
§15.20.3Pompeium Carteia receptum scribis; iam igitur contra hunc exercitum.
You write that Pompey has been received at Carteia; now, therefore, there will be an army against him.
utra ergo castra? media enim tollit Antonius.
Which camp then? For Antony eliminates the middle.
illa infirma, haec nefaria.
That one is weak, this one is wicked.
properemus igitur.
Let us make haste then.
sed iuva me consilio, Brundisione an Puteolis.
But help me with your advice, whether from Brundisium or Puteoli.
Brutus quidem subito sed sapienter.
Brutus indeed went suddenly but wisely.
πάσχω τι.
I feel a certain pain.
quando enim illum? sed humana ferenda.
For when shall I see him again? But human things must be borne.
tu ipse eum videre non potes.
You yourself cannot see him.
di illi mortuo qui umquam Buthrotum! sed acta missa; videamus quae agenda sint.
May the gods curse that dead man who ever [brought up] Buthrotum! But what is done is gone; let us see what must be done.
§15.20.4rationes Erotis, etsi ipsum nondum vidi, tamen et ex litteris eius et ex eo quod Tiro cognovit prope modum cognitas habeo.
As for the accounts of Eros, although I have not yet seen him, I have them almost fully understood both from his letter and from what Tiro has learned.
versuram scribis esse faciendam mensum quinque, id est ad Kal. Nov. , HS C_C_; in eam diem cadere nummos qui a Quinto debentur.
You write that a loan must be made for five months, that is, until the Kalends of November, of 200,000 sesterces; that on that day the money owed by Quintus falls due.
velim igitur, quoniam Tiro negat tibi placere me eius rei causa Romam venire, si ea te res nihil offendet, videas unde nummi sint, mihi feras expensum.
I would wish, therefore, since Tiro says you do not want me to come to Rome on that account, if that matter does not trouble you at all, that you see where the money is and debit it to me.
hoc video in praesentia opus esse.
I see this is necessary for the present.
reliqua diligentius ex hoc ipso exquiram, in his de mercedibus dotalium praediorum.
The rest I shall inquire into more carefully from Eros himself, including the rents of the dotal estates.
quae si fideliter Ciceroni curabuntur, quamquam volo laxius, tamen ei prope modum nihil deerit.
If these are faithfully managed for Cicero, although I wish him to be more amply provided, yet he will lack almost nothing.
equidem video mihi quoque opus esse viaticum; sed ei ex praediis ut cadet ita solvetur, mihi autem opus est universo.
Indeed, I see that I too need passage-money; but for him it will be paid from the estates as it falls due, whereas I need it in a lump sum.
equidem etsi mihi videtur iste qui umbras timet ad caedem spectare, tamen nisi explicata solutione non sum discessurus.
Indeed, although that man who fears shadows seems to me to aim at slaughter, yet I will not depart unless the payment is settled.
sitne autem explicata necne tecum cognoscam.
Whether it is settled or not, I shall learn with you.
hanc putavi mea manu scribendam, itaque feci.
I thought this should be written with my own hand, and so I did.
de Fadio, ut scribis, utique alii nemini.
Concerning Fadius, as you write, certainly to no other person.
rescribas velim hodie.
I would like you to write back today.