§15.29.1Bruti ad te epistulam misi.
I have sent you Brutus's letter to you.
di boni, quanta ἀμηχανία! cognosces cum legeris.
Good gods, what helplessness! You will know when you read it.
de celebratione ludorum Bruti tibi adsentior.
Concerning the celebration of Brutus's games, I agree with you.
ad M. Aelium nullus tu quidem domum sed sicubi inciderit.
As for Marcus Aelius, you indeed need not go to his house, but only if he happens to cross your path.
de Tulliano semisse M. Axianum adhibebis, ut scribis.
Regarding the Tullian half-percent, you will consult Marcus Axianus, as you write.
quod cum Cosano egisti, optime.
As for what you transacted with the man from Cosa, excellent.
quod non solum mea verum etiam tua re me expedis, gratum.
That you extricate me not only in my interest but also in yours, I am grateful.
legationem probari meam gaudeo.
I am glad that my legation is approved.
quod promittis di faxint! quid enim mihi meis iucundius? sed istam quam tu excipis metuo.
May the gods grant what you promise! For what could be more pleasant to me than my own people? But I fear that one which you except.
Brutum cum convenero, perscribam omnia.
When I meet Brutus, I will write everything in detail.
de Planco et Decimo sane velim.
As for Plancus and Decimus, I should indeed hope so.
Sextum scutum abicere nolebam.
I did not want Sextus to throw away his shield.
de Mundo, si quid scies.
As for Mundus, if you know anything.
§15.29.2rescripsi ad omnia tua; nunc nostra accipe.
I have replied to all your points; now hear our news.
Quintus filius usque Puteolos (mirus civis, ut tu Favonium †Asinium† dicas) et quidem duas ob causas, †et ut mecum et ut σπείσασθαι vult† cum Bruto et Cassio.
My son Quintus has come as far as Puteoli (an extraordinary citizen, as if you were to call Favonius Asinius) and indeed for two reasons, both to be with me and because he wants to make peace with Brutus and Cassius.
sed tu quid ais? scio enim te familiarem esse Othonum.
But what do you say? For I know you are a close friend of the Othos.
ait hic sibi Iuliam ferre; constitutum enim esse discidium.
He says that Julia is bringing herself to him; for a divorce has been decided upon.
quaesivit ex me pater qualis esset fama.
His father asked me what her reputation was.
dixi nihil sane me audisse (nesciebam enim cur quaereret) nisi de ore et patre.
I said I had heard nothing indeed (for I did not know why he was asking) except about her looks and her father.
"sed quorsus?"
inquam.
"But to what purpose?" I said.
at ille filium velle.
And he replied that his son wanted her.
tum ego, etsi ἐβδελυττόμην, tamen negavi probabilia esse vera.
Then I, although I was disgusted, nevertheless denied that these plausible reports were true.
σκοπὸσ (hoc est enim) huic nostro nihil praebere, illa autem οὐ παρὰ τοῦτο.
The aim (for this is what it is) of our friend here is to offer him nothing, while she, on her part, does not mind that.
ego tamen suspicor hunc, ut solet, alucinari.
I, however, suspect that he, as is his habit, is daydreaming.
sed velim quaeras (facile autem potes) et me certiorem.
But I would like you to inquire (and you can easily do so) and let me know.
§15.29.3obsecro te, quid est hoc? signata iam epistula Formiani qui apud me cenabant Plancum se aiebant hunc Buthrotium pridie quam hoc scribebam, id est III Non. , vidisse demissum, sine phaleris; servulos autem dicere eum et agripetas eiectos a Buthrotiis.
I beseech you, what is this? When my letter was already sealed, some people from Formiae who were dining with me said that they had seen this Buthrotian Plancus, on the day before I wrote this, that is, on the third day before the Nones, dismissed and without his military decorations; and that the slaves were saying that he and the land-grabbers had been thrown out by the Buthrotians.
macte! sed, amabo te, perscribe mihi totum negotium.
Bravo! But, please, write to me the whole business in detail.