§15.9.1iiiii Non. vesperi a Balbo redditae mihi litterae fore Nonis senatum, ut Brutus in Asia, Cassius in Sicilia frumentum emendum et ad urbem mittendum curarent.
On the evening of May 3, a letter from Balbus was delivered to me, stating that there would be a senate meeting on the Nones, in order that Brutus in Asia and Cassius in Sicily should take charge of buying grain and sending it to the city.
o rem miseram! primum ullam ab istis, dein, si aliquam, hanc †legatoriam† provinciam! atque haud scio an melius sit quam ad Eurotam sedere.
Oh, what a miserable business! First, to receive any commission at all from those fellows; second, if any, to receive this †lieutenant-like† commission! And yet, I rather think it is better than sitting by the Eurotas.
sed haec casus gubernabit.
But chance will govern these things.
ait autem eodem tempore decretum iri ut et iis et reliquis praetoriis provinciae decernantur.
He says, moreover, that at the same time a decree will be passed that provinces be assigned both to them and to the rest of the praetorian rank.
hoc certe melius quam illa Περσικὴ porticus; nolo enim Lacedaemonem †longinquo quom Lanuvium existimavit†. "rides"
inquies
"in talibus rebus?"
quid faciam? plorando fessus sum.
This is certainly better than that Persian Portico; for I do not want Lacedaemon †... considered Lanuvium...†. “Are you laughing,” you will say, “in such circumstances?” What am I to do? I am tired of weeping.
§15.9.2di immortales! quam me conturbatum tenuit epistulae tuae prior pagina! quid autem iste in domo tua casus armorum? sed hunc quidem nimbum cito transisse laetor.
Immortal gods! How troubled your letter's first page kept me! But what was that business of arms in your house? But I am glad that this cloud has quickly passed.
tu quid egeris tua cum tristi tum etiam difficili ad consiliandum legatione vehementer exspecto; est enim inexplicabilis.
I am eagerly waiting to hear what you have done about your commission, which is both sad and difficult to advise on; for it is inextricably tangled.
ita circumsedemur copiis omnibus.
So beset are we by all kinds of forces.
me quidem Bruti litterae quas ostendis a te lectas ita perturbarunt ut, quamquam ante egebam consilio, tamen animi dolore sim tardior.
Indeed, the letter from Brutus, which you show was read by you, has so disturbed me that, although I was in need of counsel before, I am now even slower of mind because of mental pain.
sed plura, cum ista cognoro.
But more when I have learned about those matters.
hoc autem tempore quod scriberem nihil erat, eoque minus quod dubitabam tu has ipsas litteras essesne accepturus.
At this moment, however, there was nothing for me to write, and all the less because I was doubtful whether you would receive this very letter.
erat enim incertum visurusne te esset tabellarius.
For it was uncertain whether the letter-carrier would see you.
ego tuas litteras vehementer exspecto.
I am eagerly waiting for your letter.