§16.1.1Nonis Quintilibus veni in Puteolanum.
On the Nones of July (Quintilis) I arrived at my villa in Puteoli.
postridie iens ad Brutum in Nesidem haec scripsi.
On the next day, while going to see Brutus in Nesis, I wrote this.
sed eo die quo veneram cenanti Eros tuas litteras.
But on the very day of my arrival, as I was dining, Eros delivered your letter.
itane?
"Nonis Iuliis?"
di hercule istis! sed stomachari totum diem licet.
Really? "On the Nones of July?" By Hercules, may the gods bring trouble on those fellows! But one may well be angry the whole day.
quicquamne turpius quam Bruto
"Iuliis?"
redeo ad meum igitur
"ἔτ' ἐῶμεν; "
nihil vidi.
What could be more shameful for Brutus than to celebrate his games "in the month of July?" I return therefore to my own theme, "Shall we still tolerate this?" I have never seen anything like it.
§16.1.2sed quid est, quaeso, quod agripetas Buthroti concisos audio? quid autem Plancus tam cursim (ita enim inaudiebam) diem et noctem? sane cupio scire quid sit.
But what is it, pray, that I hear of the land-grabbers at Buthrotum being cut to pieces? And why is Plancus hurrying so hastily day and night (for so I heard a rumor)? I indeed long to know what it is.
§16.1.3meam profectionem laudari gaudeo.
I am glad that my departure is praised.
videndum est ut mansio laudetur.
We must see to it that my staying is also praised.
Dymaeos agro pulsos mare infestum habere nil mirum.
It is no wonder that the people of Dyme, driven from their land, are making the sea unsafe.
ἐν ὁμοπλοίᾳ Bruti videtur aliquid praesidi esse, sed, opinor, minuta navigia.
In sailing together with Brutus there seems to be some protection, but, I think, they are very small vessels.
sed iam sciam et ad te cras.
But I shall know soon, and write to you tomorrow.
§16.1.4de Ventidio πανικὸν puto.
Concerning Ventidius, I think it is a panic.
de Sexto pro certo habebatur †ad arma†.
As for Sextus, it was held for certain that he was in arms.
quod si verum est, sine bello civili video serviendum.
If that is true, I see that we must submit without a civil war.
quid ergo? ad Kal.
What then?
Ian. in Pansa spes? λῆροσ πολὺσ in vino et in somno istorum.
Is our hope in Pansa for the Kalends of January? It is absolute nonsense in the wine and sleep of those fellows.
§16.1.5de c_c_x_ optime.
As to the 210, excellent.
Ciceronis rationes explicentur.
Let Cicero's accounts be cleared up.
Ovius enim recens.
For Ovius has recently arrived.
is multa quae vellem, in iis ne hoc quidem malum †in mandatis si habunde† HS L_X_X_I_I_ satis esse, adfatim prorsus, sed Xenonem perexigue et γλίσχρωσ praebere.
He reported many things I wished to hear, among which even this is not bad: that, if the remittances are abundant, 72,000 sesterces are enough, indeed quite sufficient, but that Xeno provides it in a very stingy and niggardly manner.
quod plus permutasti quam ad fructum insularum, id ille annus habeat in quem itineris sumptus accessit.
As for your having remitted by bill of exchange more than the income of the insulae, let that year bear it to which the traveling expenses were added.
hinc ex Kal. Apr. ad HS L_x_x_x_ accommodetur.
From here, after the Kalends of April, let it be adjusted to 80,000 sesterces.
nunc enim insulae tantum.
For now only the insulae are applied.
videndum enim est quid, cum Romae erit.
For we must see what is to be done when he is in Rome.
non enim puto socrum illam ferendam.
For I do not think that mother-in-law is to be tolerated.
Pindaro de Cumano negaram.
I had said no to Pindarus concerning the Cumaean estate.
§16.1.6nunc cuius rei causa tabellarium miserim accipe.
Now hear for what reason I have sent the letter-carrier.
Quintus filius mihi pollicetur se Catonem.
My son Quintus promises me that he will be a Cato.
egit autem et pater et filius ut tibi sponderem sed ita ut tum crederes cum ipse cognosses.
Moreover, both father and son urged that I should guarantee this to you, but on the condition that you should believe it only when you have personal knowledge of it.
huic ego litteras ipsius arbitratu dabo.
To him I will give a letter in accordance with his own choice.
eae te ne moverint.
Let not those letters move you.
has scripsi in eam partem ne me motum putares.
I have written this in order that you might not think I have been moved.
di faxint ut faciat ea quae promittit! commune enim gaudium.
May the gods grant that he performs what he promises! For it would be a common joy.
sed ego—nihil dico amplius.
But I—I say no more.
is hinc vii Idus.
He is leaving here on the seventh day before the Ides.
ait enim attributionem in Idus, se autem urgeri acriter.
For he says there is an assignment of money on the Ides, and that he is being hard pressed.
tu ex meis litteris quo modo respondeas moderabere.
You will regulate how you answer in accordance with my letter.
plura, cum et Brutum videro et Erotem remittam.
More when I have seen Brutus and send Eros back.
Atticae meae excusationem accipio eamque amo plurimum; cui et Piliae salutem.
I accept my dear Attica's excuse and love her dearly; my greetings to her and Pilia.