§16.14.1nihil erat plane quod scriberem.
There is absolutely nothing for me to write.
nam cum Puteolis essem, cotidie aliquid novi de Octaviano, multa etiam falsa de Antonio.
For when I was at Puteoli, there was daily something new about Octavian, and also many false rumors about Antony.
ad ea autem quae scripsisti (tris enim acceperam iii Idus a te epistulas), valde tibi adsentior, si multum possit Octavianus, multo firmius acta tyranni comprobatum iri quam in Telluris atque id contra Brutum fore.
But as to what you wrote (for I had received three letters from you on November 11), I strongly agree with you: if Octavian has much power, the acts of the tyrant will be confirmed much more firmly than they were in the Temple of Tellus, and that this will be against Brutus.
sin autem vincitur, vides intolerabilem Antonium, ut quem velis nescias.
But if, on the other hand, he is defeated, you see that Antony will be intolerable, so that you would not know which one you prefer.
o Sesti tabellarium hominem nequam! postridie Puteolis Romae se dixit fore.
Oh, what a worthless scoundrel Sestius's messenger is! He said he would be in Rome the day after leaving Puteoli.
quod me mones ut pedetemptim, adsentior; etsi aliter cogitabam.
As for your advising me to go step by step, I agree; although I was thinking otherwise.
nec me Philippus aut Marcellus movet.
Neither Philippus nor Marcellus moves me.
alia enim eorum ratio est et, si non est, tamen videtur.
For their situation is different, and even if it is not, it still appears so.
sed in isto iuvene, quamquam animi satis, auctoritatis parum est.
But in that young man, although there is enough spirit, there is too little authority.
tamen vide, si forte in Tusculano recte esse possum, ne id melius sit.
Nevertheless, see whether by chance I can safely be in my villa at Tusculum, and whether that might not be better.
ero libentius; nihil enim ignorabo.
I shall be there more gladly; for I shall remain ignorant of nothing.
an hic, cum Antonius venerit?
Or should I stay here, when Antony comes?
§16.14.3sed, ut aliud ex alio, mihi non est dubium quin quod Graeci καθῆκον, nos
"officium. "
id autem quid dubitas quin etiam in rem publicam praeclare caderet? nonne dicimus
"consulum officium, senatus officium, imperatoris officium"
? praeclare convenit; aut da melius.
But, to pass from one thing to another, I have no doubt that what the Greeks call καθῆκον, we call "officium." Moreover, why do you doubt that this word also fits excellently when applied to the state? Do we not say "the duty of consuls, the duty of the senate, the duty of a general"? It fits beautifully; or else give a better one.
male narras de Nepotis filio.
You tell bad news about Nepos's son.
valde me hercule moveor et moleste fero.
By Hercules, I am deeply moved and take it hard.
nescieram omnino esse istum puerum.
I did not know at all that there was such a boy.
Caninium perdidi, hominem, quod ad me attinet, non ingratum.
I have lost Caninius, a man who, as far as I am concerned, was not ungrateful.
Athenodorum nihil est quod hortere. misit enim satis bellum ὑπόμνημα.
There is no reason for you to urge Athenodorus; for he has sent a sufficiently fine memorandum.
gravedini, quaeso, omni ratione subveni.
Pray, cure your cold by every means.
avi tui pronepos scribit ad patris mei nepotem se ex Nonis iis quibus nos magna gessimus aedem Opis explicaturum idque ad populum.
Your grandfather's great-grandson writes to my father's grandson that he will, from those Nones on which we performed great deeds, clear up the matter of the temple of Ops, and that before the people.
videbis igitur et scribes.
You will therefore see to it and write.
Sexti iudicium exspecto.
I await Sextus's judgment.