§16.16C.1numquam putavi fore ut supplex ad te venirem; sed hercule facile patior datum tempus in quo amorem experirer tuum.
never thought that it would come to pass that I should come to you as a suppliant; but, by Hercules, I gladly accept that a time has been given in which I might experience your love.
Atticum quanti faciam scis.
You know how highly I value Atticus.
amabo te, da mihi et hoc, obliviscere mea causa illum aliquando suo familiari, adversario tuo voluisse consultum, cum illius existimatio ageretur.
Please, grant me this too: forget for my sake that he once wished to consult the interest of his own close friend, who was your adversary, when that man's reputation was at stake.
hoc primum ignoscere est humanitatis tuae; suos enim quisque debet tueri;
First, to forgive this is a mark of your humanity; for everyone ought to protect his own.
deinde si me amas (omitte Atticum), Ciceroni tuo quem quanti facias prae te soles ferre totum hoc da ut quod semper existimavi nunc plane intellegam, me a te multum amari. §16.16C.2Buthrotios cum Caesar decreto suo quod ego obsignavi cum multis amplissimis viris liberavisset ostendissetque nobis se, cum agrarii mare transissent, litteras missurum quem in agrum deducerentur, accidit ut subito ille interiret.
Second, if you love me (leave Atticus aside), grant this whole thing to your Cicero, whom you are accustomed to make no secret of how highly you value, so that I may now clearly understand what I have always believed: that I am greatly loved by you. Caesar, by his decree which I, along with many most distinguished men, co-signed, had freed the Buthrotians and had indicated to us that, when the land-settlers had crossed the sea, he would send a letter stating into which land they were to be led, it happened that he suddenly died.
deinde quem ad modum tu scis (interfuisti enim), cum consules oporteret ex senatus consulto de actis Caesaris cognoscere, res ab iis in Kal. Iun. dilata est.
Then, as you know (for you were present), when the consuls were required by a decree of the senate to investigate Caesar's acts, the matter was postponed by them until the Calends of June.
accessit ad senatus consultum lex quae lata est a. d. IIII Non. , quae lex earum rerum quas Caesar statuisset, decrevisset, egisset, consulibus cognitionem dedit.
To the decree of the senate was added the law which was passed on the fourth day before the Nones, which law gave the consuls the investigation of those things which Caesar had determined, decreed, and done.
causa Buthrotiorum delata est ad consules.
The cause of the Buthrotians was brought before the consuls.
decretum Caesaris recitatum est et multi praeterea libelli Caesaris prolati.
Caesar's decree was read aloud, and many other documents of Caesar were produced besides.
consules de consili sententia decreverunt secundum Buthrotios Plancum dederunt. §16.16C.3nunc, mi Capito, (scio enim quantum semper apud eos quibuscum sis posse soleas, eo plus apud hominem facillimum atque humanissimum Plancum), enitere, elabora vel potius eblandire, effice ut Plancus quem spero optimum esse sit etiam melior opera tua.
The consuls, in accordance with the opinion of their advisory council, decreed in favor of the Buthrotians, and assigned Plancus., my Capito (for I know how much power you are always accustomed to have among those with whom you are, and so much more with Plancus, a most easygoing and humane man), strive, labor, or rather win him over by coaxing, and bring it about that Plancus, whom I hope to be excellent, may be even better through your effort.
omnino res huius modi mihi videtur esse ut sine cuiusquam gratia Plancus ipse pro ingenio et prudentia sua non sit dubitaturus quin decretum consulum quorum et lege et senatus consulto cognitio et iudicium fuit conservet, praesertim cum hoc genere cognitionum labefactato acta Caesaris in dubium ventura videantur, quae non modo quorum interest sed etiam ii qui illa non probant oti causa confirmari velint. §16.16C.4quod cum ita sit, tamen interest nostra Plancum hoc animo libenti prolixoque facere; quod certe faciet, si tu nervulos tuos mihi saepe cognitos suavitatemque qua nemo tibi par est adhibueris.
On the whole, the matter seems to me to be of such a kind that, even without anyone's favor, Plancus himself, according to his own talent and prudence, would not hesitate to preserve the decree of the consuls, whose investigation and judgment were authorized both by law and by decree of the senate; especially since, if this class of investigations is undermined, Caesar's acts seem likely to come into doubt, which acts not only those who have an interest in them, but even those who do not approve of them, wish to be confirmed for the sake of peace. this is so, yet it is of importance to us that Plancus should do this with a willing and generous mind; which he will certainly do, if you apply your vigor, often known to me, and your sweetness, in which no one is your equal.
quod ut facias te vehementer rogo.
That you do this, I vehemently ask you.