§16.16E.1ignosce mihi quod, cum antea accuratissime de Buthrotiis ad te scripserim, eadem de re saepius scribam.
Forgive me that, although I wrote to you before most carefully about the Buthrotians, I am writing so often on the same matter.
non me hercule, mi Plance, facio quo parum confidam aut liberalitati tuae aut nostrae amicitiae sed, cum tanta res agatur Attici nostri, nunc vero etiam existimatio, ut id quod probavit Caesar nobis testibus et obsignatoribus qui et decretis et responsis Caesaris interfueramus videatur obtinere potuisse, praesertim cum tota potestas eius rei tua sit, ut ea quae consules decreverunt secundum Caesaris decreta et responsa non dicam comprobes sed studiose libenterque comprobes.
By Hercules, my Plancus, I do not do this because I have little confidence either in your generosity or in our friendship; but because so great an interest of our friend Atticus, and indeed now even his reputation, is at stake—so that what Caesar approved, with us as witnesses and signatories who had been present at both the decrees and responses of Caesar, may appear to have been able to be maintained—especially since the entire power of that matter is yours, so that you may, I will not say approve, but eagerly and gladly approve what the consuls decreed in accordance with Caesar’s decrees and responses.
§16.16E.2id mihi sic erit gratum ut nulla res gratior esse possit.
This will be so gratifying to me that nothing could be more gratifying.
etsi iam sperabam, cum has litteras accepisses, fore ut ea quae superioribus litteris a te petissemus impetrata essent, tamen non faciam finem rogandi quoad nobis nuntiatum erit te id fecisse quod magna cum spe exspectamus.
Although I was already hoping that, by the time you received this letter, what we had requested of you in our previous letter would have been granted, nevertheless I shall not make an end of asking until it is announced to us that you have done what we are expecting with great hope.
deinde enim confido fore ut alio genere litterarum utamur tibique pro tuo summo beneficio gratias agamus.
For then I trust that we shall use another kind of letter and express our gratitude to you for your supreme kindness.
quod si acciderit, velim sic existimes, non tibi tam Atticum cuius permagna res agitur quam me qui non minus laboro quam ille obligatum fore.
If this should happen, I would wish you to think thus: that not so much Atticus, whose very great interest is at stake, but I, who am laboring no less than he, will be obligated to you.