§16.2.1vi Idus duas epistulas accepi, unam a meo tabellario, alteram a Bruti.
On the sixth day before the Ides (July 10) I received two letters, one from my messenger, the other from Brutus's.
de Buthrotiis longe alia fama in his locis fuerat, sed cum aliis multis hoc ferendum.
Concerning the Buthrotians, a very different rumor had been current in these parts, but this must be borne along with many other things.
Erotem remisi citius quam constitueram, ut esset qui Hortensio et †quia et quibus quidem ait se Idibus constituisse.
I sent Eros back sooner than I had planned, so that there might be someone to [pay] Hortensius and... indeed he says he has made an appointment for the Ides (July 15).
Hortensius vero impudenter.
Hortensius indeed acts shamelessly.
nihil enim debetur ei nisi ex tertia pensione quae est Kal. Sext. ; ex qua pensione ipsa maior pars est ei soluta aliquanto ante diem.
For nothing is owed to him except from the third installment which is on the Kalends of August (August 1); from which installment itself the greater part has been paid to him considerably before the day.
sed haec Eros videbit Idibus.
But Eros will see to these things on the Ides.
de Publilio autem, quod perscribi oportet, moram non puto esse faciendam.
Concerning Publilius, moreover, since the payment should be made by draft, I do not think there should be any delay.
sed cum videas quantum de iure nostro decesserimus qui de residuis C_C_C_C_ HS C_C_ praesentia solverimus, reliqua rescribamus, loqui cum eo, si tibi videbitur, poteris eum commodum nostrum exspectare debere, cum tanta sit a nobis iactura facta iuris.
But since you see how much of our right we have waived, we who, out of a remaining 400,000 sesterces, have paid 200,000 in ready money, let us transfer the rest by draft; and you will be able to speak with him, if it seems good to you, to the effect that he ought to wait for our convenience, since such a great sacrifice of our right has been made by us.
§16.2.2sed amabo te, mi Attice, (videsne quam blande?), omnia nostra, quoad eris Romae, ita gerito, regito, gubernato ut nihil a me exspectes.
But please, my Atticus (do you see how coaxingly?), as long as you are in Rome, manage, direct, and steer all my affairs in such a way that you expect nothing from me.
quamquam enim reliqua satis apta sunt ad solvendum, tamen fit saepe ut ii qui debent non respondeant ad tempus.
For although the remaining assets are quite sufficient for paying, yet it often happens that those who owe do not meet their obligations on time.
si quid eius modi acciderit, ne quid tibi sit fama mea potius.
If anything of that kind should happen, let nothing be more important to you than my reputation.
non modo versura verum etiam venditione, si ita res coget, nos vindicabis.
You will protect me not only by borrowing but even by sale, if the situation forces it.
§16.2.3Bruto tuae litterae gratae erant.
Your letter was pleasing to Brutus.
fui enim apud illum multas horas in Neside, cum paulo ante tuas litteras accepissem.
For I was with him for many hours in Nesis, having received your letter a little before.
delectari mihi Tereo videbatur et habere maiorem Accio quam Antonio gratiam.
He seemed to me to be delighted with the "Tereus" and to feel greater gratitude to Accius than to Antonius.
mihi autem quo laetiora sunt, eo plus stomachi et molestiae est populum Romanum manus suas non in defendenda re publica sed in plaudendo consumere.
To me, however, the more joyful these things are, the more vexation and annoyance there is that the Roman people spend their hands not in defending the republic but in applauding.
mihi quidem videntur istorum animi incendi etiam ad repraesentandam improbitatem suam.
To me indeed the minds of those fellows seem to be inflamed even to displaying their wickedness.
sed tamen
"
dúm modo doleant áliquid, doleant quídlibet. "
But yet, "provided they grieve for something, let them grieve for whatever they like.
§16.2.4consilium meum quod ais cotidie magis laudari non moleste fero exspectabamque si quid de eo ad me scriberes.
"I am glad that my plan, which you say is praised more every day, is approved, and I was waiting to see if you would write anything to me about it.
ego enim in varios sermones incidebam.
For I was encountering various rumors.
quin etiam idcirco trahebam ut quam diutissime integrum esset.
Nay indeed, for that reason I was dragging it out so that the matter might remain open as long as possible.
sed quoniam furcilla extrudimur, Brundisium cogito.
But since we are driven out with a pitchfork, I am thinking of Brundisium.
facilior enim et exploratior devitatio legionum fore videtur quam piratarum qui apparere dicuntur.
For the avoidance of the legions seems likely to be easier and surer than that of the pirates who are said to be appearing.
Sestius vi Idus exspectabatur sed non venerat, quod sciam.
Sestius was expected on the sixth day before the Ides (July 10) but had not come, so far as I know.
Cassius cum classicula sua venerat.
Cassius had arrived with his little fleet.
ego cum eum vidissem, v Id. in Pompeianum cogitabam, inde Aeculanum.
When I have seen him, I think of going to my Pompeian villa on the fifth day before the Ides (July 11), and thence to Aeculanum.
nosti reliqua.
You know the rest.
de Tutia ita putaram.
Concerning Tutia, I had thought so.
§16.2.5de Aebutio non credo nec tamen curo plus quam tu.
Concerning Aebutius I do not believe it, nor yet do I care more than you do.
Planco et Oppio scripsi equidem quoniam rogaras, sed, si tibi videbitur, ne necesse habueris reddere.
I have indeed written to Plancus and Oppius since you had asked, but, if it seems good to you, do not feel obliged to deliver them.
cum enim tua causa fecerint omnia, vereor ne meas litteras supervacaneas arbitrentur. Oppio quidem utique quem tibi amicissimum cognovi.
For since they have done everything for your sake, I fear they may think my letter superfluous; to Oppius indeed at any rate, whom I know to be very friendly to you.
verum ut voles.
But as you wish.
§16.2.6tu quoniam scribis hiematurum te in Epiro, feceris mihi gratum si ante eo veneris quam mihi in Italiam te auctore veniendum est.
Since you write that you will spend the winter in Epirus, you will do me a favor if you go there before the time when, by your advice, I must return to Italy.
litteras ad me quam saepissime; si de rebus minus necessariis, aliquem nactus; sin autem erit quid maius, domo mittito.
Send letters to me as often as possible; if about less necessary matters, finding some chance messenger; but if there should be something more important, send someone from home.
Ἡρακλείδειον, si Brundisium salvi, adoriemur.
The "Heraclidean work" we will undertake if we reach Brundisium safely.
"de gloria"
misi tibi.
"On Glory" I have sent to you.
custodies igitur, ut soles, sed notentur ἐκλογαὶ quas Salvius bonos auditores nactus in convivio dumtaxat legat.
You will keep it therefore, as you usually do, but let the selected passages be marked, which Salvius, having found good listeners, may read, but only at a banquet.
mihi valde placent, mallem tibi.
They please me very much; I should prefer that they pleased you.
etiam atque etiam vale.
Farewell, again and again.