§16.4.1ita ut heri tibi narravi vel fortasse hodie (Quintus enim altero die se aiebat), in Nesida viii Idus.
As I told you yesterday or perhaps today (for Quintus said he would arrive on the next day), I reached Nesis on the 8th of the Ides.
ibi Brutus.
Brutus was there.
quam ille doluit de Nonis Ivliis! mirifice est conturbatus.
How he grieved over the "Nonae Juliae"! He was wonderfully disturbed.
itaque sese scripturum aiebat ut venationem eam quae postridie ludos Apollinaris futura est proscriberent in III Idvs Qvintilis. Libo intervenit.
Therefore he said he would write to have that wild-beast hunt, which is to take place the day after the Apollinarian games, advertised for the "3rd of the Ides of Quintilis." Libo arrived.
is Philonem Pompei libertum et Hilarum suum libertum venisse a Sexto cum litteris ad consules sive quo alio nomine sunt.
He reported that Philo, Pompey's freedman, and Hilarus, his own freedman, had come from Sextus with a letter to the consuls, or whatever other name they have.
earum exemplum nobis legit, si quid videretur.
He read us a copy of it, to see if we had any opinion on it.
pauca παρὰ λέξιν, ceteroqui et satis graviter et non contumaciter.
There were a few things contrary to correct expression, but otherwise it was sufficiently dignified and not insolent.
tantum addi placuit, quod erat coss. solum, ut esset Praett. , TRIBB. PL., SENATVI, ne illi non proferrent eas quae ad ipsos missae essent.
We only thought it best to add, since it was addressed to the "consuls" alone, "to the Praetors, Tribunes of the Plebs, and the Senate," lest they should fail to produce the letters sent to themselves.
§16.4.2Sextum autem nuntiant cum una solum legione fuisse Karthagine eique eo ipso die quo oppidum Baream cepisset nuntiatum esse de Caesare, capto oppido miram laetitiam commutationemque animorum concursumque undique; sed illum ad sex legiones quas in ulteriore reliquisset revertisse.
Furthermore, they report that Sextus was at Carthage with only one legion, and that on the very day he took the town of Barea, news of Caesar was brought to him; and that upon the capture of the town there was wonderful joy, a change of minds, and a concourse from all sides; but that he had returned to the six legions which he had left in Farther Spain.
ad ipsum autem Libonem scripsit nihil esse nisi ad larem suum liceret.
He wrote, however, to Libo himself that there was nothing to be done unless he were allowed to return to his own home.
summa postulatorum ut omnes exercitus dimittantur qui ubique sint.
The sum of his demands is that all armies, wherever they may be, should be disbanded.
haec fere de Sexto.
This is about all concerning Sextus.
§16.4.3de Buthrotiis undique quaerens nihil reperiebam.
Inquiring everywhere about the people of Buthrotum, I could find out nothing.
alii concisos agripetas, alii Plancum acceptis nummis relictis illis aufugisse.
Some say the land-grabbers have been cut to pieces, others that Plancus, having received money, abandoned them and fled.
itaque non video sciturum me quid eius sit ni statim aliquid litterarum.
Therefore I do not see how I shall know what the truth of the matter is, unless some letter comes immediately.
§16.4.4iter illud Brundisium de quo dubitabam sublatum videtur.
That journey to Brundisium about which I was in doubt seems to have been given up.
legiones enim adventare dicuntur.
For the legions are said to be approaching.
haec autem navigatio habet quasdam suspiciones periculi.
But this voyage carries some suspicion of danger.
itaque constituebam uti ὁμοπλοίᾳ.
Therefore I was deciding to take advantage of a joint sailing.
paratiorem enim offendi Brutum quam audiebam.
For I found Brutus more prepared than I had heard.
nam et ipse et Domitius bona plane habet dicrota suntque navigia praeterea luculenta Sesti, Buciliani, ceterorum.
For both he himself and Domitius have very good two-banked galleys, and there are besides excellent vessels belonging to Sestius, Bucilianus, and the rest.
nam Cassi classem quae plane bella est non numero ultra fretum.
For I do not count Cassius' fleet, which is indeed beautiful, since it is beyond the strait.
illud est mihi submolestum quod parum Brutus properare videtur.
What is slightly annoying to me is that Brutus seems to make too little haste.
primum confectorum ludorum nuntios exspectat; deinde, quantum intellego, tarde est navigaturus consistens in locis pluribus.
First he is waiting for news of the finished games; then, as far as I understand, he is going to sail slowly, stopping at several places.
tamen arbitror esse commodius tarde navigare quam omnino non navigare; et si, cum processerimus, exploratiora videbuntur, etesiis utemur.
Still, I think it is more convenient to sail slowly than not to sail at all; and if, as we proceed, things seem more secure, we shall make use of the Etesian winds.