§16.5.1tuas iam litteras Brutus exspectabat.
Brutus was already expecting your letter.
cui quidem ego novum attuleram de Tereo Acci.
I had brought him some news about Accius's Tereus.
ille Brutum putabat.
He thought it was the play Brutus.
sed tamen rumoris nescio quid adflaverat commissione Graecorum frequentiam non fuisse; quod quidem me minime fefellit; scis enim quid ego de Graecis ludis existimem.
But still, some rumor had breathed that there was no crowd at the opening of the Greek plays; which indeed did not deceive me at all; for you know what I think about Greek games.
§16.5.2nunc audi quod pluris est quam omnia.
Now hear what is more valuable than everything.
Quintus fuit mecum dies compluris et, si ego cuperem, ille vel pluris fuisset; sed quam diu fuit, incredibile est quam me in omni genere delectarit in eoque maxime in quo minime satis faciebat.
Quintus was with me for several days and, if I had wished, he would have stayed even longer; but as long as he was here, it is incredible how he delighted me in every way, and most of all in that very respect in which he used to satisfy me least.
sic enim commutatus est totus et scriptis meis quibusdam quae in manibus habebam et adsiduitate orationis et praeceptis ut tali animo in rem publicam quali nos volumus futurus sit.
For he was so completely changed, both by certain writings of mine which I had in hand, and by my constant conversation and precepts, that he is going to be of such a mind toward the republic as we wish.
hoc cum mihi non modo confirmasset sed etiam persuasisset, egit mecum accurate multis verbis tibi ut sponderem se dignum et te et nobis futurum; neque se postulare ut statim crederes sed, cum ipse perspexisses, tum ut se amares.
When he had not only assured me of this but also persuaded me, he pleaded with me earnestly and in many words to guarantee to you that he would be worthy both of you and of us; and he did not request that you should believe it immediately, but that, when you had seen it for yourself, you should then love him.
quod nisi fidem mihi fecisset iudicassemque hoc quod dico firmum fore, non fecissem id quod dicturus sum.
If he had not made me believe this, and if I had not judged that what I am saying would be firm, I would not have done what I am about to tell you.
duxi enim mecum adulescentem ad Brutum.
For I took the young man with me to Brutus.
sic ei probatum est quod ad te scribo ut ipse crediderit, me sponsorem accipere noluerit eumque laudans amicissime mentionem tui fecerit, complexus osculatusque dimiserit.
This was so approved by him—the very thing I am writing to you—that he himself believed it, refused to take me as a sponsor, and, praising the young man, made mention of you in the most friendly manner, embraced and kissed him, and sent him away.
quam ob rem etsi magis est quod gratuler tibi quam quod te rogem, tamen etiam rogo ut, si quae minus antea propter infirmitatem aetatis constanter ab eo fieri videbantur, ea iudices illum abiecisse mihique credas multum adlaturam vel plurimum potius ad illius iudicium confirmandum auctoritatem tuam.
Therefore, although there is more reason to congratulate you than to ask you, yet I also ask you that, if anything formerly seemed to be done by him with too little consistency due to the weakness of youth, you should judge that he has cast it aside, and believe that your authority will contribute much, or rather very much, to confirming his judgment.
§16.5.3Bruto cum saepe iniecissem de ὁμοπλοίᾳ, non perinde atque ego putaram adripere visus est.
Although I had often suggested the joint sailing to Brutus, he did not seem to catch on to it as much as I had thought.
existimabam μετεωρότερον esse, et hercule erat et maxime de ludis.
I supposed he was somewhat anxious (μετεωρότερον), and indeed he was, especially about the games.
at mihi cum ad villam redissem, Cn.
But when I had returned to my villa, Gn.
Lucceius qui multum utitur Bruto narravit illum valde morari non tergiversantem sed exspectantem si qui forte casus.
Lucceius, who is very intimate with Brutus, told me that he is delaying so much not from hesitation, but because he is waiting to see if any chance event might happen.
itaque dubito an Venusiam tendam et ibi exspectem de legionibus.
Therefore I wonder whether I should make for Venusia and wait there for news of the legions.
si aberunt, ut quidam arbitrantur, Hydruntem, si neutrum erit ἀσφαλέσ, eodem revertar.
If they are absent, as some think, I will go to Hydruntum; if neither is safe (ἀσφαλές), I shall return to the same place.
iocari me putas? moriar si quisquam me tenet praeter te.
Do you think I am joking? May I die if anyone holds me back except you.
etenim circumspice, sed ante quam erubesco.
Indeed, look around—but before I blush.
§16.5.4o dies in auspicus Lepidi lepide descriptos et apte ad consilium reditus nostri! magna ῤοπὴ ad proficiscendum in tuis litteris.
Oh, those days so charmingly marked out under the auspices of Lepidus, and so fit for the plan of our return! There is a great weight (ῥοπή) in your letter pushing me to set out.
atque utinam te illic! sed ut conducere putabis.
And would that you were there! But as you think it beneficial.
§16.5.5Nepotis epistulam exspecto.
I am expecting Nepos's letter.
cupidus ille meorum? qui ea quibus maxime γαυριῶ legenda non putet.
Is he desirous of my works? He, who does not think that the very things in which I take the greatest pride (γαυριῶ) should be read.
et ais
"μετ' ἀμύμονα"
tu vero ἀμύμων, ille quidem ἄμβροτοσ.
And you say, "after the blameless one." You indeed are "blameless" (ἀμύμων), while he is indeed "immortal" (ἄμβροτος).
mearum epistularum nulla est συναγωγη; sed habet Tiro instar septuaginta, et quidem sunt a te quaedam sumendae.
There is no collection (συναγωγή) of my letters; but Tiro has about seventy, and indeed some must be obtained from you.
eas ego oportet perspiciam, corrigam; tum denique edentur.
I must look through and correct them; then at last they will be published.