§16.6.1ego adhuc (perveni enim Vibonem ad Siccam) magis commode quam strenue navigavi; remis enim magnam partem, prodromi nulli.
I have so far (for I have reached Vibon to Sicca) sailed more comfortably than vigorously; for with oars for the most part, and there were no north-east winds (prodromi).
illud satis opportune, duo sinus fuerunt quos tramitti oporteret, Paestanus et Vibonensis. utrumque pedibus aequis tramisimus.
This was fortunate enough: there were two gulfs which had to be crossed, the Paestan and the Vibonensian, both of which we crossed with favorable winds.
veni igitur ad Siccam octavo die e Pompeiano, cum unum diem Veliae constitissem; ubi quidem fui sane libenter apud Thalnam nostrum nec potui accipi, illo absente praesertim, liberalius.
So I came to Sicca on the eighth day from Pompeii, after I had stayed one day at Velia; where indeed I stayed very gladly with our friend Thalna, and could not, especially in his absence, have been received more generously.
viiii Kal. igitur ad Siccam.
So on the 9th day before the Kalends (of August) to Sicca.
ibi tamquam domi meae scilicet.
There indeed as if in my own home, of course.
itaque obduxi posterum diem.
And so I spent the following day.
sed putabam, cum Regium venissem, fore ut illic
"δολιχὸν πλόον"
cogitaremus corbitane Patras an actuariolis ad Leucopetram Tarentinorum atque inde Corcyram et, si oneraria, statimne freto an Syracusis.
But I thought that, when I had come to Regium, it would happen that we should consider there "δολιχὸν πλόον" —whether to Patrae by merchant ship, or by light boats to Leucopetra of the Tarentines and thence to Corcyra, and, if by cargo ship, whether straight through the strait or from Syracuse.
hac super re scribam ad te Regio.
On this matter I shall write to you from Regium.
§16.6.2me hercule, mi Attice, saepe mecum,
"ἡ"
cur ego tecum non sum? cur ocellos Italiae, villulas meas, non video? sed id satis superque tecum me non esse, quid fugientem? periculumne? at id nunc quidem, nisi fallor, nullum est.
By Hercules, my Atticus, often to myself, "ἡ" "Why am I not with you? Why do I not see the eyes of Italy, my little villas?" But that is enough and more than enough, that I am not with you—what, fleeing? Danger? But indeed now, unless I am mistaken, there is none.
ad ipsum enim revocat me auctoritas tua; scribis enim in caelum ferri profectionem meam sed ita si ante K. Ianuar. redeam; quod quidem certe enitar.
For your authority recalls me to that very point; for you write that my departure is praised to the skies, but only if I return before the Kalends of January; which indeed I shall certainly strive to do.
malo enim vel cum timore domi esse quam sine timore Athenis tuis.
For I prefer to be at home even with fear, than without fear in your Athens.
sed tamen perspice quo ista vergant mihique aut scribe aut, quod multo malim, adfer ipse.
But yet observe where those things are tending, and either write to me or, what I should much prefer, bring the news yourself.
haec hactenus.
So much for this.
§16.6.3illud velim in bonam partem accipias me agere tecum quod tibi maiori curae sciam esse quam ipsi mihi.
I would wish you to take it in good part that I am discussing with you what I know is of greater care to you than to myself.
nomina mea, per deos, expedi, exsolve.
Settle my accounts, by the gods, and pay them off.
bella reliqua reliqui; sed opus est diligentia coheredibus pro Cluviano Kal. Sextil.
I left beautiful balances; but there is need of diligence so that payment may be made to the co-heirs for the Cluvian property by the Kalends of August.
persolutum ut sit. cum Publilio quo modo agendum sit videbis.
You will see how to deal with Publilius.
non debet urgere, quoniam iure non utimur.
He ought not to press, since we are not standing on our legal rights.
sed tamen ei quoque satis fieri plane volo.
But yet I wish him too to be fully satisfied.
Terentiae vero quid ego dicam? etiam ante diem, si potes.
As for Terentia, indeed, what should I say? Even before the day, if you can.
quin si, ut spero, celeriter in Epirum, hoc quod satis dato debeo peto a te ut ante provideas planeque expedias et solutum relinquas.
Indeed, if, as I hope, you go quickly to Epirus, I beg of you to look out beforehand for this which I owe on security, and completely settle it and leave it paid.
sed de his satis, metuoque ne tu nimium putes.
But enough of this, and I fear lest you think it too much.
§16.6.4nunc neglegentiam meam cognosce.
Now learn of my negligence.
"de gloria"
librum ad te misi.
"de gloria" I sent you the book.
at in eo prohoemium idem est quod in Academico tertio.
But in it the introduction is the same as in the third book of the Academics.
id evenit ob eam rem quod habeo volumen prohoemiorum.
That happened because I have a volume of introductions.
ex eo eligere soleo cum aliquod σύγγραμα institui.
I usually choose from it when I have begun some treatise.
itaque iam in Tusculano, qui non meminissem me abusum isto prohoemio, conieci id in eum librum quem tibi misi.
And so, when I was at Tusculum, as I did not remember that I had already used that introduction, I put it into that book which I sent you.
cum autem in navi legerem Academicos, adgnovi erratum meum.
But when I was reading the Academics on board ship, I recognized my mistake.
itaque statim novum prohoemium exaravi et tibi misi.
And so I immediately scribbled a new introduction and sent it to you.
tu illud desecabis, hoc adglutinabis.
You will cut that one out, and glue this one in.
Piliae salutem dices et Atticae, deliciis atque amoribus meis.
Give my greetings to Pilia and to Attica, my darling and my love.