§2.12.1negent illi Publium plebeium factum esse? hoc vero regnum est et ferri nullo pacto potest.
Would they deny that Publius has become a plebeian? This indeed is absolute tyranny and cannot be borne in any way.
emittat ad me Publius qui obsignent; iurabo Gnaeum nostrum, conlegam Balbi, Anti mihi narrasse se in auspicio fuisse.
Let Publius send to me those who are to sign; I will swear that our Gnaeus, the colleague of Balbus, told me at Antium that he had been present at the taking of auspices.
o suavis epistulas tuas uno tempore mihi datas duas! quibus εὐαγγέλια quae reddam nescio; deberi quidem plane fateor.
Oh, your two sweet letters delivered to me at one time! For which I do not know what "good news" to return in exchange; I certainly confess that I am fully in debt.
sed vide συγκύρημα.
But look at this coincidence!
§2.12.2emerseram commodum ex Antiati in Appiam ad Tris Tabernas ipsis Cerialibus, cum in me incurrit Roma veniens Curio meus.
I had just emerged from the Antium estate onto the Appian Way at Three Taverns on the very day of the Cerialia, when my dear Curio met me, coming from Rome.
ibidem ilico puer abs te cum epistulis.
Right there, on the spot, came a boy from you with letters.
ille ex me, nihilne audissem novi.
He asked me if I had heard any news.
ego negare.
I said I had not.
"Publius"
inquit
"tribunatum pl. petit. "
"quid ais?"
"et inimicissimus quidem Caesaris, et ut omnia"
inquit
"ista rescindat.
"Publius," he said, "is seeking the tribunate of the plebs." "What are you saying?" "And indeed as the bitterest enemy of Caesar, and in order to rescind all those measures of yours," he said.
"
"quid Caesar?"
inquam
"negat se quicquam de illius adoptione tulisse. "
deinde suum, Memmi, Metelli Nepotis exprompsit odium.
"What about Caesar?" I said. "He denies that he proposed anything concerning his adoption." Then he poured out his own hatred, and that of Memmius and Metellus Nepos.
complexus iuvenem dimisi properans ad epistulas.
Having embraced the young man, I sent him away, hurrying to my letters.
ubi sunt qui aiunt ζώσησ φωνῆσ? quanto magis vidi ex tuis litteris quam ex illius sermone quid ageretur, de ruminatione cotidiana, de cogitatione Publi, de lituis βοώπιδοσ, de signifero Athenione, de litteris missis ad Gnaeum, de Theophanis Memmique sermone;
Where are those who say that the "living voice" is better? How much more did I see from your letter than from his talk what was going on: about the daily gossip, about the plans of Publius, about the trumpets of the ox-eyed lady, about the standard-bearer Athenio, about the letter sent to Gnaeus, about the conversation of Theophanes and Memmius!
quantam porro mihi exspectationem dedisti convivi istius ἀσελγοῦσ! sum in curiositate ὀξύπεινοσ, sed tamen facile patior te id ad me συμπόσιον non scribere; praesentem audire malo.
Furthermore, what an expectation you have given me of that profligate banquet! I am hunger-pinched with curiosity, but yet I am easily content that you do not write to me about that banquet; I prefer to hear it in person.
§2.12.3quod me ut scribam aliquid hortaris, crescit mihi quidem materies, ut dicis, sed tota res etiam nunc fluctuat, κατ' ὀπώρην τρύξ.
As to your encouraging me to write something, my material is indeed growing, as you say, but the whole matter is even now in a state of flux, like new wine dregs in autumn.
quae si desederit, magis erunt liquata quae scribam.
If this settles down, what I write will be clearer.
quae si statim a me ferre non potueris, primus habebis tamen et aliquamdiu solus.
Even if you cannot get it from me immediately, yet you shall have it first, and for some time alone.
§2.12.4Dicaearchum recte amas; luculentus homo est et civis haud paulo melior quam isti nostri ἀδικαίαρχοι.
You are right to love Dicaearchus; he is a splendid man and a citizen not a little better than those "unjust rulers" of ours.
litteras scripsi hora decima Cerialibus statim ut tuas legeram, sed eas eram daturus, ut putaram, postridie ei qui mihi primus obviam venisset.
I am writing this letter at the tenth hour on the Cerialia, immediately after reading yours, but I was going to give it, as I had thought, on the next day to the first person who came my way.
Terentia delectata est tuis litteris; impertit tibi multam salutem, καὶ Κικέρων ὁ.
Terentia was delighted with your letter; she sends you many greetings, and so does Cicero.