§2.14.1quantam tu mihi moves exspectationem de sermone Bibuli, quantam de colloquio βοώπιδοσ, quantam etiam de illo delicato convivio! proinde ita fac venias ut ad sitientis auris.
What great expectations you raise in me about the speech of Bibulus, what expectations about the conversation with the "ox-eyed" woman, and what expectations also about that luxurious banquet! Therefore, make sure you come as if to thirsty ears.
quamquam nihil est iam quod magis timendum nobis putem quam ne ille noster Sampsiceramus, quom se omnium sermonibus sentiet vapulare et quom has actiones εὐανατρέπτουσ videbit, ruere incipiat.
Although I think there is nothing now more to be feared by us than that our friend Sampsiceramus, when he feels himself lashed by everyone's gossip and when he sees these measures to be easily overturned, should begin to ruin himself.
ego autem usque eo sum enervatus ut hoc otio quo nunc tabescimus malim ἐντυραννεῖσθαι quam cum optima spe dimicare.
As for me, I am so weakened that I would rather be ruled by a tyrant in this leisure in which we are now wasting away than fight with the best of hopes.
§2.14.2de pangendo quod me crebro adhortaris, fieri nihil potest.
As to the writing about which you frequently exhort me, nothing can be done.
basilicam habeo non villam frequentia Formianorum †ad quam partem basilicae tribum Aemiliam†.
I have a public hall rather than a villa because of the crowd of Formians †at which part of the hall the Aemilian tribe†.
sed omitto vulgus; post horam quartam molesti ceteri non sunt.
But I pass over the common crowd; after the fourth hour the rest are not troublesome.
C. Arrius proximus est vicinus, immo ille quidem iam contubernalis, qui etiam se idcirco Romam ire negat ut hic mecum totos dies philosophetur.
C. Arrius is my nearest neighbor, or rather indeed now my tent-companion, who even says he is not going to Rome for the very purpose of philosophizing here with me whole days.
ecce ex altera parte Sebosus, ille Catuli familiaris.
Look, on the other side is Sebosus, that friend of Catulus.
quo me vertam? statim me hercule Arpinum irem, ni te in Formiano commodissime exspectari viderem dumtaxat ad pr. Nonas Maias; vides enim quibus hominibus aures sint deditae meae.
Whither shall I turn? By Hercules, I would go to Arpinum at once, were I not seeing that you are most conveniently expected in the Formian villa at least until the day before the Nones of May; for you see to what kind of men my ears are abandoned.
O occasionem mirificam, si qui nunc dum hi apud me sunt emere de me fundum Formianum velit! et tamen illud probem:
"magnum quid adgrediamur et multae cogitationis atque oti"
? sed tamen satis fiet a nobis neque parcetur labori.
O what a wonderful opportunity, if anyone should wish to buy the Formian estate from me now while these men are with me! And yet, should I approve of that saying: "Let us attempt something great, and of much thought and leisure"? But yet, satisfaction will be made by me, nor will labor be spared.