§2.20.1Anicato, ut te velle intellexeram, nullo loco defui.
For Anicatus, as I had understood you to wish, I was in no place wanting.
Numestium ex litteris tuis studiose scriptis libenter in amicitiam recepi.
Numestius, because of your zealously written letter, I have gladly received into friendship.
Caecilium quibus rebus possum tueor diligenter.
Caecilius, in what ways I can, I protect diligently.
Varro satis facit nobis.
Varro satisfies us.
Pompeius amat nos carosque habet.
Pompey loves us and holds us dear.
"credis?"
inquies.
"Do you believe it?" you will say.
credo; prorsus mihi persuadet;
I believe it; he completely convinces me.
sed quia volgo pragmatici homines omnibus historiis, praeceptis, versibus denique cavere iubent et vetant credere, alterum facio ut caveam, alterum ut non credam facere non possum.
But because practical men commonly, by all histories, precepts, and finally verses, bid us be on our guard and forbid us to believe, I do the one so that I am on my guard, but the other, not to believe, I cannot bring myself to do.
§2.20.2Clodius adhuc mihi denuntiat periculum.
Clodius still threatens me with danger.
Pompeius adfirmat non esse periculum, adiurat; addit etiam se prius occisum iri ab eo quam me violatum iri.
Pompey affirms there is no danger, and swears to it; he even adds that he himself will be killed by him before I am harmed.
tractatur res.
The matter is being dealt with.
simul et quid erit certi, scribam ad te.
At the same time, as soon as there is anything certain, I will write to you.
si erit pugnandum, arcessam ad societatem laboris; si quies dabitur, ab Amalthea te non commovebo.
If there is to be fighting, I shall summon you to share the labor; if quiet is given, I shall not move you from your Amalthea.
§2.20.3de re publica breviter ad te scribam; iam enim charta ipsa ne nos prodat pertimesco.
About the republic I shall write to you briefly; for indeed I now fear lest the paper itself betray us.
itaque posthac, si erunt mihi plura ad te scribenda, ἀλληγορίαισ obscurabo.
Therefore hereafter, if I have more things to write to you, I shall obscure them with allegories.
nunc quidem novo quodam morbo civitas moritur, ut, cum omnes ea quae sunt acta improbent, querantur, doleant, varietas nulla in re sit, aperteque loquantur et iam, clare gemant, tamen medicina nulla adferatur.
Now indeed the state is dying of a certain new disease, so that, although everyone disapproves of, complains of, and grieves over what has been done, and there is no disagreement on any point, and they speak openly and now groan clearly, yet no remedy is applied.
neque enim resisti sine internecione posse arbitramur nec videmus qui finis cedendi praeter exitium futurus sit.
For indeed we do not think resistance can be made without annihilation, nor do we see what end of yielding there will be except destruction.
§2.20.4Bibulus hominum admiratione et benevolentia in caelo est; edicta eius et contiones describunt et legunt.
Bibulus, by the admiration and goodwill of men, is in heaven; they copy out and read his edicts and speeches.
novo quodam genere in summam gloriam venit.
He has come into the highest glory by a certain new method.
populare nunc nihil tam est quam odium popularium.
Nothing is now so popular as hatred of the populares.
haec quo sint eruptura timeo; sed si dispicere quid coepero scribam ad te apertius.
Whither these things are going to burst out, I fear; but if I begin to discern anything, I shall write to you more openly.
tu si me amas tantum quantum profecto amas, expeditus facito ut sis si inclamaro ut accurras; sed do operam et dabo ne sit necesse.
If you love me as much as indeed you do, make sure that you are ready, so that if I call out, you may run to help; but I am taking care, and shall take care, that it may not be necessary.
quod scripseram †et† Furio scripturum, nihil necesse est tuum nomen mutare; me faciam Laelium et te Atticum neque utar meo chirographo neque signo, si modo erunt eius modi litterae quas in alienum incidere nolim.
As to what I had written that I would write to Furius too, there is no necessity to change your name; I shall make myself Laelius and you Atticus, and I shall use neither my own handwriting nor my seal, provided the letters are of such a kind that I would not want them to fall into a stranger's hands.
§2.20.6Diodotus mortuus est; reliquit nobis HS fortasse †centiens†.
Diodotus is dead; he has left us perhaps ten million sesterces.
comitia Bibulus cum Archilochio edicto in ante diem xv Kal. Novembr. distulit.
Bibulus, by an Archilochian edict, has postponed the elections to the fifteenth day before the Kalends of November.
a Vibio libros accepi. poeta ineptus et tamen scit nihil, sed est non inutilis.
I have received some books from Vibius; he is a clumsy poet, and yet he knows nothing, but he is not useless.
describo et remitto.
I am copying them and sending them back.