§2.21.1de re publica quid ego tibi subtiliter? tota periit atque hoc est miserior quam reliquisti, quod tum videbatur eius modi dominatio civitatem oppressisse quae iucunda esset multitudini, bonis autem ita molesta ut tamen sine pernicie, nunc repente tanto in odio est omnibus ut quorsus eruptura sit horreamus.
What should I write to you in detail about the republic? It has completely perished, and is more miserable in this respect than when you left it, because then a tyranny of such a kind seemed to have oppressed the state as was pleasing to the multitude, but to the good, though annoying, yet without destruction; now suddenly it is in such hatred to all that we shudder at whither it is going to burst out.
nam iracundiam atque intemperantiam illorum sumus experti qui Catoni irati omnia perdiderunt, sed ita lenibus uti videbantur venenis ut posse videremur sine dolore interire; nunc vero sibilis vulgi, sermonibus honestorum, fremitu Italiae vereor ne exarserint.
For we have experienced the anger and intemperance of those who, angry with Cato, have ruined everything, but they seemed to use such mild poisons that we seemed to be able to die without pain; now indeed, by the hissing of the crowd, the talk of the respectable, and the roar of Italy, I fear lest they have flared up.
§2.21.2equidem sperabam, ut saepe etiam loqui tecum solebam, sic orbem rei publicae esse conversum ut vix sonitum audire, vix impressam orbitam videre possemus; et fuisset ita, si homines transitum tempestatis exspectare potuissent.
For my part, I was hoping, as I was also often accustomed to talk with you, that the wheel of the republic was turned in such a way that we could scarcely hear its sound, scarcely see its impressed track; and it would have been so, if men could have waited for the passing of the storm.
sed cum diu occulte suspirassent, postea iam gemere, ad extremum vero loqui omnes et clamare coeperunt.
But when they had long sighed in secret, afterwards they began to groan, and at last all began to speak and cry out.
§2.21.3itaque ille noster amicus insolens infamiae, semper in laude versatus, circumfluens gloria, deformatus corpore, fractus animo, quo se conferat nescit; progressum praecipitem, inconstantem reditum videt; bonos inimicos habet, improbos ipsos non amicos.
And so that friend of ours, unaccustomed to ill repute, always lived in praise, overflowing with glory, disfigured in body, broken in spirit, knows not whither to turn; he sees a headlong progress, an unstable return; he has the good as enemies, and the wicked themselves not as friends.
ac vide mollitiem animi.
And see the softness of my mind.
non tenui lacrimas cum illum a. d. viii Kal. Sextilis vidi de edictis Bibuli contionantem.
I did not hold back my tears when I saw him on the eighth day before the Kalends of August making a speech about the edicts of Bibulus.
qui antea solitus esset iactare se magnificentissime illo in loco summo cum amore populi, cunctis faventibus, ut ille tum humilis, ut demissus erat, ut ipse etiam sibi, non iis solum qui aderant, displicebat!
He who was previously accustomed to boast most magnificently in that place with the greatest love of the people, all favoring him—how humble, how downcast he was then, how he displeased even himself, not only those who were present!
§2.21.4o spectaculum uni Crasso iucundum, ceteris non item! nam quia deciderat ex astris, lapsus potius quam progressus videbatur, et, ut Apelles si Venerem, aut Protogenes si Ialysum illum suum caeno oblitum videret, magnum, credo, acciperet dolorem, sic ego hunc omnibus a me pictum et politum artis coloribus subito deformatum non sine magno dolore vidi.
O spectacle pleasing to Crassus alone, but not so to the rest! For because he had fallen from the stars, he seemed to have slipped rather than progressed, and, just as Apelles, if he saw Venus, or Protogenes, if he saw his famous Ialysus covered in mud, would, I believe, receive great pain, so I saw this man, painted and polished by me with all the colors of art, suddenly disfigured, not without great pain.
quamquam nemo putabat propter Clodianum negotium me illi amicum esse debere, tamen tantus fuit amor ut exhauriri nulla posset iniuria.
Although no one thought that because of the Clodian business I ought to be a friend to him, yet so great was my love that it could be exhausted by no injury.
itaque Archilochia in illum edicta Bibuli populo ita sunt iucunda ut eum locum ubi proponuntur prae multitudine eorum qui legunt transire nequeamus, ipsi ita acerba ut tabescat dolore, mihi me hercule molesta, quod et eum quem semper dilexi nimis excruciant et timeo tam vehemens vir tamque acer in ferro et tam insuetus contumeliae ne omni animi impetu dolori et iracundiae pareat.
And so Bibulus's Archilochian edicts against him are so pleasing to the people that we cannot pass the place where they are posted because of the multitude of those who read them, but to him they are so bitter that he wastes away with pain, and to me, by Hercules, they are annoying, because they both torment too much him whom I have always loved, and I fear lest a man so vehement, so sharp with the sword, and so unaccustomed to insult, should yield to pain and anger with all the force of his mind.
§2.21.5Bibuli qui sit exitus futurus nescio.
What the end of Bibulus will be, I know not.
ut nunc res se habet, admirabili gloria est.
As things now stand, he is in wonderful glory.
qui cum comitia in mensem Octobrem distulisset, quod solet ea res populi voluntatem offendere, putarat Caesar oratione sua posse impelli contionem ut iret ad Bibulum; multa cum seditiosissime diceret, vocem exprimere non potuit.
When he had postponed the elections to the month of October, which matter usually offends the will of the people, Caesar had thought that by his speech the assembly could be driven to go against Bibulus; although he said many things most seditiously, he could not squeeze out a voice.
quid quaeris? sentiunt se nullam ullius partis voluntatem tenere.
What more do you ask? They feel that they hold the goodwill of no party.
eo magis vis nobis est timenda.
Therefore, violence is all the more to be feared by us.
§2.21.6Clodius inimicus est nobis.
Clodius is an enemy to us.
Pompeius confirmat eum nihil esse facturum contra me.
Pompey assures me that he will do nothing against me.
mihi periculosum est credere, ad resistendum me paro.
It is dangerous for me to believe; I prepare myself for resistance.
studia spero me summa habiturum omnium ordinum.
I hope I shall have the greatest enthusiasm of all orders.
te cum ego desidero, tum vero res ad tempus illud vocat.
Not only do I miss you, but indeed the situation calls you for that time.
plurimum consili, animi, praesidi denique mihi, si te ad tempus videro, accesserit.
The greatest amount of counsel, of courage, and finally of protection will be added to me, if I see you at that time.
Varro mihi satis facit.
Varro satisfies me.
Pompeius loquitur divinitus.
Pompey speaks divinely.
spero nos aut cum summa gloria aut certe sine molestia discessuros.
I hope we shall depart either with the highest glory or at least without trouble.
tu quid agas, quem ad modum te oblectes, quid cum Sicyoniis egeris ut sciam cura.
Take care that I may know what you are doing, how you amuse yourself, and what you have done with the Sicyonians.