§2.22.1quam vellem Romae mansisses! mansisses profecto si haec fore putassemus.
How I wish you had stayed in Rome! You would certainly have stayed if we had thought that this would happen.
nam Pulchellum nostrum facillime teneremus aut certe quid esset facturus scire possemus.
For we would have easily held our dear little Pulcher, or at least we could have known what he was going to do.
nunc se res sic habet.
Now things stand thus.
volitat, furit; nihil habet certi, multis denuntiat; quod fors obtulerit id acturus videtur; cum videt quo sit in odio status hic rerum, in eos qui haec egerunt impetum facturus videtur; cum autem rursus opes eorum et exercitus recordatur, convertit se in bonos, nobis autem ipsis tum vim tum iudicium minatur. §2.22.2cum hoc Pompeius egit et, ut ad me ipse referebat (alium enim habeo neminem testem), vehementer egit, cum diceret in summa se perfidiae et sceleris infamia fore, si mihi periculum crearetur ab eo quem ipse armasset cum plebeium fieri passus esset; fidem recepisse sibi et ipsum et Appium de me; hanc si ille non servaret, ita laturum ut omnes intellegerent nihil sibi antiquius amicitia nostra fuisse.
He flits about, he rages; he has nothing certain, he threatens many; he seems likely to do whatever chance offers; when he sees in what hatred this state of affairs is held, he seems likely to make an attack on those who have done these things; but when, on the other hand, he remembers their power and armies, he turns himself against the good, and threatens us ourselves now with violence, now with a trial. Pompey has dealt with him, and, as he himself reported to me (for I have no other witness), he dealt vehemently, saying that he would be in the greatest disgrace of treachery and crime if danger were created for me by him whom he himself had armed when he allowed him to become a plebeian; that both he and Appius had given their word to him about me; if he did not keep this, he would bear it in such a way that everyone would understand that nothing had been more precious to him than our friendship.
haec et in eam sententiam cum multa dixisset, aiebat illum primo sane diu multa contra, ad extremum autem manus dedisse et adfirmasse nihil se contra eius voluntatem esse facturum.
When he had said these and many things to that effect, he said that the other at first indeed argued back a lot for a long time, but at last gave in and affirmed that he would do nothing against his will.
sed postea tamen ille non destitit de nobis asperrime loqui.
But afterwards, nevertheless, he did not cease to speak of us in the harshest terms.
quod si non faceret tamen ei nihil crederemus atque omnia, sicut facimus, pararemus. §2.22.3nunc ita nos gerimus ut in dies singulos et studia in nos hominum et opes nostrae augeantur; rem publicam nulla ex parte attingimus, in causis atque in illa opera nostra forensi summa industria versamur; quod egregie non modo iis qui utuntur opera, sed etiam in vulgus gratum esse sentimus.
But even if he were not doing so, we would still believe him in nothing and prepare everything, just as we are doing. Now we conduct ourselves in such a way that day by day both the goodwill of people toward us and our influence are increased; we do not touch the state in any part, we are engaged with the greatest industry in cases and in that forensic work of ours; which we perceive to be remarkably pleasing not only to those who use our services, but even to the common people.
domus celebratur, occurritur, renovatur memoria consulatus, studia significantur; in eam spem adducimur ut nobis ea contentio quae impendet interdum non fugienda videatur. §2.22.4nunc mihi et consiliis opus est tuis et amore et fide.
Our house is crowded, people run to meet us, the memory of our consulship is renewed, support is indicated; we are led into such hope that that struggle which impends sometimes seems to us not to be avoided. Now I have need of both your counsels and your love and fidelity.
qua re advola.
Therefore fly here.
expedita mihi erunt omnia si te habebo.
Everything will be easy for me if I have you.
multa per Varronem nostrum agi possunt quae te urgente erunt firmiora, multa ab ipso Publio elici, multa cognosci quae tibi occulta esse non poterunt, multa etiam—sed absurdum est singula explicare cum ego requiram te ad omnia. §2.22.5unum illud tibi persuadeas velim, omnia mihi fore explicata si te videro; sed totum est in eo si ante quam ille ineat magistratum.
Many things can be done through our Varro which will be firmer with you urging him on; many things can be drawn out from Publius himself, many things learned which cannot be hidden from you; many things also—but it is absurd to explain individual things when I require you for everything. I would wish you to persuade yourself of this one thing, that everything will be clear to me if I see you; but everything depends on this, if it is before he enters upon his office.
puto Pompeium Crasso urgente, si tu aderis qui per βοῶπιν ex ipso intellegere possis qua fide ab illis agatur, nos aut sine molestia aut certe sine errore futuros.
I think that with Crassus urging Pompey, if you are present who can understand from her, through the ox-eyed one, with what faith they are acting, we shall be either without trouble or certainly without error.
precibus nostris et cohortatione non indiges; quid mea voluntas, quid tempus, quid rei magnitudo postulet intellegis. §2.22.6de re publica nihil habeo ad te scribere nisi summum odium omnium hominum in eos qui tenent omnia.
You do not need our prayers and exhortation; you understand what my desire, what the time, what the magnitude of the matter demands. About the republic I have nothing to write to you except the greatest hatred of all men toward those who hold everything.
mutationis tamen spes nulla.
Yet there is no hope of change.
sed, quod facile sentias, taedet ipsum Pompeium vehementerque paenitet.
But, as you may easily perceive, Pompey himself is weary and vehemently repents.
non provideo satis quem exitum futurum putem; sed certe videntur haec aliquo eruptura. §2.22.7libros Alexandri, neglegentis hominis et non boni poetae sed tamen non inutilis, tibi remisi.
I do not foresee enough what end I should think there will be; but certainly these things seem likely to burst out somewhere. I have sent back to you the books of Alexander, a careless man and not a good poet, but yet not useless.
Numerium Numestium libenter accepi in amicitiam et hominem gravem et prudentem et dignum tua commendatione cognovi.
I have gladly received Numerius Numestius into friendship and have found him to be a grave, prudent man, and worthy of your recommendation.