§3.17.1de Quinto fratre nuntii nobis tristes nec varii venerant ex ante diem III non. Iun. usque ad prid. Kal. Sept.
Sad and consistent news about my brother Quintus had come to us from the third day before the Nones of June up to the day before the Kalends of September.
eo autem die Livineius L. Reguli libertus ad me a Regulo missus venit.
On that day, however, Livineius, a freedman of Lucius Regulus, sent by Regulus, came to me.
is omnino mentionem nullam factam esse nuntiavit sed fuisse tamen sermonem de C. Clodi filio isque mihi †qm a fratre litteras attulit.
He reported that absolutely no mention had been made, but that there had nevertheless been talk about the son of Gaius Clodius, and he brought me a letter from my brother.
sed postridie Sesti pueri venerunt qui a te litteras attulerunt non tam exploratas a timore quam sermo Livinei fuerat.
But on the following day, Sestius's boys came, who brought a letter from you that was not so free from fear as Livineius's talk had been.
sane sum in meo infinito maerore sollicitus et eo magis quod Appi quaestio est.
Indeed, I am anxious in my infinite grief, and all the more so because there is the inquiry of Appius.
§3.17.2cetera quae ad me eisdem litteris scribis de nostra spe, intellego esse languidiora quam alii ostendunt.
As for the other things about our hope that you write to me in the same letter, I understand that they are weaker than others show them to be.
ego autem quoniam non longe ab eo tempore absumus in quo res diiudicabitur, aut ad te conferam me aut etiam nunc circum haec loca commorabor.
But since we are not far from that time in which the matter will be decided, I shall either betake myself to you or remain even now around these places.
§3.17.3scribit ad me frater omnia sua per te unum sustineri.
My brother writes to me that all his affairs are sustained by you alone.
quid te aut horter quod facis, aut agam gratias quod non exspectas? tantum velim fortuna det nobis potestatem ut incolumes amore nostro perfruamur.
Why should I either exhort you to do what you are doing, or thank you for what you do not expect? I only wish that fortune would give us the opportunity to enjoy our love in safety.
tuas litteras semper maxime exspecto; in quibus cave vereare ne aut diligentia tua mihi molesta aut veritas acerba sit.
I always look forward to your letters most of all; in them, beware of fearing lest either your diligence be troublesome to me or the truth be bitter.
data pr. Nonas Sept.
Given on the day before the Nones of September.