§5.17.1accepi Roma sine epistula tua fasciculum litterarum; in quo, si modo valuisti et Romae fuisti, Philotimi duco esse culpam, non tuam.
I received from Rome a packet of letters without a letter from you; in which matter, if only you were well and were in Rome, I reckon it to be the fault of Philotimus, not yours.
haud epistulam dictavi sedens in raeda, cum in castra proficiscerer a quibus aberam bidui.
I did not dictate a letter sitting in my carriage, when I was setting out for the camp from which I was two days' journey away.
paucis diebus habebam certos homines quibus darem litteras.
In a few days I was to have reliable men to whom I might give a letter.
itaque eo me servavi.
Therefore, I saved myself for that opportunity.
§5.17.2nos tamen, etsi hoc te ex aliis audire malo, sic in provincia nos gerimus, quod ad abstinentiam attinet, ut nullus terruncius insumatur in quemquam.
Nevertheless, although I prefer you to hear this from others, we conduct ourselves in the province in such a manner, as far as self-restraint is concerned, that not a single terruncius is spent on anyone.
id fit etiam et legatorum et tribunorum et praefectorum diligentia; nam omnes mirifice συμφιλοδοξοῦσιν gloriae meae.
This is also achieved by the diligence of the legates, tribunes, and prefects; for they all wonderfully share my ambition (συμφιλοδοξοῦσιν) for my glory.
Lepta noster mirificus est.
Our Lepta is wonderful.
sed nunc propero.
But now I am in a hurry.
perscribam ad te paucis diebus omnia.
I will write everything to you in detail in a few days.
§5.17.3Cicerones nostros Deiotarus filius, qui rex ab senatu appellatus est, secum in regnum.
Our young Ciceros, the son of Deiotarus, who was styled king by the senate, [has taken] with him into his kingdom.
dum in aestivis nos essemus, illum pueris locum esse bellissimum duximus.
While we were in summer quarters, we thought that place would be the most delightful for the boys.
§5.17.4Sestius ad me scripsit quae tecum esset de mea domestica et maxima cura locutus et quid tibi esset visum.
Sestius wrote to me what he had spoken with you about my domestic and greatest anxiety, and what seemed best to you.
amabo te, incumbe in eam rem et ad me scribe quid et possit et tu censeas.
Please, apply yourself to that matter, and write to me what is possible and what you think.
§5.17.5idem scripsit Hortensium de proroganda nostra provincia dixisse nescio quid.
The same person wrote that Hortensius had said something or other about prolonging our governorship.
mihi in Cumano diligentissime se ut annui essemus defensurum receperat.
He had promised me at his villa at Cumae that he would defend with the utmost diligence our staying for only a year.
si quicquam me amas, hunc locum muni.
If you love me at all, fortify this position.
dici non potest quam invitus a vobis absim; et simul hanc gloriam iustitiae et abstinentiae fore inlustriorem spero si cito decesserimus, id quod Scaevolae contigit qui solos novem mensis Asiae praefuit.
It cannot be told how unwillingly I am away from you all; and at the same time I hope that this glory of justice and self-restraint will be more illustrious if we depart quickly, which was the fortune of Scaevola, who governed Asia for only nine months.
§5.17.6Appius noster cum me adventare videret, profectus est Tarsum usque Laodicea.
Our Appius, when he saw that I was approaching, departed from Laodicea all the way to Tarsus.
ibi forum agit, cum ego sim in provincia.
There he holds court, although I am in the province.
quam eius iniuriam non insector.
I do not pursue this injustice of his.
satis enim habeo negoti in sanandis vulneribus quae sunt imposita provinciae; quod do operam ut faciam quam minima cum illius contumelia.
For I have enough business in healing the wounds which have been inflicted on the province; which I take care to do with as little insult to him as possible.
sed hoc Bruto nostro velim dicas, illum fecisse non belle qui adventu meo quam longissime potuerit discesserit.
But I would like you to tell our Brutus that he did not behave handsomely in departing as far as possible upon my arrival.