§5.8.1me et incommoda valetudo, e qua iam emerseram utpote cum sine febri laborassem, et Pomptini exspectatio de quo adhuc ne rumor quidem venerat, tenebat duodecimum iam diem Brundisi; sed cursum exspectabamus.
As for me, both my ill health, from which I had already recovered since I had suffered without a fever, and the expectation of Pomptinus, of whom not even a rumor had yet arrived, have been keeping me now for a twelfth day at Brundisium; but we were waiting for a passage.
§5.8.2tu si modo es Romae (vix enim puto), sin es, hoc vehementer animadvertas velim.
If only you are in Rome (for I scarcely think so), but if you are, I would like you to pay earnest attention to this.
Roma acceperam litteras Milonem meum queri per litteras iniuriam meam quod Philotimus socius esset in bonis suis.
I had received letters from Rome stating that my dear Milo complains by letter of my injustice, because Philotimus is a partner in his property.
id ego ita fieri volui de C. Duroni sententia quem et amicissimum Miloni perspexeram et talem virum qualem tu iudicas cognoram.
I wished it to be done in this way on the advice of C. Duronius, whom I had perceived to be a very close friend to Milo and had known to be such a man as you judge him to be.
eius autem consilium meumque hoc fuerat, primum ut in potestate nostra esset res, ne illum malus emptor alienus mancipiis quae permulta secum habet spoliaret, deinde ut Faustae quoi cautum ille esse voluisset ratum esset.
Moreover, his plan and mine had been this: first, that the matter should be in our power, lest a bad stranger as purchaser should despoil him of his slaves, of whom he has a great many with him; secondly, that what he had wished to be secured for Fausta should be ratified.
erat etiam illud ut ipsi nos si quid servari posset quam facillime servaremus.
There was also this object, that we ourselves might most easily preserve whatever could be preserved.
§5.8.3nunc rem totam perspicias velim; nobis enim scribuntur saepe maiora.
Now I would like you to look into the whole matter; for things are often written to us as greater than they are.
si ille queritur, si scribit ad amicos, si idem Fausta vult, Philotimus, ut ego ei coram dixeram mihique ille receperat, ne sit invito Milone in bonis.
If he complains, if he writes to his friends, if Fausta wishes the same, let Philotimus not be in possession of the property against Milo's will, as I had told him to his face and as he had promised me.
nihil nobis fuerat tanti.
Nothing had been of such value to us.
sin haec leviora sunt, tu iudicabis.
But if these matters are of less importance, you will judge.
loquere cum Duronio.
Speak with Duronius.
scripsi etiam ad Camillum, ad Caelium, ad Lamiam eoque magis quod non confidebam Romae te esse.
I have also written to Camillus, to Caelius, and to Lamia, and all the more because I was not confident that you were in Rome.
summa erit haec. statues ut ex fide, fama reque mea videbitur.
This will be the sum of it: you will decide as it shall seem best for my good faith, my reputation, and my interest.