§6.4.1Tarsum venimus Nonis Iuniis.
We arrived at Tarsus on the Nones of June.
ibi me multa moverunt, magnum in Syria bellum, magna in Cilicia latrocinia, mihi difficilis ratio administrandi, quod paucos dies habebam reliquos annui muneris, illud autem difficillimum, relinquendus erat ex senatus consulto qui praeesset.
There many things disturbed me: a great war in Syria, great brigandage in Cilicia, a difficult method of administration for me because I had only a few days left of my annual office, and, what was most difficult of all, someone had to be left in charge according to the decree of the senate.
nihil minus probari poterat quam quaestor Mescinius. nam de Coelio nihil audiebamus.
Nothing could be less acceptable than the quaestor Mescinius; for we heard nothing of Coelius.
rectissimum videbatur fratrem cum imperio relinquere; in quo multa molesta, discessus noster, belli periculum, militum improbitas, sescenta praeterea.
It seemed most proper to leave my brother with military command; in which there were many troublesome things: our separation, the danger of war, the insubordination of the soldiers, and a thousand other things.
o rem totam odiosam! sed haec fortuna viderit, quoniam consilio non multum uti licet.
Oh, what a thoroughly hateful business! But let Fortune see to these things, since there is little room for planning.
§6.4.2tu quando Romam salvus ut spero venisti, videbis, ut soles, omnia quae intelleges nostra interesse, imprimis de Tullia mea, cuius de condicione quid mihi placeret scripsi ad Terentiam cum tu in Graecia esses; deinde de honore nostro.
When you have arrived safe in Rome, as I hope you have, you will, as is your custom, look after everything which you understand to be of interest to me, especially about my dear Tullia, concerning whose match I wrote to Terentia what would please me when you were in Greece; next, about my honor.
quod enim tu afuisti, vereor ut satis diligenter actum in senatu sit de litteris meis.
For because you were absent, I fear that my letters have not been dealt with in the senate with sufficient care.
illud praeterea μυστικώτερον ad te scribam, tu sagacius a odorabere.
Besides, I will write the following matter to you in a rather mystical way, and you will scent it out with your usual sagacity.
τῆσ δάμαρτόσ μου ὁ ἀπελεύθεροσ (οἶσθα ὃν) ἔδοξέ μοι πρώην, ἐξ ὧν ἀλογευόμενος παρεφθέγγετο, πεφυρακέναι τὰσ ψήφουσ ἐκ τῆσ ὠνῆσ τῶν ὑπαρχόντων τῶν τοῦ † νοήσῃς.
My wife's freedman (you know whom I mean) seemed to me lately, from the incoherent things he blurted out, to have cooked the accounts in the purchase of the property of † (you will understand) †.
† εἷσ δήπου.
One of them, of course.
non queo tantum quantum vereor scribere; tu autem fac ut mihi tuae litterae volent obviae.
I cannot write as much as I fear; but do you take care that your letters fly to meet me.
haec festinans scripsi in itinere atque agmine.
I have written this in haste on my journey and on the march.
Piliae et puellae Caeciliae bellissimae salutem dices.
Give my greetings to Pilia and to the sweetest girl, Caecilia.