§6.8.1cum instituissem ad te scribere calamumque sumpsissem, Batonius e navi recta ad me venit domum Ephesi et epistulam tuam reddidit pridie Kal. Octobris.
When I had resolved to write to you and had taken up my pen, Batonius came straight to my house at Ephesus from his ship and delivered your letter on the day before the Kalends of October.
laetatus sum felicitate navigationis tuae, opportunitate Piliae, etiam hercule sermone eiusdem de coniugio Tulliae meae.
I rejoiced at the success of your voyage, the opportuneness for Pilia, and also, by Hercules, at her conversation about the marriage of my Tullia.
§6.8.2Batonius autem meros terrores ad me attulit Caesarianos, cum Lepta etiam plura locutus est, spero falsa, sed certe horribilia, exercitum nullo modo dimissurum, cum illo praetores designatos, Cassium tribunum pl. , Lentulum consulem facere, Pompeio in animo esse urbem relinquere.
Batonius, however, brought me sheer terrors concerning Caesar's party; he spoke even more to Lepta—I hope they are false, but certainly they are horrible—that Caesar would by no means dismiss his army, that the praetors-designate, Cassius the tribune of the plebs, and Lentulus the consul were on his side, and that Pompey had it in mind to abandon the city.
§6.8.3sed heus tu! numquid moleste fers de illo qui se solet anteferre patruo sororis tuae fili? at a quibus victus! sed ad rem.
But look here! Are you at all annoyed about that man who is accustomed to prefer himself to the uncle of your sister’s son? But by what rivals was he defeated! But to business.
§6.8.4nos etesiae vehementissime tardarunt; detraxit xx ipsos dies etiam aphractus Rhodiorum.
The Etesian winds delayed us most severely; the open boat of the Rhodians also took away exactly twenty days.
Kal. Octobr. Epheso conscendentes hanc epistulam dedimus L. Tarquitio simul e portu egredienti sed expeditius naviganti.
Embarking at Ephesus on the Kalends of October, we gave this letter to L. Tarquitius, who was leaving the port at the same time but sailing more expeditiously.
nos Rhodiorum aphractis ceterisque longis navibus tranquillitates aucupaturi eramus; ita tamen properabamus ut non posset magis.
We were intending to watch for calm weather in the open boats of the Rhodians and other warships; yet we were in such a hurry that it was impossible to be more so.
§6.8.5de raudusculo Puteolano gratum.
As to the small debt at Puteoli, thank you.
nunc velim dispicias res Romanas, videas quid nobis de triumpho cogitandum putes ad quem amici me vocant.
Now I would like you to look into Roman affairs, and see what you think we ought to decide about the triumph to which my friends are inviting me.
ego nisi Bibulus qui, dum unus hostis in Syria fuit, pedem porta non plus extulit quam domo sua, adniteretur de triumpho, aequo animo essem.
For my part, if Bibulus—who, as long as there was a single enemy in Syria, did not set foot out of his gate any more than out of his own house—were not striving for a triumph, I should be indifferent.
nunc vero αἰσχρὸν.
But as it is, it is truly shameful.
sed explora rem totam, ut quo die congressi erimus consilium capere possimus.
But investigate the whole matter, so that we may be able to form a plan on the day we meet.
sat multa, qui et properarem et ei litteras darem qui aut mecum aut paulo ante venturus esset.
This is enough, seeing that I am both in a hurry and giving my letter to one who is likely to arrive either with me or a little before me.
Cicero tibi plurimam salutem dicit.
Cicero sends you his warmest regards.
tu dices utriusque nostrum verbis et Piliae tuae et filiae.
You will say hello in the words of both of us to your Pilia and your daughter.