§7.13.1de Vennonianis rebus tibi adsentior.
As to the business of Vennonius, I agree with you.
Labienum ἥρωα iudico.
I judge Labienus to be a hero.
facinus iam diu nullum civile praeclarius, qui, ut aliud nihil, hoc tamen profecit, dedit illi dolorem.
There has been no more glorious civic deed for a long time; he, even if nothing else, has at least accomplished this: he has caused him pain.
sed etiam ad summam profectum aliquid puto.
But I also think some progress has been made for the main cause.
amo etiam Pisonem. cuius iudicium de genero suspicor visum iri grave.
I also like Piso; I suspect his judgment concerning his son-in-law will be seen as grave.
quamquam genus belli quod sit vides.
Although you see what kind of war this is.
ita civile est ut non ex civium dissensione sed ex unius perditi civis audacia natum sit.
It is civil in such a way that it has arisen not from the disagreement of citizens, but from the audacity of a single ruined citizen.
is autem valet exercitu, tenet multos spe et promissis, omnia omnium concupivit.
But he is strong in his army, holds many by hope and promises, and has coveted everything of everyone.
huic tradita urbs est nuda praesidio, referta copiis.
To him has been handed over the city, naked of defense, yet stuffed with supplies.
quid est quod ab eo non metuas qui illa templa et tecta non patriam sed praedam putet? quid autem sit acturus aut quo modo nescio, sine senatu, sine magistratibus.
What is there that you would not fear from a man who considers those temples and dwellings not as his fatherland but as his plunder? But what he is going to do or in what manner, I do not know, without the senate, without magistrates.
ne simulare quidem poterit quicquam πολιτικῶσ.
He will not even be able to pretend anything in a constitutional manner.
nos autem ubi exsurgere poterimus aut quando? quorum dux quam ἀστρατήγητοσ tu quoque animadvertis quoi ne Picena quidem nota fuerint; quam autem sine consilio res testis.
But where or when shall we be able to rise? Our leader, as you also notice, is how unskilful in generalship, since not even the situation in Picenum was known to him; and how lacking in plan, the facts bear witness.
ut enim alia omittam decem annorum peccata, quae condicio non huic fugae praestitit?
For, to omit other errors of the past ten years, what terms would not have been better than this flight?
§7.13.2nec vero nunc quid cogitet scio ac non desino per litteras sciscitari.
Nor indeed do I know now what he is thinking, and I do not cease to inquire by letter.
nihil esse timidius constat, nihil perturbatius.
It is clear that nothing is more timid, nothing more confused than he.
itaque nec praesidium cuius parandi causa ad urbem retentus est nec locum ac sedem praesidi ullam video.
Therefore I see neither any guard, for the sake of preparing which he was kept near the city, nor any place and seat for a guard.
spes omnis in duabus insidiose retentis paene alienis legionibus.
All hope lies in two legions insidiously detained, which are almost alien to us.
nam dilectus adhuc quidem invitorum est et a pugnando abhorrentium; condicionum autem amissum tempus est.
For the levy so far indeed consists of unwilling men who shrink from fighting; and the time for terms has been lost.
quid futurum sit non video; commissum quidem a nobis certe est sive a nostro duce ut e portu sine gubernaculis egressi tempestati nos traderemus.
What is going to happen I do not see; but surely we, or our leader, have brought it about that, having gone out of port without rudders, we have delivered ourselves to the storm.
§7.13.3itaque de Ciceronibus nostris dubito quid agam; nam mihi interdum amandandi videntur in Graeciam; de Tullia autem et Terentia, cum mihi barbarorum adventus proponitur, quinia timeo; cum autem Dolabellae venit in mentem, paulum respiro.
Therefore I hesitate what to do about our young Ciceros; for sometimes it seems to me they ought to be sent away to Greece; but concerning Tullia and Terentia, when the arrival of barbarians is presented to my mind, I fear excessively; but when Dolabella comes to my mind, I breathe a little.
sed velim consideres quid faciendum putes primum πρὸσ τὸ (aliter enim mihi de illis ac de me ipso consulendum est), deinde ad opiniones, ne reprehendamur quod eas Romae velimus esse in communi bonorum fuga.
But I would like you to consider what you think should be done, first in respect to safety—for I must consult for them in a different way than for myself—secondly, in respect to public opinion, lest we be blamed because we wish them to be at Rome during the general flight of the good.
quin etiam tibi et Peducaeo (scripsit enim ad me) quid faciatis videndum est.
Nay, you and Peducaeus must also see what you should do.
is enim splendor est vestrum ut eadem postulentur a vobis quae ab amplissimis civibus.
For such is your social standing that the same things are demanded of you as of the most distinguished citizens.
sed de hoc tu videbis, quippe cum de me ipso ac de meis te considerare velim.
But about this you will see to it yourself, especially since I would like you to consider concerning myself and my family.
§7.13.4reliquum est ut et quid agatur quoad poteris explores scribasque ad me et quid ipse coniectura adsequare; quod etiam a te magis exspecto.
It remains for you to investigate as far as you can what is going on and write to me, and also what you yourself reach by conjecture; which indeed I expect even more from you.
nam acta omnibus nuntiantibus a te exspecto futura.
For while everyone reports what has happened, I expect from you what is to come.
"μάντισ δ'"
loquacitati ignosces, quae et me levat ad te quidem scribentem et elicit tuas litteras.
"But a prophet..." You will forgive my talkativeness, which both relieves me as I write to you, and draws forth your letters.
aenigma plane non intellexi; est enim numero Platonis obscurius.
I plainly did not understand that riddle; for it is more obscure than Plato's number.