§7.18.1IIII Non. Febr. mulieres nostrae Formias venerunt tuaque erga se officia plena tui suavissimi studi ad me pertulerunt.
On February 2, our women came to Formiae and brought me word of your services toward them, full of your sweetest affection.
eas ego, quoad sciremus utrum turpi pace nobis an misero bello esset utendum, in Formiano esse volui et una Cicerones.
I wished them to remain in my Formian villa until we should know whether we must use a shameful peace or a wretched war, and the Cicerones along with them.
ipse cum fratre Capuam ad consules (Nonis enim adesse iussi sumus) iii Nonas profectus sum, cum has litteras dedi.
I myself with my brother set out for Capua to the consuls (for we were ordered to be present on February 5) on February 3, when I gave this letter.
responsa Pompei grata populo et probata contioni esse dicuntur.
Pompey's replies are said to be pleasing to the people and approved by the assembly.
ita putaram.
I had thought so.
quae quidem ille si repudiarit, iacebit; si acceperit—.
If indeed he rejects them, he will fall; if he accepts them—.
"utrum igitur"
inquies
"mavis?"
responderem, si quem ad modum parati essemus scirem.
"Which, then," you will say, "do you prefer?" I would answer if I knew how prepared we were.
§7.18.2Cassium erat hic auditum expulsum Ancona eamque urbem a nobis teneri.
It was heard here that Cassius had been expelled from Ancona, and that this city is held by our men.
si bellum futurum est, negotium utile.
If there is to be war, this is a useful business.
Caesarem quidem L. Caesare cum mandatis de pace misso tamen aiunt acerrime dilectum habere, loca occupare, vincire praesidiis.
Indeed, they say that although Lucius Caesar was sent with instructions for peace, Caesar is nevertheless conducting a levy most actively, occupying positions, and securing them with garrisons.
o perditum latronem! o vix ullo otio compensandam hanc rei publicae turpitudinem! sed stomachari desinamus, tempori pareamus, cum Pompeio in Hispaniam eamus.
Oh, abandoned robber! Oh, this disgrace to the republic, which can scarcely be compensated for by any peace! But let us cease to be angry, let us yield to the time, let us go with Pompey to Spain.
haec optima in malis, quoniam illius alterum consulatum a re publica ne data quidem occasione reppulimus.
This is the best course among evils, since we have rejected his second consulship from the state, without even giving him an opportunity.
sed haec hactenus.
But enough of this.
§7.18.3de Dionysio fugit me ad te antea scribere; sed ita constitui, exspectare responsa Caesaris, ut, si ad urbem rediremus, ibi nos exspectaret, sin tardius id fieret, tum eum arcesseremus.
Concerning Dionysius, it escaped me to write to you before; but I have decided thus, to wait for Caesar's replies, so that if we should return to the city, he should expect us there, but if that should be delayed, then we would summon him.
omnino quid ille facere debuerit in nostra illa fuga, quid docto homine et amico dignum fuerit, cum praesertim rogatus esset, scio, sed haec non nimis exquiro a Graecis.
Altogether, what he ought to have done in that flight of ours, what would have been worthy of a learned man and a friend, especially when he had been asked, I know, but I do not require too much of these things from Greeks.
tu tamen videbis, si erit, quod nolim, arcessendus, ne molesti simus invito.
Yet you will see to it, if he must be summoned—which I would not wish—that we do not become troublesome to him against his will.
§7.18.4Quintus frater laborat ut tibi quod debet ab Egnatio solvat; nec Egnatio voluntas deest nec parum locuples est, sed cum tale tempus sit ut Q. Titinius (multum enim est nobiscum) viaticum se neget habere idemque debitoribus suis denuntiarit ut eodem faenore uterentur, atque hoc idem etiam L. Ligus fecisse dicatur, nec hoc tempore aut domi nummos Quintus habeat aut exigere ab Egnatio aut versuram usquam facere possit, miratur te non habuisse rationem huius publicae difficultatis.
My brother Quintus is striving to pay you what he owes through Egnatius; nor is Egnatius lacking in goodwill, nor is he insufficiently wealthy, but since the times are such that Quintus Titinius (for he is much with us) says he does not have even his traveling money, and has given notice to his debtors to use the same rate of interest, and this same thing is said to have been done also by Lucius Ligus, and at this time Quintus neither has cash at home nor can exact it from Egnatius nor make a loan elsewhere, he wonders that you have had no consideration for this public difficulty.
ego autem etsi illud ψευδησιόδειον (ita enim putatur) observo
"μηδὲ δίκην,"
praesertim in te a quo nihil umquam vidi temere fieri, tamen illius querela movebar.
I, however, although I observe that pseudo-Hesiodic saying (for so it is thought), "neither judge a suit," especially in your case, from whom I have never seen anything done rashly, was nevertheless moved by his complaint.
hoc quicquid est te scire volui.
Whatever this is, I wanted you to know it.