§7.23.1v Idus Febr. vesperi a Philotimo litteras accepi Domitium exercitum firmum habere, cohortis ex Piceno Lentulo et Thermo ducentibus cum Domiti exercitu coniunctas esse, Caesarem intercludi posse eumque id timere, bonorum animos recreatos Romae, improbos quasi perculsos.
On the evening of February 9, I received a letter from Philotimus that Domitius has a strong army, that the cohorts from Picenum under the leadership of Lentulus and Thermus have joined Domitius's army, that Caesar can be cut off and that he himself fears this, that the spirits of the good in Rome have been revived, and the wicked are as if struck down.
haec metuo equidem ne sint somnia, sed tamen M'. Lepidum, L. Torquatum, C. Cassium tribunum pl. (hi enim sunt nobiscum, id est in Formiano) Philotimi litterae ad vitam revocaverunt.
I indeed fear lest these are dreams, but yet Philotimus's letter has recalled to life Manius Lepidus, Lucius Torquatus, and Gaius Cassius, tribune of the plebs (for these are with us, that is, in the villa at Formiae).
ego autem illa metuo ne veriora sint, nos omnis paene iam captos esse, Pompeium Italia cedere; quem quidem (o rem acerbam!) persequi Caesar dicitur.
But I fear lest those other things are more true, that we are all now almost captured, and that Pompey is departing from Italy; whom indeed (oh, bitter thing!) Caesar is said to be pursuing.
persequi Caesar Pompeium? quid? ut interficiat? o me miserum! et non omnes nostra corpora opponimus? in quo tu quoque ingemiscis.
Caesar pursuing Pompey? What? To kill him? Oh, wretched me! And do we not all oppose our bodies? At which you also groan.
sed quid faciamus? victi, oppressi, capti plane sumus.
But what are we to do? We are utterly conquered, oppressed, and captured.
§7.23.2ego tamen Philotimi litteris lectis mutavi consilium de mulieribus.
I, however, having read Philotimus's letter, changed my plan concerning the women.
quas, ut scripseram ad te, Romam remittebam; sed mihi venit in mentem multum fore sermonem me iudicium iam de causa publica fecisse; qua desperata quasi hunc gradum mei reditus esse quod mulieres revertissent.
Whom, as I had written to you, I was sending back to Rome; but it came to my mind that there would be much talk that I had already made a judgment on the public cause; which being despaired of, the fact that the women had returned was as if this were the first step of my return.
de me autem ipso tibi adsentior, ne me dem incertae et periculosae fugae, cum rei publicae nihil prosim, nihil Pompeio; pro quo emori cum pie possum tum libenter.
Concerning myself indeed, I agree with you, that I should not give myself up to an uncertain and dangerous flight, since I can be of no use to the republic, nor to Pompey; for whom I can die not only dutifully but also willingly.
manebo igitur, etsi vivere—.
I shall stay therefore, even if to live—.
§7.23.3quod quaeris hic quid agatur, tota Capua et omnis hic dilectus iacet; desperata res est, in fuga omnes sunt, nisi qui deus iuverit ut Pompeius istas Domiti copias cum suis coniungat.
As to what you ask is being done here, all Capua and all this levy lie idle; the matter is despaired of, all are in flight, unless some god helps so that Pompey may join those forces of Domitius with his own.
sed videbamur omnia biduo triduove scituri.
But we seemed likely to know everything in two or three days.
Caesaris litterarum exemplum tibi misi; rogaras enim.
I have sent you a copy of Caesar's letter; for you had asked.
cui nos valde satis facere multi ad me scripserunt; quod patior facile, dum ut adhuc nihil faciam turpiter.
Many have written to me that I am satisfying him very much; which I bear easily, provided that as yet I do nothing basely.