§7.3.1A. d. viii Idus Decembr. Aeculanum veni et ibi tuas litteras legi quas Philotimus mihi reddidit.
On the 6th of December, I arrived at Aeculanum and there read your letter which Philotimus delivered to me.
e quibus hanc primo aspectu voluptatem cepi quod erant a te ipso scriptae, deinde earum accuratissima diligentia sum mirum in modum delectatus.
From it, at first sight, I derived this pleasure: that it was written by your own hand; and then I was wonderfully delighted by its most meticulous diligence.
ac primum illud in quo te Dicaearcho adsentiri negas, etsi cupidissime expetitum a me est et te approbante ne diutius anno in provincia essem, tamen non est nostra contentione perfectum.
And first, regarding that point in which you say you do not agree with Dicaearchus—although it was most eagerly desired by me, and with your approval, that I should not be in the province longer than a year—yet it was not accomplished by our efforts.
sic enim scito, verbum in senatu factum esse numquam de ullo nostrum qui provincias obtinuimus quo in iis diutius quam ex senatus consulto maneremus, ut iam ne istius quidem rei culpam sustineam quod minus diu fuerim in provincia quam fortasse fuerit utile.
For you must know this: no word was ever spoken in the senate concerning any of us who held provinces to the effect that we should remain in them longer than was determined by the decree of the senate; so that I do not even bear the blame for the fact that I was in the province for less time than might perhaps have been useful.
§7.3.2sed
"quid si hoc melius?"
saepe opportune dici videtur ut in hoc ipso.
But "What if this is better?" seems often to be said opportunely, as in this very case.
sive enim ad concordiam res adduci potest sive ad bonorum victoriam, utriusvis rei me aut adiutorem velim esse aut certe non expertem; sin vincuntur boni, ubicumque essem, una cum iis victus essem.
For whether the matter can be brought to harmony or to the victory of the good, I would wish to be either a helper or at least not excluded from either outcome; but if the good are defeated, wherever I might be, I should have been defeated together with them.
qua re celeritas nostri reditus ἀμεταμέλητοσ debet esse. quod si ista nobis cogitatio de triumpho iniecta non esset quam tu quoque approbas, ne tu haud multum requireres illum virum qui in sexto libro informatus est.
Therefore, the speed of our return ought to be "free from regret." But if that thought of ours about a triumph had not been injected into us, which you also approve, surely you would not greatly miss that man who was depicted in the sixth book.
quid enim tibi faciam qui illos libros devorasti? quin nunc ipsum non dubitabo rem tantam abicere, si id erit rectius.
For what am I to do with you, who have devoured those books? Indeed, at this very moment, I shall not hesitate to cast aside so great a matter, if that should be more proper.
utrumque vero simul agi non potest et de triumpho ambitiose et de re publica libere.
For both cannot be pursued at the same time: to lobby ambitiously for a triumph and to speak freely on the republic.
sed ne dubitaris quin quod honestius id mihi futurum sit antiquius.
But do not doubt that what is more honorable will be more important to me.
§7.3.3nam quod putas utilius esse vel mihi quod tutius sit vel etiam ut rei publicae prodesse possim, me esse cum imperio, id coram considerabimus quale sit.
For as to your thinking it more useful, either because it is safer for me or even so that I can be of service to the republic, that I should remain with military command, we shall consider in person what kind of thing that is.
habet enim res deliberationem; etsi ex parte magna tibi adsentior.
For the matter admits of deliberation; although to a great extent I agree with you.
de animo autem meo erga rem publicam bene facis quod non dubitas, et illud probe iudicas nequaquam satis pro meis officiis, pro ipsius in alios effusione illum in me liberalem fuisse, eiusque rei causam vere explicas, et eis quae de Fabio Caninioque acta scribis valde consentiunt.
Furthermore, you do well not to doubt my mind toward the republic, and you judge correctly that, by no means in proportion to my services or to his own lavishness toward others, has he been liberal toward me. You explain the cause of this truly, and it agrees greatly with what you write was done regarding Fabius and Caninius.
quae si secus essent totumque se ille in me profudisset, tamen illa quam scribis custos urbis me praeclarae inscriptionis memorem esse cogeret nec mihi concederet ut imitarer Volcacium aut Servium quibus tu es contentus, sed aliquid nos vellet nobis dignum et sentire et defendere.
Even if things were otherwise and he had poured himself out entirely for me, yet that "guardian of the city," as you write, would compel me to remember that noble inscription and would not permit me to imitate Volcatius or Servius, with whom you are content, but would wish us to think and defend something worthy of ourselves.
quod quidem agerem, si liceret, alio modo ac nunc agendum est.
This indeed I would do, if it were permitted, in a different manner than must be done now.
§7.3.4de sua potentia dimicant homines hoc tempore periculo civitatis.
Men are fighting at this time for their own power at the risk of the state.
nam si res publica defenditur, cur ea consule isto ipso defensa non est? cur ego in cuius causa rei publicae salus consistebat defensus postero anno non sum? cur imperium illi aut cur illo modo prorogatum est? cur tanto opere pugnatum est ut de eius absentis ratione habenda decem tribuni pl.
For if the republic is being defended, why was it not defended during his own consulship? Why was I, in whose cause the safety of the republic rested, not defended the following year? Why was his command prolonged, or why in that manner? Why was it fought for so hard that the ten tribunes of the plebs should propose concerning the consideration of him in his absence?
ferrent? his ille rebus ita convaluit ut nunc in uno civi spes ad resistendum sit; qui mallem tantas ei viris non dedisset quam nunc tam valenti resisteret.
By these means, he has grown so strong that now the hope of resisting lies in a single citizen; I would prefer that he had not given him such great forces than that he should now resist him when he is so powerful.
§7.3.5sed quoniam res eo deducta est, non quaeram, ut scribis,
"ποῦ σκάφοσ τὸ τῶν Ἀτρειδῶν; "
mihi σκάφοσ unum erit quod a Pompeio gubernabitur.
But since the matter has been brought to this point, I shall not ask, as you write, "Where is the ship of the Atreidae?" For me, there will be only one ship, which will be steered by Pompey.
illud ipsum quod ais,
"quid fiet, cum erit dictum,
"dic, M. Tulli?"
"
—σύντομα
"Cn. Pompeio adsentior. "
ipsum tamen Pompeium separatim ad concordiam hortabor.
As for that very thing you say, "What will happen when it is said, 'Speak, Marcus Tullius'?" —briefly: "I agree with Gnaeus Pompey." Nevertheless, I shall privately urge Pompey himself to harmony.
sic enim sentio, maximo in periculo rem esse.
For this is my feeling: that the state is in the greatest danger.
vos scilicet plura qui in urbe estis.
You, of course, see more, who are in the city.
verum tamen haec video, cum homine audacissimo paratissimoque negotium esse, omnis damnatos, omnis ignominia adfectos, omnis damnatione ignominiaque dignos illac facere, omnem fere iuventutem, omnem illam urbanam ac perditam plebem, tribunos valentis addito C. Cassio, omnis qui aere alieno premantur, quos pluris esse intellego quam putaram (causam solum illa causa non habet, ceteris rebus abundat);
Yet I see this: that we have to do with a most audacious and prepared man; that all those condemned, all affected by ignominy, all worthy of condemnation and ignominy, are taking that side; almost all the youth, all that urban and ruined plebs, powerful tribunes with Gaius Cassius added, all who are oppressed by debt, whom I understand to be more numerous than I had thought (that cause alone lacks a cause; in all other things it is abundant).
hic omnia facere omnis ne armis decernatur, quorum exitus semper incerti, nunc vero etiam in alteram partem magis timendi.
Here, everyone is doing everything so that it may not be decided by arms, the outcomes of which are always uncertain, but now indeed even more to be feared in the other direction.
Bibulus de provincia decessit, Veientonem praefecit; in decedendo erit, ut audio, tardior.
Bibulus has departed from his province and put Veiento in charge; in departing, as I hear, he will be slower.
quem cum ornavit Cato, declaravit iis se solis non invidere quibus nihil aut non multum ad dignitatem posset accedere.
When Cato honored him, he declared that he did not envy those alone to whose dignity nothing or not much could be added.