§8.11.1quod me magno animi motu perturbatum putas, sum equidem sed non tam magno quam tibi fortasse videor.
As for your thinking that I am perturbed by a great commotion of mind, I am indeed, but not by so great a one as I perhaps seem to you.
levatur enim omnis cura cum aut constitit consilium aut cogitando nihil explicatur.
For all care is lightened when either a plan has been established or nothing is unfolded by thinking.
lamentari autem licet illud quidem totos dies; sed vereor ne nihil cum proficiam etiam dedecori sim studiis ac litteris nostris.
And yet, though it is permitted to lament that indeed for whole days, I fear lest, while I accomplish nothing, I may even be a disgrace to our studies and literature.
consumo igitur omne tempus considerans quanta vis sit illius viri quem nostris libris satis diligenter, ut tibi quidem videmur, expressimus.
Therefore, I spend all my time considering how great the power of that man is whom we have expressed in our books quite diligently, as we indeed seem to you.
tenesne igitur moderatorem illum rei publicae quo referre velimus omnia? nam sic quinto, ut opinor, in libro loquitur Scipio,
"ut enim gubernatori cursus secundus, medico salus, imperatori victoria, sic huic moderatori rei publicae beata civium vita proposita est, ut opibus firma, copiis locuples, gloria ampla, virtute honesta sit.
Do you remember, then, that moderator of the republic to whom we would wish to refer all things? For Scipio speaks thus in the fifth book, I think: "For as a favorable voyage is proposed to the helmsman, health to the physician, victory to the general, so to this moderator of the republic a happy life of the citizens is proposed, so that it may be firm in wealth, rich in resources, ample in glory, honorable in virtue.
huius enim operis maximi inter homines atque optimi illum esse perfectorem volo. " §8.11.2hoc Gnaeus noster cum antea numquam tum in hac causa minime cogitavit.
For I want him to be the perfector of this work, the greatest and best among men." Our Gnaeus never thought of this before, and least of all in this cause.
dominatio quaesita ab utroque est, non id actum beata et honesta civitas ut esset.
Domination has been sought by both; it was not acted upon that there should be a happy and honorable state.
nec vero ille urbem reliquit quod eam tueri non posset nec Italiam quod ea pelleretur, sed hoc a primo cogitavit, omnis terras, omnia maria movere, reges barbaros incitare, gentis feras armatas in Italiam adducere, exercitus conficere maximos.
Nor indeed did he leave the city because he could not defend it, nor Italy because he was expelled from it, but he thought of this from the first: to stir up all lands, all seas, to incite barbarian kings, to bring savage armed nations into Italy, to collect the greatest armies.
genus illud Sullani regni iam pridem appetitur multis qui una sunt cupientibus.
That kind of Sullan reign has long been desired by many who are together with him in their greed.
an censes nihil inter eos convenire, nullam pactionem fieri potuisse? hodie potest.
Or do you think that no agreement could be reached between them, no pact could be made? Today it can.
sed neutri σκοπὸσ est ille ut nos beati simus; uterque regnare vult.
But the σκοπὸσ of neither is that we should be happy; both wish to reign.
§8.11.3haec a te invitatus breviter exposui.
Invited by you, I have briefly explained these things.
voluisti enim me quid de his malis sentirem ostendere.
For you wanted me to show what I felt about these evils.
προθεσπίζω igitur, noster Attice, non hariolans ut illa cui nemo credidit sed coniectura prospiciens,
"iamque mari magno—"
non multo, inquam, secus possum vaticinari.
Therefore, my Atticus, I προθεσπίζω, not prophesying wildly like that woman whom no one believed, but looking ahead by conjecture: "And now on the great sea—" Not much otherwise, I say, can I prophesy.
tanta malorum impendet Ἰλιάσ.
So great an Ἰλιάσ of evils is impending.
atque hoc nostra gravior est causa qui domi sumus quam illorum qui una transierunt, quod illi alterum metuunt, nos utrumque.
And in this respect our cause who are at home is heavier than that of those who crossed over together, because they fear one of the two, we both.
§8.11.4"cur igitur"
inquis
"remansimus?"
vel tibi paruimus vel non occurrimus vel hoc fuit rectius.
"Why then," you say, "did we remain?" Either we obeyed you, or we did not meet him, or this was more right.
conculcari, inquam, miseram Italiam videbis proxima aestate †qaut utriusque in† mancipiis ex omni genere conlectis, nec tam †iptio† pertimescenda, quae Luceriae multis sermonibus denuntiata esse dicitur, quam †universam† interitus.
You will see, I say, miserable Italy trodden underfoot next summer by slaves of both collected from every class, nor is that proscription so much to be feared, which is said to have been threatened in many conversations at Luceria, as a universal destruction.
tantas in confligendo utriusque viris video futuras.
I see such great forces of both will be present in the clash.
habes coniecturam meam.
You have my conjecture.
tu autem consolationis fortasse aliquid exspectasti.
But you perhaps expected some consolation.
nihil invenio nihil fieri potest miserius, nihil perditius, nihil foedius.
I find none; nothing can be more miserable, nothing more ruined, nothing more foul.
§8.11.5quod quaeris quid Caesar ad me scripserit, quod saepe, gratissimum sibi esse quod quierim, oratque in eo ut perseverem.
As to your asking what Caesar wrote to me, it was what he often writes, that it is most pleasing to him that I have remained quiet, and he begs me to persevere in this.
Balbus minor haec eadem mandata.
Balbus the younger brought these same instructions.
iter autem eius erat ad Lentulum consulem cum litteris Caesaris praemiorumque promissis si Romam revertisset.
But his journey was to Lentulus the consul with Caesar's letters and promises of rewards if he returned to Rome.
verum cum habeo rationem dierum, ante puto tramissurum quam potuerit conveniri.
But when I calculate the days, I think he will cross over before he can be met.
§8.11.6epistularum Pompei duarum quas ad me misit neglegentiam meamque in rescribendo diligentiam volui tibi notam esse.
I wanted the negligence of Pompey's two letters which he sent to me, and my diligence in replying, to be known to you.
earum exempla ad te misi.
I have sent copies of them to you.
§8.11.7Caesaris hic per Apuliam ad Brundisium cursus quid efficiat exspecto.
I am waiting to see what this rapid march of Caesar through Apulia to Brundisium will achieve.
utinam aliquid simile Parthicis rebus! simul aliquid audiero, scribam ad te.
Would that it were something like the Parthian affairs! As soon as I hear anything, I will write to you.
tu ad me velim bonorum sermones Romae frequentes esse dicuntur.
I would like you to write to me; the conversations of the good are said to be frequent in Rome.
scio equidem te in publicum non prodire, sed tamen audire te multa necesse est.
I know indeed that you do not go out into public, but yet it is necessary that you hear many things.
memini librum tibi adferri a Demetrio Magnete ad te missum περὶ. eum mihi velim mittas.
I remember that a book was brought to you, sent by Demetrius of Magnesia, "On..." I would like you to send it to me.
vides quam causam mediter.
You see what cause I am meditating.