§8.11B.1A. d. xv Kalend. Martias Formiis accepi tuas litteras; ex quibus ea quae in agro Piceno gesta erant cognovi commodiora esse multo quam ut erat nobis nuntiatum Vibullique virtutem industriamque libenter agnovi.
On the fifteenth day before the Kalends of March, I received your letter at Formiae; from which I learned that the events in the Picene territory were in a much better state than had been reported to us, and I gladly recognized the courage and industry of Vibullius.
nos adhuc in ea ora ubi praepositi sumus ita fuimus ut navem paratam haberemus.
Up to now, I have remained in that coastal district where I was placed in charge in such a way as to keep a ship ready.
ea enim audiebamus et ea verebamur ut, quodcumque tu consilium cepisses, id nobis persequendum putaremus.
For I was hearing such things and fearing such things that, whatever plan you might adopt, I thought we must follow it.
nunc quoniam auctoritate et consilio tuo in spe firmiore sumus, si teneri posse putas Tarracinam et oram maritimam, in ea manebo, etsi praesidia in oppidis nulla sunt.
Now, since we are in stronger hope through your authority and counsel, if you think Tarracina and the maritime coast can be held, I will remain in it, although there are no garrisons in the towns.
nemo enim nostri ordinis in his locis est praeter M. Eppium quem ego Menturnis esse volui, vigilantem hominem et industrium.
For there is no one of our order in these parts except Marcus Eppius, a vigilant and industrious man, whom I wished to be at Minturnae.
nam L. Torquatum, virum fortem et cum auctoritate, Formiis non habemus, ad te profectum arbitramur.
For we do not have Lucius Torquatus, a brave man of authority, at Formiae; we believe he has set out to you.
§8.11B.2ego omnino, ut proxime tibi placuerat, Capuam veni eo ipso die quo tu Teano Sidicino es profectus.
On my part, entirely in accordance with what had recently pleased you, I came to Capua on the very day you set out from Teanum Sidicinum.
volueras enim me cum M. Considio pro praetore illa negotia tueri.
For you had wished me, along with the propraetor Marcus Considius, to look after those affairs.
cum eo venissem, vidi T. Ampium dilectum habere diligentissime, ab eo accipere Libonem, summa item diligentia et in illa colonia auctoritate.
When I arrived there, I saw that Titus Ampius was conducting the levy most diligently, and that Libo was taking it over from him, a man of likewise greatest diligence and authority in that colony.
fui Capuae quoad consules.
I was at Capua as long as the consuls were.
iterum, ut erat edictum a consulibus, veni Capuam ad Nonas Februar.
Again, as had been decreed by the consuls, I came to Capua on the Nones of February.
cum fuissem triduum, recepi me Formias.
After I had been there for three days, I returned to Formiae.
§8.11B.3nunc quod tuum consilium aut quae ratio belli sit ignoro.
Now, I do not know what your plan is or what the system of war is.
si tenendam hanc oram putas, quae et opportunitatem et dignitatem habet et egregios civis et, ut arbitror, teneri potest, opus est esse qui praesit; sin omnia in unum locum contrahenda sunt, non dubito quin ad te statim veniam, quo mihi nihil optatius est, idque tecum quo die ab urbe discessimus locutus sum.
If you think this coast should be held, which has both convenience and dignity and excellent citizens, and, as I believe, can be held, there is need for someone to be in charge; but if everything must be concentrated in one place, I have no doubt that I should come to you at once, than which nothing is more desirable to me, and I spoke of this with you on the day we departed from the city.
ego si quoi adhuc videor segnior fuisse, dum ne tibi videar, non laboro et tamen si, ut video, bellum gerendum est, confido me omnibus facile satis facturum.
As for me, if I still seem to anyone to have been somewhat sluggish, as long as I do not seem so to you, I do not care; and yet if, as I see, war must be waged, I am confident that I shall easily satisfy everyone.
§8.11B.4M. Tullium meum necessarium ad te misi cui tu, si tibi videretur, ad me litteras dares.
I have sent my intimate Marcus Tullius to you, to whom you might give a letter for me, if it should seem good to you.