§8.12A.1ego quod existimabam dispersos nos neque rei publicae utilis neque nobis praesidio esse posse, idcirco ad L. Domitium litteras misi, primum uti ipse cum omni copia ad nos veniret; si de se dubitaret, ut cohortis xviiii quae ex Piceno ad me iter habebant ad nos mitteret.
Because I thought that we, being dispersed, could neither be of use to the republic nor a protection to ourselves, for that reason I sent a letter to L. Domitius, first that he himself should come to us with his entire force; if he was doubtful of his own safety, that he should send to us the nineteen cohorts which were on their way to me from Picenum.
quod veritus sum factum est ut Domitius implicaretur et neque ipse satis firmus esset ad castra facienda quod meas xviiii et suas xii cohortis tribus in oppidis distributas haberet (nam partim Albae, partim Sulmone conlocavit) neque se, si vellet, expedire posset.
What I feared has happened: namely, that Domitius is entangled, and is neither strong enough himself to pitch camp, because he has my nineteen and his own twelve cohorts distributed in three towns (for he placed some at Alba, some at Sulmo), nor is he able to extricate himself, even if he wished.
§8.12A.2nunc scitote me esse in summa sollicitudine.
Now know that I am in the greatest anxiety.
nam et tot et talis viros periculo obsidionis liberare cupio neque subsidio ire possum, quod his duabus legionibus non puto esse committendum ut illuc ducantur, ex quibus tamen non amplius xiiii cohortis contrahere potui, quod duas Brundisium misi neque Canusium sine praesidio, dum abessem, putavi esse dimittendum.
For I desire to free so many and such distinguished men from the danger of siege, and yet I cannot go to their assistance, because I do not think we should risk leading these two legions thither, from which, however, I could not collect more than fourteen cohorts, because I sent two to Brundisium and did not think Canusium should be left without a garrison while I was away.
§8.12A.3D. Laelio mandaram, quod maiores copias sperabam nos habituros, ut, si vobis videretur, alter uter vestrum ad me veniret, alter in Siciliam cum ea copia quam Capuae et circum Capuam comparastis et cum iis militibus quos Faustus legit proficisceretur, Domitius cum xii suis cohortibus eodem adiungeretur, reliquae copiae omnes Brundisium cogerentur et inde navibus Dyrrachium transportarentur.
I had commanded D. Laelius, since I hoped we would have larger forces, that, if it seemed good to you, one of you two should come to me, the other should set out for Sicily with that force which you have collected at Capua and around Capua and with those soldiers whom Faustus enlisted, that Domitius with his own twelve cohorts should join the same body, and that all the remaining forces should be gathered at Brundisium and transported from there by ships to Dyrrachium.
nunc cum hoc tempore nihilo magis ego quam vos subsidio Domitio ire possim se per montis explicare, non est nobis committendum ut ad has xiiii cohortis quas dubio animo habeo hostis accedere aut in itinere me consequi possit
Now since at this time I can no more than you go to the assistance of Domitius, <and he himself cannot> extricate himself through the mountains, we must not risk that the enemy should be able to approach these fourteen cohorts which I hold with a doubtful mind, or overtake me on the march.
§8.12A.4quam ob rem placitum est mihi (talia video censeri M. Marcello et ceteris nostri ordinis qui hic sunt) ut Brundisium ducerem hanc copiam quam mecum habeo.
Therefore it has seemed good to me (I see that such is the opinion of M. Marcellus and the others of our order who are here) to lead this force which I have with me to Brundisium.
vos hortor ut quodcumque militum contrahere poteritis contrahatis et eodem Brundisium veniatis quam primum.
I exhort you to collect whatever soldiers you can collect and come to the same Brundisium as soon as possible.
arma quae ad me missuri eratis, iis censeo armetis milites quos vobiscum habetis.
As for the arms which you were going to send to me, I advise that you arm with them the soldiers whom you have with you.
quae arma superabunt, ea si Brundisium iumentis deportaritis, vehementer rei publicae profueritis.
Whatever arms are left over, if you transport them to Brundisium on pack-animals, you will have done a great service to the republic.
de hac re velim nostros certiores faciatis.
I would wish you to inform our friends of this matter.
ego ad P. Lupum et C. Coponium praetores misi ut se vobis coniungerent et militum quod haberent ad vos deducerent.
I have sent word to the praetors P. Lupus and C. Coponius that they should join you and bring to you whatever soldiers they have.