§8.9.1epistulam meam quod pervulgatam scribis esse non fero moleste, quin etiam ipse multis dedi describendam.
I do not take it ill that you write that my letter has been widely circulated; indeed, I myself have given it to many to copy.
ea enim et acciderunt iam et impendent, ut testatum esse velim de pace quid senserim.
For both what has already happened and what is now impending are such that I wish it to be attested what my feelings were regarding peace.
cum autem ad eam hortarer eum praesertim hominem, non videbar ullo modo facilius moturus quam si id quod eum hortarer convenire eius sapientiae dicerem.
Moreover, when I was exhorting him of all people to peace, it did not seem that I would move him more easily in any other way than by saying that what I was exhorting him to do was consistent with his wisdom.
eam si admirabilem dixi quom eum ad salutem patriae hortabar, non sum veritus ne viderer adsentari quoi tali in re libenter me ad pedes abiecissem.
If I called that wisdom admirable when I was exhorting him to the safety of the fatherland, I did not fear that I might seem to flatter one at whose feet, in such a situation, I would have gladly thrown myself.
qua autem est
"aliquid impertias temporis,"
non est de pace sed de me ipso et de meo officio ut aliquid cogitet.
But where it says "that you would bestow some time," it is not about peace, but that he should think something about me myself and about my duty.
nam quod testificor me expertem belli fuisse, etsi id re perspectum est, tamen eo scripsi quo in suadendo plus auctoritatis haberem; eodemque pertinet quod causam eius probo.
For as to my testifying that I have been no part of the war, although that is evident from the facts, yet I wrote it for this reason, that I might have more authority in persuading; and to the same purpose belongs my approval of his cause.
§8.9.2sed quid haec nunc? utinam aliquid profectum esset! ne ego istas litteras in contione recitari velim, si quidem ille ipse ad eundem scribens in publico proposuit epistulam illam in qua est
"pro tuis rebus gestis amplissimis"
(amplioribusne quam suis, quam Africani? ita tempus ferebat), si quidem etiam vos duo tales ad quintum miliarium quid nunc ipsum de se recipienti, quid agenti, quid acturo? quanto autem ferocius ille causae suae confidet, cum vos, cum vestri similis non modo frequentis sed laeto vultu gratulantis viderit!
"num igitur peccamus?"
minime vos quidem; sed tamen signa conturbantur quibus voluntas a simulatione distingui posset.
But why these things now? Would that some good had been accomplished! Indeed I should wish those letters of yours to be read out in the assembly, seeing that he himself, writing to the same man, published in public that letter in which is "in view of your most magnificent achievements" (more magnificent than his own, or than those of Africanus? So the times required), seeing that even you two, such men as you are, went to meet him at the fifth milestone—him who is just now undertaking what for himself, doing what, about to do what? But how much more boldly will he trust in his cause when he sees you and those like you, not only numerous but congratulating him with joyful countenances! "Are we then doing wrong?" Not you indeed; but yet the signs are thrown into confusion by which goodwill might be distinguished from pretence.
quae vero senatus consulta video? sed apertius quam proposueram.
Indeed, what decrees of the senate do I see? But I am speaking more openly than I had intended.
§8.9.3ego Arpini volo esse pridie Kal. , deinde circum villulas nostras errare quas visurum me postea desperavi.
I wish to be at Arpinum on the day before the Kalends, and then to wander about our little villas, which I had despaired of ever seeing again.
εὐγενῆ tua consilia et tamen pro temporibus non incauta mihi valde probantur.
Your noble plans, and yet not incautious considering the times, are highly approved by me.
Lepido quidem (nam fere συνδιημερεύομεν, quod gratissimum illi est) numquam placuit ex Italia exire, Tullo multo minus.
To Lepidus indeed (for we spend almost the whole day together, which is most pleasing to him) it never pleased to depart from Italy, to Tullus much less.
crebro enim illius litterae ab aliis ad nos commeant.
For letters of his are constantly reaching us through others.
sed me illorum sententiae minus movebant; minus multa dederant illi rei publicae pignora.
But their opinions moved me less; they had given fewer pledges to the republic.
tua me hercule auctoritas vehementer movet; adfert enim et reliqui temporis reciperandi rationem et praesentis tuendi.
By Hercules, your authority moves me vehemently; for it brings a plan both for recovering the remaining time and for protecting the present.
sed obsecro te, quid hoc miserius quam alterum plausus in foedissima causa quaerere, alterum offensiones in optima? alterum existimari conservatorem inimicorum, alterum desertorem amicorum? et me hercule quamvis amemus Gnaeum nostrum, ut et facimus et debemus, tamen hoc quod talibus viris non subvenit laudare non possum.
But I beseech you, what is more miserable than this: that the one seeks applause in a most shameful cause, the other offends in the best? that the one is thought to be the preserver of his enemies, the other the deserter of his friends? And by Hercules, however much we may love our Gnaeus, as we both do and ought to do, yet I cannot praise this fact, that he did not come to the aid of such men.
nam sive timuit, quid ignavius? sive, ut quidam putant, meliorem suam causam illorum caede fore putavit, quid iniustius? sed haec omittamus; augemus enim dolorem retractando.
For if he was afraid, what is more cowardly? Or if, as some think, he thought that his cause would be better through their slaughter, what is more unjust? But let us leave these things; for we increase our grief by handling it again.
§8.9.4vi Kal. vesperi Balbus minor ad me venit occulta via currens ad Lentulum consulem missu Caesaris cum litteris, cum mandatis, cum promissione provinciae, Romam ut redeat.
On the sixth day before the Kalends, in the evening, the younger Balbus came to me, traveling by a secret path, sent by Caesar to the consul Lentulus with letters, with instructions, and with the promise of a province, so that he might return to Rome.
quoi persuaderi posse non arbitror, nisi erit conventus.
I do not think he can be persuaded, unless he is met.
idem aiebat nihil malle Caesarem quam ut Pompeium adsequeretur (id credo) et rediret in gratiam.
The same man said that Caesar desired nothing more than to overtake Pompey (that I believe) and to be reconciled with him.
id non credo et metuo ne omnis haec clementia ad Cinneam illam crudelitatem conligatur.
That I do not believe, and I fear that all this clemency is being gathered toward that infamous Marian cruelty.
Balbus quidem maior ad me scribit nihil malle Caesarem quam principe Pompeio sine metu vivere.
Indeed, the elder Balbus writes to me that Caesar wants nothing more than to live without fear with Pompey as the leading citizen.
tu, puto, haec credis.
You, I suppose, believe this.
sed cum haec scribebam v Kalend. , Pompeius iam Brundisium venisse poterat; expeditus enim antecesserat legiones xi K. Luceria.
But when I was writing this on the fifth day before the Kalends, Pompey might already have arrived at Brundisium; for he had gone ahead of the legions, lightly equipped, from Luceria on the eleventh day before the Kalends.
sed hoc τέρασ horribili vigilantia, celeritate, diligentia est.
But this monster is of horrible vigilance, speed, and diligence.
plane quid futurum sit nescio.
I simply do not know what is going to happen.