§9.9.3Philotimum, ut ais in epistula tertia, exspectabas.
You were expecting Philotimus, as you say in your third letter.
at ille Idibus a me profectus est.
But he departed from me on the Ides.
eo serius ad tuam illam epistulam quoi ego statim rescripseram redditae sunt meae litterae.
For that reason, my letter was delivered rather late in response to that letter of yours to which I had written back immediately.
de Domitio, ut scribis, ita opinor esse ut et in Cosano sit et consilium eius ignoretur.
As for Domitius, as you write, I think it is the case that he is on his estate at Cosa and his plan is unknown.
iste omnium turpissimus et sordidissimus qui consularia comitia a praetore ait haberi posse est ille idem qui semper in re publica fuit.
That most disgraceful and sordid of all men, who says that consular elections can be held by a praetor, is the very same man he has always been in public affairs.
itaque nimirum hoc illud est quod Caesar scribit in ea epistula cuius exemplum ad te misi, se velle uti
"consilio"
meo (age, esto; hoc commune est),
"gratia"
(ineptum id quidem sed, puto, hoc simulat ad quasdam senatorum sententias),
"dignitate"
(fortasse sententia consulari).
And so, no doubt, this is the meaning of what Caesar writes in that letter, a copy of which I sent to you, that he wishes to make use of my "advice" (well, let it be; this is common to all), my "influence" (silly indeed, but, I think, he pretends this to win certain opinions of the senators), my "dignity" (perhaps my consular opinion).
illud extremum est,
"ope omnium rerum. "
id ego suspicari coepi tum ex tuis litteris aut hoc ipsum esse aut non multo secus.
The last is, "assistance in all things." I began to suspect then from your letter that this was either the very thing or not much different.
nam permagni eius interest rem ad interregnum non venire.
For it is of very great importance to him that the matter should not come to an interregnum.
id adsequitur, si per praetorem consules creantur.
He achieves this if consuls are created by a praetor.
nos autem in libris habemus non modo consules a praetore sed ne praetores quidem creari ius esse idque factum esse numquam; consules eo non esse ius quod maius imperium a minore rogari non sit ius, praetores autem quod ita rogentur ut conlegae consulibus sint quorum est maius imperium.
But we have it in our books that it is not only not lawful for consuls to be created by a praetor, but not even for praetors to be so created, and that this has never been done; for consuls it is not lawful because it is not lawful for a greater imperium to be asked by a lesser, and for praetors because they are so asked as to be colleagues to the consuls, whose imperium is greater.
aberit non longe quin hoc a me decerni velit neque sit contentus Galba, Scaevola, Cassio, Antonio,
"τότε μοι χάνοι εὐρεῖα χθών" §9.9.4sed quanta tempestas impendeat vides.
It will not be far off before he wants this to be decreed by me and is not content with Galba, Scaevola, Cassius, or Antony: "then may the wide earth gape for me!" But you see how great a tempest is impending.
qui transierint senatores scribam ad te cum certum habebo.
I shall write to you which senators have crossed over when I have certain information.
de re frumentaria recte intellegis quae nullo modo administrari sine vectigalibus potest; nec sine causa et eos qui circum illum sunt omnia postulantis et bellum nefarium times.
As to the grain supply, you understand correctly that it can in no way be managed without revenues; and not without cause do you fear both those who are around him demanding everything and this wicked war.
Trebatium nostrum, etsi, ut scribis, nihil bene sperat, tamen videre sane velim.
Our friend Trebatius, although, as you write, he has no good hopes, yet I should certainly like to see him.
quem fac horteris ut properet; opportune enim ad me ante adventum Caesaris venerit.
See to it that you urge him to hasten; for he will have come to me opportunely before the arrival of Caesar.
de Lanuvino, statim ut audivi Phameam mortuum, optavi, si modo esset futura res publica, ut id aliquis emeret meorum neque tamen de te qui maxime meus es cogitavi.
As to the villa at Lanuvium, as soon as I heard that Phamea was dead, I wished, if only there is to be a republic, that some of my people would buy it, and yet I did not think of you, who are most mine.
sciebam enim te
"quoto anno"
et
"quantum in solo"
solere quaerere neque solum Romae sed etiam Deli tuum διάγραμμα videram.
For I knew that you are accustomed to ask "in how many years" and "how much for the land itself," and I had seen your "investment plan" not only in Rome but also at Delos.
verum tamen ego illud, quamquam est bellum, minoris aestimo quam aestimabatur Marcellino consule, cum ego istos hortulos propter domum antiquam quam tum habebam iucundiores mihi fore putabam et minore impensa quam si Tusculanum refecissem.
Nevertheless, although it is a beautiful property, I value it at less than it was valued when Marcellinus was consul, when I thought those gardens would be more pleasant to me on account of the old house I then had, and at less expense than if I had rebuilt my villa at Tusculum.
volui HS Q. Egi per †predum ille daret tanti quom† haberet venale.
I was willing to give five hundred thousand sesterces. I negotiated through a guarantor that he should give it at that price when he had it for sale.
noluit.
He refused.
sed nunc omnia ista iacere puto propter nummorum caritatem.
But now I think all such properties are down because of the scarcity of money.
mihi quidem erit aptissimum vel nobis potius si tu emeris; sed eius dementias cave contemnas.
It will indeed be most suitable for me, or rather for us, if you buy it; but take care not to despise his extravagances.
valde est venustum.
It is extremely charming.
quamquam mihi ista omnia iam addicta vastitati videntur.
And yet all those things seem to me now doomed to devastation.
respondi epistulis tribus sed exspecto alias; nam me adhuc tuae litterae sustentarunt.
I have replied to your three letters, but I am waiting for others; for indeed your letters have sustained me so far.
D. Liberalibus.
Sent on the Liberalia.