§9.9A.1nedum hominum humilium, ut nos sumus, sed etiam amplissimorum virorum consilia ex eventu, non ex voluntate a plerisque probari solent.
Not to speak of the plans of lowly men, such as we are, but even those of the most eminent men are usually approved by most people based on the event, not on the intention.
tamen freti tua humanitate quod verissimum nobis videbitur de eo quod ad nos scripsisti tibi consilium dabimus.
Nevertheless, relying on your humanity, we will give you the advice on what you wrote to us that seems to us to be most true.
quod si non fuerit prudens, at certe ab optima fide et optimo animo proficiscetur.
Even if it should not be prudent, it will at least proceed from the highest good faith and the best intention.
nos si id quod nostro iudicio Caesarem facere oportere existimamus, ut, simul Romam venerit, agat de reconciliatione gratiae suae et Pompei, id eum facturum ex ipso cognovissemus, te hortari non desineremus ut velles iis rebus interesse, quo facilius et maiore cum dignitate per te qui utrique es coniunctus res tota confieret, aut si ex contrario putaremus Caesarem id non facturum et etiam velle cum Pompeio bellum gerere sciremus, numquam tibi suaderemus contra hominem optime de te meritum arma ferres, sicuti te semper oravimus ne contra Caesarem pugnares.
If we had known from Caesar himself that he was going to do what in our judgment we think he ought to do—namely, as soon as he arrives in Rome, to treat for a reconciliation of his goodwill with Pompey's—we should not cease to exhort you to be willing to take part in those matters, so that the whole business might be accomplished more easily and with greater dignity through you, who are connected with both. Or if, on the contrary, we thought that Caesar would not do that, and knew that he even wished to wage war with Pompey, we should never advise you to bear arms against a man who has deserved extremely well of you, just as we have always entreated you not to fight against Caesar.
§9.9A.2sed cum etiam nunc quid facturus Caesar sit magis opinari quam scire possimus, non possumus nisi hoc, non videri eam tuam esse dignitatem neque fidem omnibus cognitam ut contra alterutrum, cum utrique sis maxime necessarius, arma feras, et hoc non dubitamus quin Caesar pro sua humanitate maxime sit probaturus.
But since even now we can rather conjecture than know what Caesar is going to do, we can only think this: that it does not seem to be worthy of your dignity, nor of your loyalty which is known to all, that you should bear arms against either of them, since you are most closely connected to both; and we do not doubt that Caesar, in accordance with his humanity, will highly approve of this.
nos tamen, si tibi videbitur, ad Caesarem scribemus ut nos certiores faciat quid de hac re acturus sit.
Nevertheless, if it seems good to you, we will write to Caesar to make us more certain of what he is going to do about this matter.
a quo si erit nobis rescriptum, statim quae sentiemus ad te scribemus et tibi fidem faciemus nos ea suadere quae nobis videntur tuae dignitati, non Caesaris actioni esse utilissima, et hoc Caesarem pro indulgentia in suos probaturum putamus.
If we receive a reply from him, we will immediately write to you what we think, and assure you that we are advising those things which seem to us to be most useful for your dignity, not for Caesar's action; and we think that Caesar, in accordance with his indulgence toward his friends, will approve of this.