§1.10.1nullas adhuc a te litteras habebamus, ne famam quidem quae declararet te cognita senatus auctoritate in Italiam adducere exercitum; quod ut faceres idque maturares magno opere desiderabat res publica.
We had as yet received no letter from you, nor even any rumor to show that you, having learned of the Senate's authority, were bringing your army into Italy; which that you should do and should hasten to do, the Republic greatly desired.
ingravescit enim in dies intestinum malum, nec extemis hostibus magis quam domesticis laboramus, qui erant omnino ab initio belli sed facilius frangebantur.
For the internal evil grows worse day by day, and we are struggling no less with domestic enemies than with foreign ones, who indeed were there from the very beginning of the war but were more easily crushed.
erectior senatus erat non sententiis solum nostris sed etiam cohortationibus excitatus.
The Senate was more encouraged, excited not only by our opinions but also by our exhortations.
erat in senatu satis vehemens et acer Pansa cum in ceteros huius generis tum maxime in socerum, cui consuli non animus ab initio, non fides ad extremum defuit.
Pansa was quite vehement and sharp in the Senate, both against others of this class and especially against his father-in-law, a consul who lacked neither courage from the beginning nor loyalty to the very end.
§1.10.2bellum ad Mutinam gerebatur, nihil ut in Caesare reprehenderes, non nulla in Hirtio.
The war was being waged at Mutina, so that you could find nothing to blame in Caesar, but some things in Hirtius.
huius belli fortuna
"
ut in secundis flu/xa, ut in adversi/s bona.
The fortune of this war was, "incertain in prosperity, good in adversity.
"
erat victrix res publica caesis Antoni copiis, ipso expulso.
"The Republic was victorious, with Antony's forces slaughtered and he himself expelled.
Bruti deinde ita multa peccata ut quodam modo victoria excideret e manibus.
Then, there were so many errors on the part of Brutus that in a way victory slipped from our hands.
perterritos, inermis, saucios non sunt nostri duces persecuti, datumque Lepido tempus est in quo levitatem eius saepe perspectam maioribus in malis experiremur.
Our generals did not pursue the terrified, unarmed, and wounded enemies, and Lepidus was given time during which we might experience his often witnessed levity in even greater evils.
sunt exercitus boni sed rudes Bruti et Planci, sunt fidelissima et maxima auxilia Gallorum; §1.10.3sed Caesarem meis consiliis adhuc gubernatum, praeclara ipsum indole admirabilique constantia, improbissimis litteris quidam fallacibusque interpretibus ac nuntiis impulerunt in spem certissimam consulatus.
The armies of Brutus and Plancus are good but inexperienced, and there are most loyal and very large auxiliary forces of the Gauls; But Caesar, who had hitherto been guided by my counsels, and who himself possessed an excellent disposition and admirable constancy, has been driven by certain persons, through most wicked letters and deceitful agents and messengers, into a most certain hope of the consulship.
quod simul atque sensi, neque ego illum absentem litteris monere destiti nec accusare praesentis eius necessarios qui eius cupiditati suffragari videbantur, nec in senatu sceleratissimorum consiliorum fontis aperire dubitavi.
As soon as I perceived this, I did not cease to warn him by letter in his absence, nor to accuse his close associates present here who seemed to support his desire, nor did I hesitate in the Senate to lay open the sources of these most criminal designs.
nec vero ulla in re memini aut senatum meliorem aut magistratus; numquam enim in honore extraordinario potentis hominis vel potentissimi potius (quando quidem potentia iam in vi posita est et armis) accidit ut nemo tribunus plebis, nemo alio magistratu, nemo privatus auctor exsisteret.
Indeed, I do not remember a better Senate or better magistrates in any matter; for never before, concerning an extraordinary honor for an influential man—or rather, the most powerful man (since power is now placed in violence and arms)—did it happen that no tribune of the plebs, no one in any other magistracy, and no private citizen stood forth as a supporter.
sed in hac constantia atque virtute erat tamen sollicita civitas.
Yet, in spite of this constancy and virtue, the state was anxious.
inludimur enim, Brute, tum militum deliciis, tum imperatoris insolentia.
For we are mocked, Brutus, now by the self-indulgence of the soldiers, now by the insolence of the general.
tantum quisque se in re publica posse postulat quantum habet virium; non ratio, non modus, non lex, non mos, non officium valet, non iudicium non existimatio civium, non posteritatis verecundia.
Each demands to have as much power in the Republic as he has strength; neither reason, nor moderation, nor law, nor custom, nor duty prevails, nor does the judgment or estimation of the citizens, nor any respect for posterity.
§1.10.4haec ego multo ante prospiciens fugiebam ex Italia tum, cum me vestrorum edictorum fama revocavit; incitavisti vero tu me, Brute, Veliae.
Foreseeing these things long before, I was fleeing from Italy at the time when the rumor of your edicts recalled me; and indeed, you yourself incited me, Brutus, at Velia.
quamquam enim dolebiwn in eam me urbem ire quam tu fugeres qui eam liberavisses, quod mihi quoque quondam acciderat periculo simili, casu tristiore, perrexi tamen Romamque perveni nulloque praesidio quatefeci Antonium contraque eius arma nefanda praesidia quae oblata sunt Caesaris consilio et auctoritate firmavi.
For although I was grieved to go to that city which you, who had liberated it, were fleeing—which had also once happened to me in a similar danger but with a sadder fortune—I nevertheless pressed on and reached Rome, and with no guard I shook Antony, and against his abominable arms I strengthened the defenses which were offered by the counsel and authority of Caesar.
qui si steterit fide mihique paruerit, satis videmur habituri praesidi; sin autem impiorum consilia plus valuerint quam nostra aut imbecillitas aetatis non potuerit gravitatem rerum sustinere, spes omnis est in te.
If he stands by his word and obeys me, we seem likely to have sufficient protection; but if the counsels of the wicked prevail more than ours, or if the weakness of his age cannot sustain the weight of affairs, all hope is in you.
quam ob rem advola obsecro, atque eam rem publicam, quam virtute atque animi magnitudine magis quam eventis rerum liberavisti, exitu libera.
Therefore, fly hither, I beseech you, and liberate in its final outcome that republic which you have liberated by your virtue and greatness of soul rather than by the results of events.
omnis omnium concursus ad te futurus est.
The gathering of everyone will be toward you.
hortare idem per litteras Cassium.
Exhort Cassius to do the same by letter.
§1.10.5spes libertatis nusquam nisi in vestrorum castrorum principiis est.
The hope of liberty is nowhere but in the headquarters of your camps.
firmos omnino et duces habemus ab occidente et exercitus.
We have altogether strong leaders and armies in the West.
hoc adulescentis praesidium equidem adhuc firmum esse confido, sed ita multi labefactant ut ne moveatur interdum extimescam.
As for this protection of the young man, I indeed trust it is firm so far, but so many are undermining it that I sometimes fear lest it be shaken.
habes totum rei publicae statum, qui quidem tum erat, cum has litteras dabam.
You have the whole state of the Republic, at least as it was when I was sending this letter.
velim deinceps meliora sint.
I could wish that things may be better hereafter.
sin aliter fuerit, (quod di omen avertant!) rei publicae vicem dolebo quae immortalis esse debebat; mihi quidem quantulum reliqui est?
But if it should turn out otherwise (which may the gods avert as an omen!), I shall grieve for the sake of the Republic, which ought to be immortal; as for myself, indeed, how very little of life is left to me?