§1.15.6Romam ut veni, statim me obtuli Antoni sceleri atque dementiae.
As soon as I came to Rome, I immediately exposed myself to the wickedness and madness of Antonius.
quem cum in me incitavissem, consilia imre coepi Brutina plane (vestri enim haec sunt propria sanguinis) rei publicae liberandae.
When I had provoked him against me, I began to form plans that were clearly Brutine (for these are peculiar to your blood) for liberating the republic.
longa sunt, quae restant, praetereunda; sunt enim de me; tantum dico, Caesarem hunc adulescentem, per quem adhuc sumus si verum fateri volumus, fluxisse ex fonte consiliorum meorum.
The remaining details are long and must be passed over, for they concern myself; I say only this, that this young Caesar, through whom we still exist if we are willing to confess the truth, flowed from the fountain of my counsels.
§1.15.7huic habiti a me honores nulli quidem, Brute, nisi debiti, nulli nisi necessarii.
To him indeed no honors were paid by me, Brutus, except those that were due, none except those that were necessary.
Vt enim primum libertatem revocare coepimus, cum se nondum ne Decimi quidem Bruti divina virtus ita commovisset ut iam id scire possemus, atque omne praesidium esset in puero qui a cervicibus nostris avertisset Antonium, quis honos ei non fuit decernendus? quamquam ego illi tum verborum laudem tribui eamque modicam, decrevi etiam imperium;
For as soon as we began to recall liberty, when the divine virtue of not even Decimus Brutus had yet so exerted itself that we could already know it, and all our protection was in the boy who had warded off Antonius from our necks, what honor was not to be decreed to him? Although I then bestowed on him praise in words, and that moderate, I also decreed command (imperium); which, although it seemed honorable to that age, was nevertheless necessary for one who had an army.
quod quamquam videbatur illi aetati honorificum, tamen erat exercitum babenti necessarium.
For what is an army without command?
quid enim est sine imperio exercitus? statuam Philippus decrevit, celeritatem petitionis primo Servius, post maiorem etiam Servilius.
Philippus decreed a statue, Servius first decreed the speediness of candidacy, and later Servilius decreed an even greater concession.
nihil tum nimium videbatur.
Nothing then seemed excessive.
§1.15.8sed nescio quo modo facilius in timore benigni quam in victoria grati reperiuntur.
But somehow men are more easily found liberal in fear than grateful in victory.
ego enim, D. Bruto liberato cum laetissimus ille civitati dies inluxisset idemque casu Bruti natalis esset, decrevi ut in fastis ad eum diem Bruti nomen adscriberetur, in eoque sum maiorum exemplum secutus qui hunc honorem mulieri Larentiae tribuerunt, cuius vos pontifices ad aram in Velabro sacrificium facere soletis.
For when, upon the liberation of Decimus Brutus, that day most joyful to the state had dawned, which by chance was also Brutus's birthday, I decreed that Brutus's name should be inscribed in the calendar (fasti) on that day; and in this I followed the example of our ancestors, who bestowed this honor on the woman Larentia, to whom you pontiffs are accustomed to offer sacrifice at the altar in the Velabrum.
quod ego cum dabam Bruto, notam esse in fastis gratissimae victoriae sempiternam volebam.
When I gave this to Brutus, I wished there to be an everlasting mark of a most welcome victory in the calendar.
atque illo die cognovi paulo pluris in senatu malevolos esse quam gratos.
And on that day I learned that the malevolent in the senate were a little more numerous than the grateful.
per eos ipsos dies effudi, si ita vis, honores in mortuos, Hirtium et Pansam, Aquilam etiam.
During those very days I poured out, if you will, honors upon the dead—Hirtium and Pansa, and even Aquila.
quod quis reprehendet, nisi qui deposito metu praeteriti periculi fuerit oblitus?
Who will find fault with this, unless one who, having laid aside fear, has forgotten the past danger?
§1.15.9accedebat ad benefici memoriam gratam ratio illa quae etiam posteris esset salutaris.
To the grateful memory of the benefit was added that consideration which would be salutary even to posterity.
exstare enim volebam in crudelissimos hostis monimenta odi publici sempiterna.
For I wished there to exist everlasting monuments of public hatred against most cruel enemies.
suspicor illud tibi minus probari quod a tuis familiaribus, optimis illis quidem viris sed in re publica rudibus, non probabatur, quod ut ovanti introire Caesari liceret decreverim.
I suspect that you do not quite approve of that which was not approved of by your intimates—excellent men indeed, but inexperienced in public affairs—namely, that I decreed that Caesar should be allowed to enter in an ovation.
ego autem (sed erro fortasse nec tamen is sum ut mea me maxime delectent) nihil mihi videor hoc bello sensisse prudentius.
But I (though perhaps I err, and yet I am not one whom my own opinions chiefly please) seem to myself to have resolved nothing more wisely in this war.
cur autem ita sit aperiendum non est, ne magis videar providus fuisse quam gratus.
Why it is so, however, must not be disclosed, lest I should seem to have been more foresighted than grateful.
hoc ipsum nimium; qua re alia videamus.
This itself is too much; therefore let us look at other things.
D. Bruto decrevi honores, decrevi L. Planco.
I decreed honors to Decimus Brutus, I decreed them to Lucius Plancus.
praeclara illa quidem ingenia quae gloria invitantur, sed senatus etiam sapiens qui qua quemque re putat, modo honesta, ad rem publicam iuvandam posse adduci hac utitur.
Those are indeed distinguished minds that are invited by glory, but a wise senate also employs this means by which it thinks each man, provided it be honorable, can be induced to aid the republic.
at in Lepido reprehendimur; cui cum statuam in rostris statuissemus, idem illam evertimus.
But we are blamed in the case of Lepidus; for whom when we had set up a statue on the rostra, we ourselves overturned it.
nos illum honore studuimus a furore revocare.
We strove by honor to recall him from his madness.
vicit amentia levissimi hominis nostram prudentiam; nec tamen tantum in statuenda Lepidi statua factum est mali quantum in evertenda boni.
The madness of a most fickle man conquered our prudence; and yet not so much evil was done in setting up Lepidus's statue as good was done in overturning it.